Looking for a bit of inspiration for your metro tiles? Look no further! We have a complete guide on ways of laying and styling your metro tiles to offer you a design you’re sure to love for years to come! Metro tiles are designed to replicate the classic brick shape tiles we find in the Underground and Metro stations across the world, a simple design that’s been used for centuries across modern and traditional interior designs. Keep things basic with a classic white metro tile, or feel inspired by vibrantly coloured tiles, packed with character. Here are our top metro tile ideas:
Ways of Laying your Metro Tiles –
Classic Brick Bond
Classic brick bond metro is the most widely adopted method of laying metro tiles. It’s a versatile style that is perfect for adding a bit of extra texture throughout the design. Line your grout joints up in alternative rows, much like you would in bricklaying to achieve this style. This style is clean and traditional, it works great with any shape or shade of metro tile and offers a timeless look. A foolproof way of using the brick bond method is to go with a classic white metro tile. It will offer simplicity while the grout lines still create a bit of detail throughout.
Above, Metro Matt White Wall Tile
Straight Horizontal Metro Tiles
If you have your mind set on something much simpler and easier, try out the straight horizontal metro tile method. This is where you line up all of your joints to be straight with one another, with the metro tile in a horizontal format, creating a uniform look. This look is a more modern way of using metro tiles, and results in a contemporary look. With this layout style you have the chance to use some more vibrant colours to create an ultra modern look, or keep things neutral for a warmer style.
Above, Village Mushroom Wall Tiles
Vertical Metro Tiles
Much like the horizontal method, this is where you lay the tiles so that the grout joints completely line up, but instead your metro tile is vertical. This elongates the look of the room, making the walls look taller and grander, perfect for smaller spaces. As is with the horizontal style, this method is great for using with vibrant shades for modern homes, or for a more traditional look, use calmer, more muted colours.
Above, Village Emerald Green Wall Tiles
Staggered Metro Tiles
This style uses metro tiles in a vertical format again, with a slightly staggered grout line, rather than a completely straight one. When laying these tiles, lay your first column, and on the adjacent column raise the tile up a bit, to create a staggered look. When calculated right, this can be a really effective way of introducing depth and texture to the space. It’s a unique way of laying metro tiles, so if you’re looking for originality, this is the layout for you.
Above, Manacor Glacier Wall Tile
Diagonal Metro Tiles
Like the staggered layout method, this style is incredibly unique, and a bit trickier to lay. It adopts the same theory as the classic brick bond method, but on a diagonal. It’s a stylish way of creating intrigue in your space, whether you use it across your shower space or a trendy kitchen splashback. This also offers the choice between cutting your tiles along the top row to be a completely straight edge, or leaving them uncut to create a pointed look, like we have here.
Above, Metro Dark Grey Wall Tiles
Chevron Metro Tiles
By using this method you’ll result in a truly detailed and textured space. It uses classic metro tiles in an almost zig zag format. Lay your tile on a diagonal, and lay the next one the opposite way, layering this until your happy with the design. Make sure you plan this method, as it can be tricky to get right first time. With a layout this detailed it offers the opportunity to create a truly bespoke design, by adding a second or third colour and introducing a boarder around the room, like we have here.
Above, Village White Wall Tiles
Styling your Metro Tiles –
Traditional:
For a traditional and classy style we recommend sticking to wood textures throughout the space to accessorize. Accessories with ornate details work great, adding texture and detail to the space. Layouts like the classic brick bond and chevron styles are perfect for achieving a timeless, traditional look with your metro tiles, as they add that extra level of texture in their detailed gout lines.
Above, Metro Sage Wall Tiles
Modern:
For something more modern and up to date, we’d recommend you stick to simple accessories and finishes. Include lots of clean lines and sleek surfaces and ditch too many knick-knacks and keep the surfaces clear. When laying your metro tiles in a more modern space we’d recommend choosing a grout that matches your tiles, to hide the joints as much as possible, creating a clean look.
Above, Piacenza Mix Bone Wall Tile
Country Kitchen:
When it comes to designing a country kitchen make sure you include lots of neutral tones like beiges and browns. These create the appearance of a calming, comforting space, resulting in that well loved and familiar country kitchen style. Keep your metro tiles in a simple colour like white or beige, and compliment them with variations of the same shade throughout the rest of the space. Natural textures like wood will also enhance the well loved design style.
Above, Mini Metro White Wall Tiles
Art Deco:
Art Deco is a popular 20th century inspired design that originated in France. It features luxurious details and exudes a sense of true expense and elegance. Introduce oversized furniture pieces and various metal accessories throughout to compliment this style. Coloured metro tiles work beautifully in an Art Deco room, especially when complemented with gold details throughout.
Above, Manacor Ocean Blue Wall Tiles
Minimalistic:
Minimalistic interiors are great for those of us looking for a simple yet effective design. Implement clean lines and simple finishes throughout, concentrating on the idea that less is more. Many minimalistic designs have strictly neutral colour schemes, and if they do include colour it’s muted shades that are easy on the eye. Create clean lines with the grout joints in your metro tiles, focusing more on the straight horizontal or vertical layouts.
Glamour:
For a glamorous and luxurious space, stick to a simple metro tile and layout, and accessorize the rest of the space with elegant furniture and décor. We love the look that Bathroom Mountains brushed brass collection gives off, as it exudes luxury at an affordable price. Compliment with rich tones and patterns throughout, like navy blue or forest green. Gloss surfaces are also perfect in this style, demonstrated beautifully by our Linear White Gloss Wall Tiles.
Above, Linear White Gloss Wall Tiles
Industrial:
Industrial styles typically use lots of raw edges and materials, to give off the idea that it was once a factory or warehouse building. They include lots of exposed pipes and brick work with your typical furniture placed throughout as it normally would be. Classic brick bond layouts are ideal for metro tiles in an industrial setting, as they compliment the idea of exposed brick, with a sense of style and character.
Above, Fulham Blue Wall Tile
There you have out metro tile ideas, including how to lay and style them to result in the perfect scheme for you and your home! Be sure to tag us in pictures of your finished metro tiles on Instagram, @Tilemountainuk, we love seeing your designs!
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