15 Ways to Get the Look of Subway Tiles Without the Mess
Ceramic subway tiles captured the imagination of homeowners around the world after their installation in New York City’s subway train stations, hence their name. Their clean lines and classic style have encouraged many to consider a subway tile bathroom or a subway tile kitchen to create practical, uncluttered living spaces. That’s because subway tiles are designed to last for many decades. They are highly durable, and the colours very rarely fade when exposed to natural light over the long term.
Use a Tile Peel to Create a Faux Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash
If you want to enjoy the look and feel of subway tiles on your kitchen backsplash, you don’t have to be an expert tiler to achieve it. Hometalker Heather Olinde has opened our eyes to an exciting new form of tile peel that creates faux subway tiles that are textured to create that extremely realistic look. All you have to do is make sure your kitchen walls are clean and dry before laying this tile peel directly onto the wall’s surface. You’ll have to do a bit of cutting and trimming around power outlets, but that’s about as fiddly as it gets! Get tutorial here
Create a Faux Subway Tile Kitchen Backsplash Using Only Paint
If you like the look of the subway tile kitchen backsplash, you can also get the same look just with a lick of paint. All you really need is some high-gloss paint in the color you want for your faux subway tiles and grout, a piece of 3” x 6” cardboard paper, some reliable masking tape and a sharp, straight-edged knife. Hometalker Megan transformed the appearance of her kitchen backsplash at a cost of only $22. The use of high-end masking tape should ensure perfect, straight lines and help to minimize the likelihood of paint being left on appliances and worktops. Get tutorial here
Reflective Peel-and-Stick White Glass Subway Tile Makes Spaces Roomier
If your kitchen or utility room is somewhat cosy, the ability to reflect natural and artificial light can help spaces feel bigger. How about this reflective peel-and-stick subway tile that creates a clean, white glass appearance for your wall? If you’re intimidated by grouting and the mess you can make, these sheets of reflective wall tile could not be any easier. Simply peel off the backing and apply it to the wall. Just be careful to fit it correctly the first time, as they aren’t adjustable. A spirit level should help you achieve the perfect finish. Get tutorial here
Good at Stencilling? Discover an Easy Way to Get That Consistent Subway Tile Appearance
Check out another Hometalker that’s been taping and painting their kitchen backsplash to create a subway title appearance on a budget. Although this process took Andrea and her husband over 18 hours to complete, it was done so at a cost of less than $30. Using a piece of cardboard to create the consistent “tiles”, you can then paint the tiles in any color you see fit. In this case, they opted for a very tonal selection of browns and greys that contrast brilliantly with their work surfaces and their bottle green kitchen units. Get tutorial here
Use This Peel-and-Stick Glass Subway Tile to Create Eye-Catching Surfaces
Hometalker Roberta Madison also recommends the offset joint pattern created by subway tiles to design eye-catching bathroom surfaces. This is a great example of how to veer away from typical ceramic subway tiles and utilize glass subway tiles to create a fun and stylish surface for a bathroom basin. The mini splashback and worktop work brilliantly as the backdrop to this feature sink, which is very clean and sleek. The symmetry of the offset joint pattern is almost mesmerizing! Get tutorial here
Create Monochrome Contrasts Using Chalkboard Paint
The monochrome contrasts remain some of the most spectacular interior design options to define any kitchen space. The Blooming Hydrangea has spent many months on her kitchen makeover, and tiling her new backsplash is still some way down the line. Therefore, she opted to paint a fake subway tile backsplash using just chalkboard paint and a chalk marker. If you aren’t ready for all the mess of tiling and grouting, this hack is a hugely effective way of creating a temporary backsplash that looks clean and contemporary. Get tutorial here
Use a Brick Stencil to Create a Rustic Subway Tile Bathroom Look
This Hometalker took matters into her own hands to freshen up her laundry room by using stencils to fake the subway tile look. Having spent time creating her own inspiration board, Susanna quickly realized that she wanted the classic style of subway tiles in her laundry room. Unfortunately, she did not have the funds to invest in the real thing, so she came up with an ingenious way of faking it. This rustic, brickwork-style stencil has created a characterful wall that looks somewhat aged and rugged, for those who are as charmed as we are by this effect. Get tutorial here
Give Your Subway Tile Backsplash Some Glitz and Glamor
One way to modernize your kitchen and incorporate a splash of personality is to use Glamor Grout between your subway tiles.Hometalker Albion wanted to find an easy way to turn her very "blah space” (to use her own words) into one that is fun and vibrant. She opted for a classic white subway tile for her kitchen, but used this Glamor Grout in a striking sapphire color, complete with gold glitter. Once mixed together, it created a wonderful shimmer effect in between the crisp lines of her subway tiles. They loved it so much that they used the same grout for the rest of their kitchen backsplashes, too! Get tutorial here
Long Mosaic-Style Subway Tiles Can Make Your Bathtub Look Like a Spa
If you’re fed up with the dated appearance of your bathtub, this subway-style tiling can create the perfect spa-style surround. For Hometalker Kaysi Gardner, her bathroom lacked glam, so she decided to retile her bathtub surround. She opted for these long, mosaic tiles that created an offset joint pattern akin to subway tiles. This has created a stunning finish to the top of the bathtub, as well as a neat mini-backsplash to protect the paintwork. Just be sure to grout, caulk and seal the tiles to prevent moisture from seeping into the walls. Get tutorial here
High-Gloss Tiles Can Create Sleek Reflective, Subway-Style Tiles
This Hometalker recently moved into their new home complete with a kitchen that hadn’t seen a makeover since 1971. Major renovations were therefore essential, and they were fortunate to have the freedom to rip out the entirety of their existing kitchen suite. Sheetrock was installed to replace the old-school wood paneling, along with a striking arctic white quartz countertop and black cupboards. They opted for a turquoise 4 x 16 subway tile that provides a contemporary contrast with its high gloss. Get tutorial here
Wallpaper Subway Kitchen Tiles Ideal for Those in Rented Accommodation
This tip is ideal for those living in rented accommodation that cannot make wholesale changes to their kitchen space. Hometalker Aimee had been looking for ways to add temporary character and decoration for some time before getting hold of this peel-and-stick subway tile wallpaper that can be removed prior to moving out. Aimee’s tip is not to let the paper bend or wrinkle. Smooth one of the top corners and then work your way down to remove the air bubbles. If you don’t have any tools with bells and whistles, a credit card will suffice! Get tutorial here
Prepared to Fit Real Subway Tiles Yourself? This Pattern Guide Will Help Keep Mess to a Premium
If you have been inspired by our slideshow and think you have the time to grout and tile subway tiles yourself, check out this guide. Hometalker Construction2style has published 12 different ways to lay subway tiles in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and pretty much anywhere else in your home. This helps you to arrange the pattern you like the most before you even get started, helping to minimize the amount of mess you make on countertops and so forth. Who even knew there were a dozen ways to lay a subway tile? Get tutorial here
The “Stair Step” is a Fresh Take on Subway Tiles That Won’t Date in a Few Years
Speaking of alternative subway tile patterns, check out Victoria’s clean, timeless “stair step” kitchen backsplash. This Hometalker was desperate to retile her kitchen backsplash with a design that wasn’t going to become outdated within a few years. They spent hours tracing the “stair step” pattern directly onto the wall. This allowed them to negate the prospect of crooked lines and a wonky pattern! Although the process took them a little over three days to complete, it only cost them $60 in materials. Get tutorial here
Striking Copper Subway Tile Backsplashes That Require Only Gorilla Glue
Who knew that a copper kitchen could look so stunning? Props to KatAych who recently took the plunge. Once this Hometalker discovered that copper subway tiles existed, she couldn’t wait to try them out on her industrial-themed kitchen. Despite the scepticism from her husband, she forged ahead to create a kitchen backsplash that offers warmth and a unique shimmer. What was even better was the fact that these copper subway tiles could be fixed to the wall using only Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks! Get tutorial here
Cut the Mess (and Cost) by Only Using Half of the Wall For Subway Bathroom Tiles
Hometalker SUPPLY.com recently looked at different ways to incorporate subway tiles into contemporary bathrooms. They discovered interior designer Elissa Grayer, who used monochromatic white and pink subway tiles to bring a hint of femininity to the powder room above. The other hugely effective design technique used here was to tile only the first half of the walls. This helps to create a sense of height and depth to the bathroom. Get tutorial here
