10 Jan

Style Ideas for Your Glass Subway Tile Backsplash

Published by Unique Home Improvements - Categories: #Tile Backsplash, #Herringbone Pattern

Glass subway tile backsplash is a common sight in many modern homes. But while it can be attractive, it may feel too ordinary, especially if the tiles are set in the traditional brick pattern. The good news is that there are other ways to spice up what you may consider a tired look. The following are subway tile styling ideas you may want to try for your kitchen and bathroom backsplashes.

Traditional Meets Modern

The running bond pattern, more popularly known as the traditional brick pattern, features tiles whose centers are lined with the edges of other tiles placed above and below them. These days, the said pattern may be turned diagonally or vertically for a dynamic and remarkable look. The traditional 3” by 6” subway tiles are the most suitable option for these new patterns. Using the patterns for longer tiles is ideal for the walls of shower enclosures but not for kitchen backsplashes.

In another traditional yet less common pattern, tiles are simply stacked. Unlike brick installation, the installation patterns used in tiles is not likely to affect the strength of the wall. That makes the stack bond pattern an ideal alternative to the traditional brick pattern. Also, the former is easier to install than the latter. Stack the tiles vertically to make it more interesting.

Herringbone Pattern

Named after the bones of a fish, the herringbone pattern is used in multiple industries and arts. In this style, tiles are set to form multiple V shapes. Instead of V shapes, the tiles may also be installed showing L shapes. The herringbone pattern is great for covering an entire kitchen wall. Neutral- and light-colored subway tiles are the best materials to use for the said pattern.

Beyond Neutral-Colored Grout

Traditionally, the standard grout is gray in color. However, tile grouts today come in different hues. If you want your white subway tiles to stand out even more, use a black grout. But if you prefer to keep a clean and subtle look, take advantage of white grout. Colored grouts are best for colored subway tiles.

Here’s the tricky part: You can’t just randomly choose a grout for your colored tiles. To further highlight the pattern of your glass subway tile backsplash, you should opt for a dark- colored grout if your tiles are light-colored and vice versa. Striving for a monochromatic look is highly recommended when it comes to grout selection. On the other hand, the combination of tiles and grout showing complementary colors is bound to be an eyesore. Think of blue-green subway tiles with orange-like or brownish grout.

Addition of Decorative Tiles

Decorative tiles featuring unique designs are usually hand-made. Each piece is more expensive than any of its mass produced counterpart. Aside from being impractical, installing nothing but decorative tiles as your backsplash can add a cluttered look to your kitchen and bathroom. However, adding a few of them to a subway tile-filled backsplash makes the hand-made tiles noticeable in a good way. They add some personality and elegance to the rooms as well.

Try Tricolor

For the fun-loving homeowner, having a backsplash with uniformly colored subway tiles could turn out to be a boring choice. If you think that way, you can try out a backsplash that feature analogous color schemes. Analogous colors entails that the colors are located side by side in the color wheel. (Examples include: yellow, yellow-orange and orange; blue, blue-green and green; and yellow, yellow-green and green.) Use the Y-YO-O color scheme if you like your kitchen to appear warmer; use B-BG-G to make the room feel cooler.

The abovementioned ideas for your glass subway tile backsplash are just suggestions. You are still free to make your own styling choices. Just keep in mind to see a virtual or drawn copy of your preferred pattern or style before you shop for tiles.