One of the most beloved tiles out there is the 3″x6″ “subway” tile in a crisp, clean white. Subway tiles got their name because this was the shape and size found in NYC subway stations. Many people think that all ceramic tiles are technically a subway tile. Not the case! Ceramic tiles come in all shapes and sizes, but to really call one a subway tile, it needs to fit these dimensions.
Let’s explore the classic subway tile a bit further….
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Subway tile is probably the easiest tile to find, and you can pretty much get in stock at your local tile supplier. But not all subway are created equal! You can get machine-made (straight edges and most affordable), hand-made (most expensive, plus might not have straight lines or be completely flat on the face), or you might come across a hybrid version (has the straight edges but a bit of “wave” to make it look hand-made).
The most common pattern for a subway tile is installing it in a running bond-pattern, which means that the joint lines are offset from one another, similar to the installation above as well as this image:
Here are some different layouts and their names:
If everyone has subway tile in their home in the classic running-bond pattern, why not try something different!?! Here are some designs that I think are really interesting and gives a fresh take on an old school tile!
While you can get the standard subway tile shape in any color, as you can see, white will always be the most classic option around. But why not change it up a bit!
