London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

Genius Subway Tile Ideas Are Worth Recreating in Your Own Kitchen

Genius Subway Tile Ideas Are Worth Recreating in Your Own Kitchen

These backsplashes deserve a standing ovation.

It's no surprise subway tiles are popular for kitchen backsplashes. They're cheap, easy to clean, endlessly versatile, and arguably the most timeless option on the planet-no matter what environment they're in, subway tiles never seem to look dated. Whether you're renovating your kitchen, or you're just hungry for interior design inspiration, this batch of subway tile kitchen ideas and backsplash ideas will do the trick. From creative layout ideas to colorful variations, cool grout trends, and classic looks, you'll find something to recreate or Pin ahead.



Try Allover Tile


Subway tile on all of the walls (and up to the ceiling!) makes for easy cleanup in this kitchen by designer Philip Mitchell. The unlacquered brass hood and butcher block countertop add warmth to the space.



Extend to Your Pantry


In this entryway by designer Jim Dove, tiles extend to the mini staircase and onto the walls for a seamless look. Double pantry pullouts on one wall allow for sleek kitchen food storage.



Hide Your Subway Tiles


In this kitchen by Regan Baker Design, the floor-to-ceiling wood facade conceals the cabinets and countertops. If you want to use tiles as a backsplash but have something more sleek and modern in mind, too, consider a similar design concept. That way, you can feature both materials.



Only Go Half Way


In this space designed by deVol Kitchens, deep turquoise lower cabinets ground the spaec while the sage walls add a touch of levity. Between them, the subway tiles feel like a natural addition, thanks to the dark green grout instead of a classic white option.



Be Eclectic


Here's proof that subway tiles can even blend in with an industrial, modern environment. This kitchen designed by ETC.etera features edgy concrete floors, a retro red stool, classic black stained-wood cabinetry, an ultra-sleek island, and simple subway tiles. All together, they create an eclectic yet cohesive whole.



Switch Up the Pattern


If you were looking for ways to switch things up, look no further than this kitchen designed by Janis Nicolay. She went the traditional route with classic white subway tiles, but then opted for a chevron pattern for an understated but fun twist.



Reach for the Ceilings


Though subway tiles are most popular as a backsplash in the kitchen, they can also stretch all the way to the ceiling. In this Catherine Kwong-designed space, the subway tiles complement both the formal, sophisticated elements as well as the more casual and approachable parts.



Color-Block


Subway tile offers tons of room for creativity in the kitchen. Here, Chango & Co. created two stripes of olive green to add color and break up the white backsplash. They're placed under the white floating shelves, playing up the linear motif further.



Stay Neutral


Subway tile is great for going grayscale. In this kitchen designed by Chango & Co., the black grout pops against the white tiles. The graphic and geometric repeating bond pattern lends itself nicely to the monochrome color scheme.



Switch Up Your Grout


For this Los Angeles kitchen, Jenn Feldman Designs chose a tonal grout to blend in with the navy tile, which is set in a refreshingly unexpected chevron pattern.



Mimic Natural Stone


If you love the look of marble and other natural stones but don't want to splurge on a marble slab for the entire kitchen wall, opt for marble tiles instead. As you can see in this kitchen from @amuneal, it boasts that same coveted look.



Protect Your Wallpaper


If you can't resist a good wallpaper moment and want it in every room in the house, we support you. But one thing to keep in mind when decorating with wallpaper in the kitchen is how well it will resist moisture. It's best to just keep it out of splashing range all together. That's where subway tile comes in.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
×