Grey subway tiles may not be as popular as white ones, but this underrated look will surely add a pop to any room! So whether you’re looking to use grey subway tile for a kitchen backsplash, bathroom shower, or even a fireplace, there is a design for you!
When designing a space with grey subway tile, the most important decision is grout color. Use white grout with grey tile for a bright contrast, while black grout can give a moody vibe. For a seamless look, use grey grout that will blend with your tiles.
For more inspiration, see the gallery below of our favorite grey subway tile ideas for your home.
1. Use Polished Grey Subway Tile for a Stunning Look
This kitchen uses polished grey subway tile with grey grout that creates a beautiful backsplash. The glossy finish reflects light and gives a clean look to this kitchen with white cabinets and countertops.
2. Contrast White Cabinets with Grey Tile
The white quartz countertop and cabinets go perfectly with this light grey kitchen backsplash. The grey tones in the tile match the stainless steel appliances and veining in the quartzite. When choosing your tile, light grey is a fantastic alternative to white.
3. Use a Matte Grey Subway Tile for a Modern Look
Try using matte grey subway tiles with white grout like this bathroom for a more modern look. Extending the tile to the ceiling also makes this room look larger, while the gold mirror adds a touch of warmth.
4. layer Decor with Dark Tile to create depth
This dark grey subway tile backsplash adds a nice contrast to this white kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Decor around the stove helps bring in neutral tones, while the polished finish on the backsplash matches the countertops.
5. Use Accent Tiles Behind the Stove for a Pop
Instead of using the same grey tile across the backsplash, this kitchen adds an accent area with patterned white and grey tiles. This square accent instantly draws your eye in, making the stove a focal point of this kitchen.
6. Mix and Match Tiles for a unique design
This simple mosaic accent area above the stove brings in colors found across the white cabinets, black hardware, and grey backsplash with white grout. This accent area is a great way to break up the backsplash and add a fun design element.
7. Add marble Grey Subway Tile for a luxurious look
The marble grey subway tile shower in this bathroom brings in a touch of luxury that is framed by glass doors. The natural restoration hardware vanity adds a modern design element highlighted by the scallop wallpaper. Mixing patterns across this space helps create a balanced look that isn’t overwhelmed by any one tile or color.
8. Contrast Gray Shower Tiles with Black Hardware
A shower niche continues the light gray subway tile with white grout in this bathroom. Black hardware contrasts the colors in the bathtub and adds a farmhouse feel.
9. Match Stainless Steel Appliances with Brick-Look Subway Tiles
We love this natural subway tile that looks like grey bricks with a worn look that adds a homey feeling to the space. The color also matches the large stainless steel oven. Instead of white subway tile, adding grey helps create depth in this space.
10. Go Floor to Ceiling with Tile for Added Height
Using glass doors on this grey tile shower helps make the bathroom look more prominent. In addition, this space uses a mosaic penny tile floor to balance the horizontal subway tiles that extend to the ceiling. We love the detail of the floor, which helps balance the abundance of gray in this space.
11. Carry Subway Tile Throughout the Room for a Seamless Design
While white subway tile with gray grout gives a farmhouse look, gray tile with white grout adds a modern look. This is why choosing the right tile and grout is essential to the design process. For example, using gray in this bathroom gives it a modern and moody look while still accenting the white bathtub and floors.
12. Add Shelves for an Open and Airy Look
Open shelves above the backsplash in this kitchen add warmth and let you display decor. The colors are carried down to around the sink, while a black faucet contrasts the countertop and backsplash. Adding plants is one of our favorite ways to add a natural pop of color to a kitchen.
13. Continue Tile through a Shower Niche
Using ceramic tile in a shower is common today, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors. Many homeowners feel like white tile is the obvious choice, but this bathroom shows us how light grey with grey grout can create a stunning design.
14. Add an Accent Area Over A Stove
Larger kitchens can benefit from an accent area over the stove that helps draw your eye in and break up the abundance of backsplash. This kitchen uses a framed chevron design made of the same grey subway tile as the backsplash. The colors in the tile accent the white granite countertops and blue kitchen island. A built-in microwave on the island adds to the functionality of this space.
15. A Blue Island With Gray Backsplash
A blue shaker-style island is complemented by brown wood accents that give this kitchen a warm feeling. The white cabinets and grey backsplash balance the busy countertops. Using a polished tile for the backsplash reflects the light from the pendants giving the space a luxurious look.
16. Use White Grout with Grey Subway Tile for Contrast
The naturally worn look of these grey subway tiles adds a rustic aesthetic to this bathroom. When designing a space, it’s essential to determine the style you want to achieve upfront and choose materials that complement that style.
17. Lay Tile Vertically to create height
If you’re looking to add height to your space, try turning your grey subway tile vertical, as shown by this shower. To balance the moody color of the wall tile, this design uses blue penny tile flooring with white accents.
18. Make a statement with Herringbone Pattern Backsplash
We love herringbone pattern subway tile, and this kitchen backsplash shows how great it works with grey-colored tiles. While installing herringbone tile is more expensive than a standard installation, it can add a big statement to any space.
19. Swap White Tile for A Light Grey
This home bar uses a polished light gray subway tile as the backsplash in a herringbone pattern. We love how polished tile reflects light, adding depth to any room. This is a great way to add a fun design element without breaking the bank for smaller spaces.
20. Take Backsplash to the ceiling to add height
To add height to a kitchen backsplash, install subway tile from the countertop to the ceiling. For even more dimension, use open shelves like the kitchen above for a light and airy look.
21. Create Layers with decor in front of backsplash
installing a backsplash is only the first step in creating a beautiful kitchen. Don’t forget about decor, which can create depth in a space. This kitchen uses natural wood cutting boards and pans to add warm tones in front of the grey tile backsplash with white grout.
22. Turn tile vertical to create a tall fireplace
This vertical grey subway tile fireplace instantly draws your eye, while the larger tile size helps fill the space. When choosing a tile size, you should consider the size of your room. Larger tiles look better in bigger rooms, while smaller tiles help add dimension to tight spaces.
23. Add a niche behind your stove
If you’re worried about grey subway tile overwhelming your backsplash, add a niche behind your stove. This area provides excellent storage, plus a mosaic design, which helps break up the backsplash.
24. Mix horizontal and vertical patterns
This shower surround shows you don’t need to pick between horizontal or vertical gray subway tile. By mixing the patterns in groups of four, this shower creates a unique design in a small space. Impressively, the niche continues the pattern helping it blend while still providing storage.
25. Balance Modern White Kitchens with Gray Accents
This modern white kitchen with slab doors matches the stainless steel appliances with a polished grey backsplash. The polished finish of the tile helps complement the flat cabinet doors and white island. Brown cow-hid barstools add a touch of warmth to the space.
26. Add depth by mixing colors
White wainscoting on half the wall contrasts with gray paint and subway tile around the shower. Using a darker tile in the shower surround than the paint color adds depth to the room. Hexagon marble floor tiles add another layer to this bathroom.
27. Add a Dark Gray Kitchen Backsplash to white cabinets
Use the same tile arranged in a different pattern for a subtle backslash accent area. We love using a chevron design behind the stove while still matching the rest of the backsplash in this white shaker-style kitchen.
28. Use white grout with gray tile to match the cabinetry
This simple kitchen accents white cabinets and brushed nickel hardware with a grey backsplash and white grout. Accenting the colors of the handles and hardware in a kitchen is one of the easiest ways to make a space look well-designed.
29. match your vanity and shower surround
Try matching your vanity color with your shower surround to give your bathroom a cohesive look that isn’t overpowering. Since these pieces are typically spaced apart, you can use similar colors without needing them to match. While the grey subway tile in this shower is lighter than the painted vanity, it still perfectly complements the design. Grey tile floor helps tie together the room.
