Discover timeless elegance and modern versatility with subway tiles. Originally gracing the walls of New York’s subway stations in the early 1900s, this classic option remains a stylish and cost-effective choice for your home. Let’s explore the many ways you can incorporate this iconic tile into your living space. Written by Three Birds Renovations
Whether you’re working to a tight budget or planning a luxe renovation, subway tiles are a brilliant choice for any project because the range of colours and design possibilities are endless. You can lay them in various patterns to create a unique look that reflects your style. Additionally, pairing them with contrasting grout colours can add depth and interest to your space.
With subway tiles, the design possibilities are endless – here’s how we’ve laid them 5 different ways in our projects.
A crosshatch pattern adds a chic twist to a classic design.
It’s created by laying subways out in a grid-like fashion with pairs installed vertically next to pairs installed horizontally, creating a crisscross effect.
This eye-catching layout creates a sense of movement and depth, making any space feel more dynamic and stylish.
We used navy blue subways in a crosshatch pattern to create a feature in the shower of this boys’ ensuite bathroom.
Just as it sounds, ‘stack bond’ is when tiles are laid directly on top of each other in a linear pattern.
If your subways are beautifully coloured on patterned, the stack bond layout can help showcase the tiles themselves rather than the pattern.
In smaller areas, such as bathroom walls or kitchen splashbacks, the stack bond layout can make the space feel larger and less cluttered because of its uniformity and minimalistic pattern.
Herringbone lay is one of the quickest ways to jazz up a bathroom on a budget.
Choose some cheap subways and lay them on an angle to create a sense of movement and elegance.
We’ve used a herringbone pattern to make a standout feature in laundries, bathrooms and beyond.
Offset is the OG way to lay subways that offers a timeless, classic look that never goes out of style.
The staggered arrangement creates a sense of depth and texture, making any space feel more inviting and visually appealing.
This versatile layout works beautifully in both traditional and contemporary homes, adding charm and character to walls and splashbacks.
It’s stack bond but make it vertical!
The vertical stack bond pattern brings a fresh, modern feel to a classic tile. This layout draws the eye upward, making ceilings appear higher and spaces feel more open and airy.
The clean, straight lines of the vertical stack bond create a sleek, contemporary look that adds a bold statement in any room.
Choose your tiles but don’t buy them just yet. Engage a tiler to ensure your dream tiles are suitable for your project and confirm the quantity you require including how much wastage to allow for.
If you’re tiling a bathroom or laundry, don’t forget the crucial step of waterproofing the wet areas. This is not a DIY step – bring in the professionals. If your waterproofing fails down the track, you’ll have to remove tiles and maybe even the wall lining to find the source of the problem – messy and expensive! Don’t rush this step; get it right the first time.
Your tiler may be able to do the waterproofing or you may need to call in a specialist waterproofer. In the hipages directory, you can find waterproofers and tilers in your area, request quotes and read verified reviews of their work.
Subway tiles are an affordable option for homeowners looking to update their bathrooms, kitchens or laundries without breaking the bank. And the even better news is that you’ll never have to pay full price for subway tiles again.
With the Three Birds Dream Discount Card in your wallet, you can save 15% on tiles, every day of the week. The Dream Discount Card is your ultimate ticket to incredible savings on your home renovation projects. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating one room, this card offers exclusive discounts from top brands making renovating and maintaining your dream home more affordable than ever.
Three Birds Renovations is a people-powered brand dedicated to inspiring and empowering women on their ‘dream home’ journey, no matter how big or small their project and budget.
Founded by best friends and busy mums, Bonnie, Erin and Lana, are seasoned renovators, best-selling authors of Australia’s number one home improvement book, creators of popular online courses, Three Birds Reno School and Three Birds Styling School and brains behind the Three Birds Dream Discount Card. Over 40,000 students worldwide are designing, building and styling their homes using the Birds’ knowledge, templates and support network.
