Subway tile has been around for a while, and truthfully, it’s not going anywhere. It’s a classic choice that can easily be integrated into almost any space. What we are seeing, however, is homeowners branching out a bit and getting a little more creative with their tile. The definition of subway tile has arguably expanded recently to include more modern options.

When choosing a tile, you have many details to consider: color, size, finish, material, and more. For example, do you prefer the traditional 3x6in size, or the more elongated 2.5x8in? Do you want plain glossy white or multi-tonal cream tile? Would you rather add a pop of color, maybe green or even pink? What color grout would coordinate well? As you can see, there are plenty of design elements to mull over when selecting the tile itself. We recommend getting samples to ensure the tile is to your liking before committing to it based on just a photo alone.

Once you have a tile selection, the next step is choosing the pattern you want it set in. You’ve probably seen different patterns on backsplashes, flooring, showers, and so on. Regardless of where the tile is being laid, you once again have design options! We’re here to help define a few choices with examples so you can choose the right layout for your space.

For these pattern examples, we are using the beloved Cloe tile, which has appeared in several of our Gravel Lane Design projects. Our clients keep requesting it as a backsplash in kitchens and bars, as well as for wall tile in showers and bathrooms. Shown in the photos is the 2.5x8in Cloe tile in white; it is also available in other colors.

Now, let’s get into those pattern options!

Vertical Straight Stack

Starting off with one of our recent favorites – the straight stack with the tile standing tall vertically. This pattern is great for full shower walls and looks great with a multi-tonal tile, which adds some more dimension. You’ll want to ensure your lines line up crisply, so choose a tile that is consistent in size.

Take a look at where we’ve used this tile pattern recently:

Offset or Brick-Lay

This is probably the most traditional way to lay subway tile, where the tile is offset 50% so it breaks halfway through the row above/below. It’s great for kitchen backsplashes when there’s only about eighteen inches between the countertops and the bottom of the upper cabinets. This pattern nicely follows that horizontal flow across the wall while breaking up some of the vertical lines. You can also ask for a 1/3 offset, which means the tile would be offset only 1/3 of the way over instead of half, though it’s not as common.

Here are some installed examples of this pattern:

Horizontal Straight Back

Basically, if you combine the first two patterns, you’ll get this one! For those who love a straight stack, this is simply the horizontal version. Again, you’ll want to make sure the lines are clean when installing, so it’s important to select a tile that doesn’t vary in size. If you like the straight stack but are not sure how to decide between vertical and horizontal, you could try opting for a square tile instead! That way, the stack is consistent from all sides.

Here are a few horizontal stacked backsplashes:

Herringbone

If you’re looking for a little more pizazz with your tile pattern, you might like the herringbone! In this pattern, the tile looks like a zigzag or chevron pattern, with the tiles butting up against each other perpendicularly. Make sure you have a great tile installer for this one, it’s not an easy pattern to keep straight! However, an experienced professional should have no problem.

Here’s the herringbone pattern in a few shower designs:

Basketweave

A basketweave pattern mimics the look of woven baskets, with tiles alternating between vertical and horizontal in a somewhat checkered pattern. The amount of tiles used before alternating depends on the tile dimensions. This tile would work best on a 3x6in subway tile, as the width of two tiles would equal the length of one. In other words, it has a 1:2 ratio. Not all tiles will line up perfectly this way, so make sure to choose a tile with dimensions that have a coordinated ratio for this pattern!

Unfortunately, we don’t have any photos of this style installed – at least not yet!

Mix of Vertical Straight Stack and Brick-Lay

Before you ask, yes – you can mix tile patterns! Whether it’s a band that dresses up the bottom of a shower or a framed-out pattern above the range, you can get creative with mixing tile patterns. We recommend not mixing more than two on a single wall, as you want to keep some sort of design consistency. On the other hand, intentionally changing the pattern can create a unique focal point, so it’s worth exploring, especially if you have a large space to fill.

Here’s an example of a band of vertical straight stacked tiles around the bottom of the backsplash, followed by the brick-lay/offset tile pattern that carries up to the ceiling:

Vertical Offset

A different take on the traditional offset! This tile pattern follows the same formula, inching each row over 50%, but this time with the tile standing vertically instead of horizontally. If this pattern intrigues you, you might also consider switching to a picket tile, which pretty much forces you into an offset pattern since the ends are pointed.

While we don’t have a photo of the vertical offset on one of our projects, we can show off the picket tile version:

Alternating

This pattern alternates rows of vertical and horizontal straight stacks, creating stripes of each. This pattern would be great for a walk-in shower as it works best on a larger square footage. You’ll want to make sure the stripes can repeat enough to lend themselves to the pattern, which is why using it on tall shower walls is recommended!

Take a look at these two examples below:

It’s important to note that some tile patterns have different names, so if you’ve chosen one you love, it’s best to screenshot it for your installer to ensure accurate results. Good communication is key to ensuring the design is executed to your liking, and having visuals always helps!

If you’re in need of design help, our Central Illinois design team has experience with both remodels and new constructions, from kitchens and bathrooms to bars and mudrooms, and everything in between. You can email us at info@gravellanedesign.com to get in touch!

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