24 Refreshing Ways to Use Subway Tile in Your Bathroom

A wall of tile in a repeating bond pattern, as seen in this bathroom designed by Arent & Pyke, is as timeless as it gets. It'll lend itself to a variety of styles as trends come and go and taste changes.

We love the pretty and practical mix of materials in this bathroom designed by Studio Life/Style. The playful penny tile floor has a texture that helps prevent slips, while easier-to-clean subway tile and marbled slabs cover the other splash zones. The whimsical wallpaper is well out of harm's way.

Is there a chicer combo than white and black? This sleek wall of subway tiles with matching grout is the perfect foil to the shower frame and penny tile floor.

Here's proof that marble looks great no matter how you cut it. The luxurious subway tile in the bathroom of this Massachusetts home designed by Cecilia Casagrande picks up the soft pink of the upper walls. Café curtains provide privacy and let in soft light.

A clean stack pattern is a cool alternative to the classic running bond. Laying subway tile vertically creates a sense of height too. Here, Studio Life/Style created a jewel box by paving all the surfaces (except for the floor) in bubblegum pink.

A block of vibrant yellow tiles framed by cream ones makes a sunny statement in the bathroom designed by Hecker Guthrie. We love how it goes big with the matching pendant lights too.

The stacks of subway tile in this bathroom by Romanek Design Studio are smoky, cool, and mysterious. They're complemented by a wall of foxed mirror tile that makes it look larger and more lively.

Inspired by the homeowner's love of art, this bathroom designed by Eneia White is a masterful blend of texture, pattern, and color. Simple subway tile balances the high-impact floor. “We found this floor tile to mimic something an artist might paint," White says.

Farmhouse lovers, classic subway tile shine is the ideal backdrop for a glorious copper bathtub. This beauty designed by Leanne Ford is too beautiful to look away from. Your getting-ready time just got at least 15 minutes longer.

For a geometric effect, veer away from traditional gray grout. The black grout in this Studio/Lifestyle bathroom makes the white tiles pop and will never ever look dirty.

For the opposite aesthetic, try a combination of black tiles with white grout, as seen in this bathroom designed by Catherine Kwong. It's slightly moodier, with an even bolder contrast.

Neutral grout can make a statement (and camouflage wear and grime) just as well as a darker color can. It also plays up earth tones. In this bathroom designed by Heidi Callier, warm grout speaks to the blush-colored textiles and brass finishes.

Sage subway tile in a neat grid just looks soothing. Let it inspire you to fill your bathroom with grounding accents like art, decorative objects, and flowers. We love how the long ledge in this bathroom by Lucy Harris invites nesting. You can copy it with a shelf ASAP.

Narrow bathroom? No problem. Lead all eyes to a showstopping shower by covering the walls and floor in complementary patterns. In this bathroom designed by Studio Lifestyle, luxurious toile wallpaper and geometric tiles cohabitate beautifully.

After you lift your jaw up off the floor, you'll want to copy this cotton-candy dream of a bathroom by designer Kureck Jones. Graphic stacks of tile on the wall contrast sweetly with the romantic leaf motif on the floor.

Subway tile doesn't have to be perfectly smooth—it can have an imperfect, handmade texture to it. In this bathroom designed by Arent & Pyke, it's an intriguing but not distracting backdrop for the purple-veined marble, sky-blue paint, and yellow floor tile.

Herald your days of angst and all-nighters with inspiration from this edgy (and imminently doable) Leanne Ford bathroom. Aqua subway tile makes a retro statement and is perfect for anyone who loves to rebel a little. Instead of spending a small fortune on wallpaper, collage your own.

Herringbone is another classic subway tile pattern. This Studio Life/Style space proves that it can be just as classic and understated as a repeating bond composition when executed in neutrals.

Your self-care schedule just got a lot sweeter. Shiny gold hardware makes the chocolate-bar-like matte subway tile in this Robert McKinley–designed bathroom look even more luxe.

A pastel can make an unexpectedly bold statement, especially in a small space like a powder room. This one designed by 2LG Studio uses mint subway tile to set off a speckled sink base, matte black details, and Art Deco floor tiles.