Subway tiles are white, rectangular tiles with a gloss finish. They are named for the subway stations in New York City the place they had been initial utilized and for exactly where they had been invented. In property décor, the phrase “subway tile” has taken on a broader meaning with tiles of different proportions, meant orientation, and even shades, but a true subway tile ought to have a glazed, glossy finish that is simple to clear and that demonstrates mild.
Subway tiles are generally used in kitchens and loos but can also be utilised in any other place. Nevertheless, simply because they are skinny, they are not suited for use on flooring. Read through on for much more info about subway tiles and to decide whether or not they’re appropriate for use in your property.
Origins
Subway tiles were invented in 1904 by Christopher La Farge and George C. Heins. The designers experienced been presented the remit of coming up with a suitable wall covering that was easy to sustain but that would charm to subway customers. The tiles they arrived up with are nevertheless used nowadays not only in subway stations but in a host of other venues and homes.
Traditional Subway Tiles
La Farge and Heins’s tiles had been developed with curved edges and with a glazed, glossy end. The finish meant that the tiles did not stain but could be easily wiped cleanse. Their white glaze meant that they wouldn’t fade and would retain their authentic brilliance. The glossy color also helped brighten or else dim underground stations. The traditional tile calculated all around 3 inches tall by six inches broad.
Modern Designs
The tiles not only proved well-known in subways. Their neutral color and design and style combined with their sanitary homes speedily observed them utilised in diners as effectively as in residence kitchens and bogs. And despite obtaining been launched a lot more than a hundred many years back, subway tiles remain extremely common right now, albeit in a broader range of patterns and types.
Despite the fact that the tiles are likely to be rectangular, proportions can range from these that are virtually sq. to for a longer time tiles. Shades contain traditional white but can also appear in black, purple, yellow, and each hue in among. Shades can also be blended to produce an practically mosaic appear. Whilst tiles ended up historically laid horizontally, modern day interpretations see the tiles laid vertically and in different patterns and layouts.
Subway Tile Benefits
There are multiple advantages to the obtain and use of subway tiles, including:
- Stain Resistant – The glazing of the tiles’ surface means that liquids and solids run straight off, and it prevents them from getting into the pores of the ceramic underneath. This stain resistance makes subway tiles a great choice for kitchens, especially around the back of the cooker as a splashback alternative and at the back of kitchen units. Resistance to stains is also one of the reasons why this type of tile is popular in bathrooms.
- Easy to Clean – Another benefit of glossy glazing is that if food or some other substance does stick to the tile, it is easy to wipe off. Again, this makes the tiles popular in areas where food might get splashed but it also makes it easier to wipe away grease and other remnants.
- Design Availability – The first subway tiles were likely made from glass, although you are more likely to find ceramic tiles now. With that said, there are glass variants, as well as those made from stone and even marble. Although they might not strictly be subway tiles, they have the same style, and the use of different materials means that you can get the look that will benefit your room. As well as different materials, subway tiles also come in different colors
- Layout Capabilities – For a traditional underground look, the tiles should be laid horizontally so that the tiles are longer than they are tall. However, you don’t live in the Manhattan subway, which means that you don’t have to utilize this same layout.
Lay them vertically, which can assist make a reduced-ceilinged space show up taller. Develop a mosaic-type impact employing various hues or various shades of one particular color. Or produce interest and intrigue by using conventional white tiles but laying them in a sample of your selection. Also, believe about the grout that separates the tiles. White grout can go away a room searching really utilitarian and stark whilst black grout can accentuate the white.
Designing With Subway Tiles
With so a lot of choices and varieties of tiles, you can use subway tiles in almost any area, regardless of the room’s purpose or its current décor.
- Tile Size – 3” x 6” tiles remain the most popular, and the 1:2 ratio makes it easy to create designs and layouts. However, there are alternatives, such as a 4” x 12” tile that naturally has fewer grout lines and gives a more modern finish. Bear in mind that the more grout there is, the more difficult the tiles will be to lay and clean.
- Finish – Smooth tiles are more traditional. They also offer stain resistance and are easier to clean. A matte finish looks less stark and more informal, or you could choose something with an aged or antique finish.
- Style – While plain tiles, or those with beveled or curved edges, are the most common, you will find an array of different styles to quench your desire for something a bit different. Glassed tiles are really shiny and do a good job of encouraging light, while framed tiles can further accentuate the lines that are created with grouting.
- Color – Color is important in all elements of room design. White tiles are uniform and utilitarian, making them suitable in the kitchen and even the bathroom, but too much white can also seem stark and too formal. Black tiles, although naturally very dark, can have a highly glossed finish that actually does a good job of reflecting natural and overhead lights. Alternatively, go all out and have purple, red, or yellow tiles.
- Layout – The traditional layout of subway tiles is an offset horizontal pattern, similar to how bricks are laid on a wall. Another alternative is the stack, whereby there is no offset between the tiles, but this needs very accurate grouting and laying to avoid disheveled lines. You could lay the tiles diagonally or create a unique pattern.
- Grout – Grout does more than hold tiles in place. It also plays a massive part in how the tiled wall will look. The grout can consist of thin lines, which look neat when laid properly, or they can be thick and do a good job of hiding tile or tiling irregularities. The grout can match the color of the tiles and become barely noticeable or contrast the color of the tiles and stand out. It can be neutrally colored so that your attention is taken by the tiles themselves.
Conclusion
There is a great deal to contemplate when acquiring and creating making use of subway tiles, especially as today’s variety is substantially a lot more expansive than the traditional 3” x 6” white, shiny tiles that were very first released at the switch of the twentyth Century. Select from a gamut of colors and a selection of dimensions and generate a format that matches the type in your place for the very best benefits.
Highlighted Picture Credit: carolyn christine, Unsplash
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