Introduction
If you’ve been keeping up to date with the latest trends in Irish home improvements and interior design, then it goes without saying that your Instagram feed, search history, and the stacks of magazines by your bedside are chock-full of these alluring tiles. Rectangular and bevelled, typically made of ceramic, but sometimes of glass or porcelain, metro tiles (also known as subway tiles) are set to be the rage all across Ireland in 2022.
But are they just a fad? And how can they be best used in the home? The tiles you’ve been seeing so much of in Irish home renovations are not, in fact, a passing trend. They’re called metro tiles (or subway tiles), and have been in use since they were first designed for the opening of the New York subway system at the dawn of the 20th century.
Style #1 - Horizontal Brick Pattern (Subway Pattern)
The classic. Metro tiles are laid horizontally in long lines, each subsequent line offset by a half tile width, resulting in a traditional ‘brick’ design. You can use this style practically anywhere, since it’s such a timeless design.
Especially useful in situations where you plan to cover large areas with metro tiles, and in rooms which could benefit from looking a little wider than they actually are. The classic subway pattern for metro tiles is especially attractive when coloured tiles are paired with a grout of a different colour or tone, so as to embellish and draw attention to the alternating layout.
Style #2 - Horizontal Stacked Pattern
An alternative to the classic horizontal brick layout is the ‘stacked’ version, wherein metro tiles are laid one atop the other in a grid, with an emphasis on the horizontal axis. A mite less subtle than the ‘Brick’ or classic ‘Subway’ pattern, you should use this to emphasise the crisp angles and modern minimalism of your home, especially when combined with the swirling lines of natural wood.
Style #3 - Herringbone Pattern
Undoubtedly the most complex pattern for any tiles, herringbone subway tiles should probably be left to professional tilers to install. They are, however, all the more magnificent for the extra work. The herringbone style is achieved by laying metro tiles at right angles to each other to create a repeating zig-zag pattern (which resembles herringbones). This style might be a little too loud for an entire room, but a herringbone backsplash in a kitchen, or herringbone subway tiles used as a shower backdrop, can add a powerful sense of movement and energy to spaces which are otherwise synonymous with work and chore.
Style #4 - Vertical Brick Pattern (Verfical 3⁄4)
Turn the classic ‘Subway/Horizontal Brick’ pattern on its head, and what do you have? The vertical brick! Tall vertical columns of metro tiles are offset by a half tile height to give them a 90-degrees-rotated brick aesthetic. This pattern is quite unique, and may not be the favourite of many, but for those brave enough it can pay off dividends. Framing the bathroom vanity, or set as the kitchen backsplash, this vertical brick pattern pushes the floor from the ceiling to open up any space, whilst turning the classic Victorian style into something a little more modern.
Style #5 - Vertical Stacked Pattern
Arguably the most unusual pattern for subway tiles, laying them vertically in uniform rows (to create a strict grid pattern) can actually have some truly impressive applications. From heightening small, squat bathrooms, to accenting the modern minimalism of a sharp, angular kitchen, the ‘vertical stack’ is unusual, without being faddish.
Style #6 - Diagonal Brick Pattern (Vertical ½)
Like the herringbone metro tile pattern, laying your subway tiles diagonally takes a lot of work, and a lot of very precise cutting. Unless you’ve heaps of DIY experience, this one is best left to professionals! Also like its herringbone brethren, the diagonal brick design energises spaces like no other on this list. Drawing the eyes dynamically across the entire expanse of the tiled area, this pattern achieves its full aesthetic potential when created with a duality of colour – choosing two (or more) different coloured subway tiles to highlight a feature wall, for example.
