Subway tile is so versatile that it may never go out of style, designers say — but its uses will evolve. Image from a StreetEasy listing at 148 Hicks St. #3.

Interior design trends come and go, but one style always seems to survive: subway tile. You see the familiar ceramic rectangles in bathrooms and kitchens everywhere — especially around New York City. But given that ubiquity, has subway tile finally crossed the line from tasteful to tired? We asked three NYC designers from the interior design services brand Homepolish to break down the appeal of this popular element — and its likely future. Here’s what they said.

Why Is the Subway Tile Look So Classic?

“It’s a staple. You can go crazy everywhere else knowing you’ve got that classic white T-shirt to support your crazy idea. Just the way ‘decorator white’ is a go-to for designers, subway tile will never go away.” — Cindy De Luzuriaga

“It’s a very traditional shape that’s been around forever, and things that started a long time ago always seem to have more longevity. It’s a simple form, usually white, that goes with everything and never goes out of style. It’s still one of my favorite go-tos.” — Crystal Sinclair

Manhattan 1-2BRs Under $1.5M Article continues below

Hell’s Kitchen

416 West 52nd Street

$999,000

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1.5

Turtle Bay

310 East 46th Street

$1,299,000

2 |

1

Financial District

3 Hanover Square

$1,450,000

2 |

2

Lenox Hill

440 East 79th Street

$1,350,000

2 |

2

Lincoln Square

243 West 60th Street

$1,330,000

1 |

1.5

Gramercy Park

31 Gramercy Park South

$1,200,000

2 |

1

Murray Hill

77 Park Avenue

$1,150,000

1 |

1.5

Midtown

146 West 57th Street

$1,168,000

1 |

1.5

Hell’s Kitchen

357 West 55th Street

$875,000

1 |

1

Lenox Hill

200 East 69th Street

$1,100,000

1 |

1.5

Sutton Place

140 East 56th Street

$875,000

1 |

1

West Village

115 Morton Street

$1,200,000

2 |

1

“Not only is it timeless, like the little black dress, it’s also somewhat inexpensive in comparison to other types of tiles. My favorite way to use subway tile is in conjunction with a contrasting tile or other super luxe material, to give that nice balance of elevated and approachable.” — Michelle Zacks

From a StreetEasy listing at 199 Prince St. #15.

What Are Some Unusual Ways People Are Using It These Days?

“I like to use non-standard sizes and arrange them in different patterns, like herringbone and checkerboard, instead of off-setting them like bricks. Also, people are experimenting more with grout colors, and accenting with fun shades other than standard white.” — Sinclair

“I’m currently working on a bathroom renovation, and along two of the shower walls, we’re using a long, skinny subway tile (2″ x 8″) as opposed to the more classic 3″ x 6″ rectangle. We’re also applying it in a vertical stack, instead of the standard staggered step application. This particular project features high ceilings, so the vertical stack is not only a bit more modern and streamlined, but also draws the eye up to take advantage of the extra ceiling height. So really playing around with different sizes of subway tile and how you apply it to the surface gives you new and interesting ways to use the materials.” — Zacks

Brooklyn 2-3BRs Under $1.5M Article continues below

Brighton Beach

40 Oceana Drive

$1,099,000

2 |

2

Bergen Beach

2452 East 74th Street

$1,052,000

3 |

3

Farragut

1234 Utica Avenue

$1,050,000

3 |

3.5

Marine Park

1841 East 33rd Street

$939,888

3 |

2

Gravesend

1740 West 4th Street

$1,100,000

3 |

3

Sheepshead Bay

2608 Avenue X

$800,000

3 |

2

Dyker Heights

1065 67th Street

$820,000

2 |

2

Bergen Beach

1348 East 69th Street

$939,000

3 |

4

Sheepshead Bay

2509 East 12th Street

$965,000

3 |

3

Bensonhurst

1414 76th Street

$1,050,000

3 |

3

Mill Basin

2136 East 63rd Street

$1,152,000

3 |

2

Gravesend

2139 West 10th Street

$1,250,000

3 |

2

“A way I’m thinking of using subway tile unexpectedly is in a really meaty powder room that’s a little more ornate than what I usually do. I’m considering using a black subway tile and then pairing it with dark wallpaper” — De Luzuriaga

Subway tile can offset the strong impression of a more unusual patterned tile. From a StreetEasy listing at 162 Washington Ave. #3.

How Do You See the Use of Subway Tile Evolving?

“I’m hoping people will embrace subway tile in colors other than white, or consider using a contrasting grout color (a small space like a powder room or a kid’s bathroom would be super-fun in white subway with a blue or pink grout line!). I think the overall trend in tile is headed toward things that are very pattern-heavy, like painted cement tile.” — Zacks

“The trend now is a very fashion-forward, avant-garde kind of desert vibe with all these neutral palettes, but I think a pinkish-beige room and white subway tile look great together. I think it’s just always going to be integrated in a classic way because it helps other bolder elements really shine.” — De Luzuriaga

“I see it moving in a more textural direction, as opposed to a solid glazed tile, with more of a variation on the surface, so each one isn’t always exactly the same. More like a terracotta than ceramic. People now are drawn to things that have that handmade quality, as opposed to machine-made — that’s where everything is going, toward richness in color and texture, and again playing with the shapes, exaggerating lengths or making it really small, or playing with pattern.” — Sinclair

How do you feel about subway tile? Have you recently seen it used in a new way? Tell us in the comments.
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