Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Rooms
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are packed with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    In a world full of so many different house styles, it can be a little challenging just to narrow down your own home's architectural style, let alone edit the list down to your favorite style or understand the distinctions characteristic to each house style. We'll show you the 10 most popular American house styles, including Cape Cod, French Country, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, Cottage, Mediterranean, ranch-style, and Contemporary.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    Whether you're a beginning baker just starting out or a master chef looking to declutter, we'll help you set up a beginner's baking essentials kit with 21 tools. For anyone who already owns these handy baking tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to get rid of that soufflé dish you never use. Building your baking equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Decorating
  3. Kitchen Decor & Design
  4. Backsplashes
  5. Subway Tile Backsplash

Subway Tile Backsplash

Caitlin Sole headshot
By Caitlin Sole February 19, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
teal kitchen
When it comes to a classic backsplash, nothing beats the traditional subway tile. Subway tiles make cleaning up kitchen messes a quick and easy task, plus the variety to choose from seems almost infinite. One thing is for sure, subway tile will never go out of style.
Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cottage Aesthetic

101117356.jpg

Small subway tile adds to this kitchen's cottage style aesthetic. The greenish gray tiles give just enough contrast to the white cabinetry without being overwhelming.

1 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Contrasting Couple

Kitchen Cabinet Colors

Oversize white subway tile provides contrast to bold, red cabinetry. The combination of colors makes the farmhouse-style kitchen feel fresh and new.

2 of 16

3 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Classic and Clean

Celebrating the Past

White subway tile in a cottage-style kitchen looks classic and clean. The white cabinets and mint-color beaded board on the walls combine perfectly with the white backsplash.

3 of 16

Advertisement

4 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tile Emphasis

Arrange the Range

In this kitchen, oversize subway tile with charcoal gray grout emphasizes staggered installation and gives a greater presence to the tilework. The tiles have a certain vintage feel that is juxtaposed by commercial-grade stainless-steel appliances.

4 of 16

5 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Herringbone Pattern

subway tile

Gray porcelain subway tiles create drama against pure white cabinetry. Behind the range, a herringbone-pattern inset on the backsplash breaks up the backsplash and adds another focal point to the wall.

5 of 16

6 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cool Hues

natural wood kitchen

Cool bluish-gray subway tile matches the window treatments and gives just a slight pop of color to white cabinetry. The cool colors balance out warmer woods on the ceiling and island.

6 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Seamless Transition

white kitchen

White beveled subway tile blends into the all-white cabinetry and countertops in this kitchen. Backsplash colors can be used to either visually join upper and lower cabinetry together or separate the two.

  • Super stylish and small white kitchens.

7 of 16

8 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Color Cohesion

kitchen

Large marble subway tile complements the distressed green kitchen island. Matching backsplash colors to other colors in the kitchen ensures cohesion within the space.

8 of 16

9 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Proper Proportions

101697006.jpg

Oversize subway tile is installed in a brick pattern above the lower cabinetry. The size of the tile is similar to the size of the bricks used in the kitchen floor. Dark grout between the subway tiles adds dimension and a feeling of age.

9 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Handcrafted Look

white kitchen

A backsplash made of white subway tile has a slightly crackled, wavy finish for a handcrafted look. The detail of the tiles only comes out with close inspection, which makes the backsplash a quiet backdrop in the kitchen.

10 of 16

11 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Add Some Grandeur

white and yellow kitchen

Marble subway tile in a classic design adds grandeur to this kitchen. The gray veining in the marble pairs well with the stainless-steel range hood and countertops.

11 of 16

12 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tranquil Scene

subway tile

Blue-green glass subway tiles give off a tranquil air in this kitchen. The subtle white grout lines give the tiles additional presence.

12 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coordinated Countertops

101820871

Barely-there gray subway tiles complement the colors in the granite countertop. The off-white cabinetry leaves the space feeling a little bit warmer compared to a stark, white paint job.

13 of 16

14 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Break It Up

Contrasting Islands

White subway tile provides a simple contrast to contemporary orange cabinetry and helps to break up the lower and upper cabinets from one another. The clean lines in the tilework mimic the straight lines and edges throughout the rest of the kitchen.

14 of 16

15 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tile Styles

teal kitchen

Subway tile paired with glass tile makes this kitchen backsplash stand out. The subtle color shift from white to pale blue adds just the right amount of visual interest.

15 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bonus: How to Grout a Backsplash

Once you have the subway tiles up, it's time to grout! See the step-by-step process here.

16 of 16

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Caitlin Sole

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 16 Cottage Aesthetic
    2 of 16 Contrasting Couple
    3 of 16 Classic and Clean
    4 of 16 Tile Emphasis
    5 of 16 Herringbone Pattern
    6 of 16 Cool Hues
    7 of 16 Seamless Transition
    8 of 16 Color Cohesion
    9 of 16 Proper Proportions
    10 of 16 Handcrafted Look
    11 of 16 Add Some Grandeur
    12 of 16 Tranquil Scene
    13 of 16 Coordinated Countertops
    14 of 16 Break It Up
    15 of 16 Tile Styles
    16 of 16 Bonus: How to Grout a Backsplash

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Subway Tile Backsplash
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.