Trend Alert: Large Subway Tile

Designing kitchens and bathrooms are super fun as a designer because you get the opportunity to be extra creative, and be a serious problem solver! From storage allocations, spatial planning, to material selections to last a lifetime, there’s a lot that goes into making a kitchen or bathroom design work. One material that I have been experimenting with recently is Large Subway Tiles! If you love the standard, smaller subway tiles, then you’ll want to know everything about this Trend Alert. Let’s take a closer look at Large Subway Tiles!

Why we love it!

Subway tile is great for use in kitchens and bathrooms because they are a relatively inexpensive material choice, so perfect for families on a tighter budget. But what I love the most about subway tile is the various ways you can use them! From simply rotating the tiles you can create a completely different look for a space. Or why not try a herringbone arrangement? That’s not to mention the various color, finish, or pattern options that are available too! The options with subway tiles are endless! And we particularly love the twist on subway tiles larger format ones have.

Top Tip: Standard subway tiles are 3×6 inches, whereas large subway tiles are either 4×8 inches or 6×12 inches.

How to use large subway tile.

It’s relatively straightforward to use large subway tile in your home. Instead of using standard subway tiles, consider going larger and making an impact with tiles! Large subway tiles are better used in bathrooms as wall tiles, unless you have a large expanse of kitchen backsplash.

What to watch for.

There are some considerations to take into account when thinking of using large subway tiles in your bathroom…

First, it’s important to hire an experienced professional to install them. While they may not look difficult to install, the tile arrangement can make them trickier to get right. Grout lines especially need to be uniform. 

Make sure you choose a color and finish of tile that you absolutely love! It may be tempting to choose a color based on its popularity right now, but come 5 or 10 years time, you need to still love it.

Ways to make large subway tile last in your home

Large subway tiles can last many years in your home!

The first step for ensuring your large subway tiles lasts a lifetime, is to choose a color that you absolutely LOVE. You should also ensure that the finish works well with the other finishes, such as the flooring, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and paint colors.

Do you have a small bathroom? Don’t be afraid of using large subway tiles! As larger tiles can actually make a smaller room feel larger.

Get creative with the tile arrangement! Just because subway tiles are rectangular, doesn’t mean they should always be installed in a subway arrangement. Consider vertically stacking them, horizontally stacking them, or using a herringbone pattern!

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