7 Subway Tile Patterns: Ideas for How to Use Subway Tile

A subway tile is a square or rectangular glass tile or ceramic tile with beveled edges. Architects used this type of tile in subway stations in New York City, New York, as early as 1904, hence its name. White subway tile continues to be popular among homeowners because it reflects light efficiently and is easy to clean. These same attributes make a subway tile backsplash a practical wall covering near any high-use countertop.

Subway tiles are rectangular or square, making it possible to arrange them in various attractive patterns. Here are several subway tile design ideas you can consider for future DIY renovations:

1. 1. Chevron: This zigzag, mid-century modern design resembles a herringbone pattern, except it uses parallelograms rather than true rectangles. This results in stacked peaks and valleys. Use this versatile pattern to remodel your bathroom floor tile, shower wall, or backsplash if a zigzag pattern appeals to you.
2. 2. Crosshatch: This overlapping pattern alternates the horizontal and vertical orientations of the tiles, bringing a sophisticated complexity to a subway tile design. Pair neutral ceramic tile shades with gray or black grout lines to accentuate the visual contrast.
   
3. 3. Basketweave: This intricate subway tile design utilizes a combination of rectangular tiles and square tiles to create the illusion of a woven surface. A contrasting grout color often highlights the crisscrossing grout lines. For example, you could use gray grout between blue tiles to create a rustic, natural aesthetic.
4. 4. Herringbone: A traditional herringbone pattern uses multiple perpendicular rectangles set at forty-five-degree angles to form offset “L” shapes or a repeating inverted “V.” The herringbone tile pattern is similar in appearance to chevron; however, the corners of rectangles in a herringbone pattern use only ninety-degree angles.
5. 5. Mosaic: This tile pattern might refer to a wall of repeating square and rectangular tiles in varying hues, or a mosaic might refer to a more artistic design that results in an image. In the latter case, each tile will play a role in the macro design, similar to the individual pixels in a photo. Small subway tiles usually work best for mosaics, and tile installation for mosaics requires time and patience.
6. 6. Running bond: This offset pattern of repeating horizontal tiles is one of the most common subway tile layouts for tile walls and showers. A running bond pattern (or brick pattern) can also be aesthetically pleasing as a kitchen backsplash or an accent wall. For a traditional-looking running bond pattern, utilize white grout to create a clean and bright surface.
7. 7. Stack bond: You can use square or vertical tiles to create this classic look, which results in a grid. The consistent, uniform orientation of the vertical stack bond pattern can complement the vertical lines of cabinetry and add visual height and space to a room.

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