18 Subway Tile Backsplash Ideas That Are Totally Timeless

In this smashing kitchen by Toronto designer Orsi Panos, subway tile dovetails into a mosaic backsplash for an adventurous twist. Also a fun departure? Floating shelves skirting right across the windows!

Got an interesting ceiling, like this canted, wood-clad one? Use subway tile to draw the eye upwards, like in this nautical cottage kitchen on Savary Island, B.C. We like how the tile lines up with the cabinets and that bold blue oven is fabulous!

Designed by Kortney Wilson of Masters of Flip, this kitchen goes to the dark side and comes up a winner. The black subway tile makes the white cabinetry pop and it picks up the farmhouse pulls. Kortney went renegade on the hood vent by opting for rustic wood.

You can’t help but smile at this upstart of a backsplash, designed by Scott McGillivray. It’s a great example of how you can play around with subway tile to get a fun, varied look.

A wall of subway tile is the way to go, if you want to catch the eye. That’s the case for this assortment of shelves in this delightful kitchen. We love everything about this Toronto home, including the retro floral wallpaper and gold accents seen throughout.

Natural stone is naturally lovely. More so if the pattern is subway tile. Both the veining and the tile shape lend a look that is forever in fashion. See the rest of this amazing kitchen, where you can read about how the homeowner tweaked the original 1980s cabinetry.

Gold and black are glamorous mates in this divine Toronto kitchen. (You’ve got to see the black and white play throughout the house!) Bringing the subway all the way up to the ceiling is visually enticing and matches the lines of the cabinetry for a luxe feel.

Turn that tile sideways and suddenly it’s much more interesting. Ditto going with grey with white grout for punch.

Oh, herringbone, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: on floors, around fireplaces, on a bathroom wall, and of course, on a kitchen backsplash. Apart from the herringbone, this kitchen designed by Sarah Richardson gets its good looks from the pleasing symmetry of the shelves and artwork.

Designed by Jillian Harris, this gorgeous kitchen shows how layering whites creates a quietly dynamic effect, which is exactly what you want in an open-concept space where everything else is bright and airy.

In this kitchen by Joanna Gaines, a patch of black subway tile gives emphasis to the cabinetry, which is otherwise subtle. Pro designer tip: always use black in a space to ground it.

Subway tile is perfect in a linear kitchen, where you’ve got lots of room to show off its simple, classic beauty. Chop up the kitchen with a two-tone look, like this Vancouver stunner designed by Gillian Segal Design. Displaying artwork above the uppers is a nice touch, too.

A Bianco Carrara backsplash is luxurious in this B.C. shaker-style kitchen that features a gorgeous mosaic detail above the range, and a knockout chandelier. White subway tile never gets boring!

A wall of glossy white subway tiles is just asking to be paired with a timeless dose of colour. This modern farmhouse kitchen boasts grey-blue lower cabinets. Add in wood elements for an envy-inducing aesthetic.

Sorry white subway tile, we’re giving you a break on this one. Beige is back, and looking beautiful as ever, in this stunning, traditional kitchen designed by Property Brothers.

Bevelled-edge subway tile has three-dimensional allure in this stylish kitchen, where chunky shelves and brass hardware make for a compelling reason to renovate.

Instead of an inset mosaic, why not switch the pattern, instead? That’s the thinking behind this kitchen, where a herringbone pattern beautifully frames the pot-filler over the stove.

Designed by the Property Brothers, this kitchen has several components that make it amazing, including brick subway tile (don’t you love its washed-earthy colour?) and heavy brass hardware. Don’t be shy with the tile – wrap it around that window!