Subway tiles vs. hexagon tiles in the bathroom—what’s your pick?

Hex tiles definitely have that old-school charm, but I’ll admit, the extra grout lines can be a pain if you’re not on top of maintenance. I’ve worked on a few remodels where folks insisted on hex for the “vintage vibe,” and it really does transform the space. But yeah, cleaning all those lines is no joke.

“Sealing grout is a game changer, but I still wonder about eco-friendly sealers—some of them are kinda sketchy ingredient-wise.”

I’ve tested a couple of the so-called green sealers. Some work fine, but others don’t hold up as well, especially in high-moisture spots like bathrooms. It’s a trade-off—sometimes you end up resealing more often, which kind of defeats the purpose.

Recycled glass hex tiles look amazing, but in my experience, they’re a bit more slippery and can chip if you drop something heavy. Cleaning-wise, they’re not much worse than ceramic hex, but you do see water spots more. If you’re after personality over practicality, though, they’re hard to beat.

I hear you on the grout lines—hex tiles look awesome but man, they do add to the cleaning routine. I’ve had a couple rentals with hex floors and, honestly, tenants either love the look or get annoyed by the upkeep.

“Recycled glass hex tiles look amazing, but in my experience, they’re a bit more slippery and can chip if you drop something heavy.”

That’s been my experience too. They’re eye-catching but not always the most practical for high-traffic bathrooms. Has anyone tried those larger-format hex tiles? I’m curious if they’re any easier to maintain or if it’s just more of the same hassle.

I’ve actually tried the bigger hex tiles in my last reno, and honestly, they’re a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, yeah, you get fewer grout lines (which is a win for anyone who’s ever spent an afternoon scrubbing those tiny spaces with a toothbrush). But on the other hand, if you’re using something like recycled glass or even porcelain, they can still be just as slippery—maybe even more so since there’s more uninterrupted surface area. I had to go back and add some anti-slip treatment after my partner nearly did the splits stepping out of the shower.

Maintenance-wise, it’s not quite as bad as the classic small hex tiles, but it’s not exactly “set it and forget it” either. The larger tiles do make the space look less busy though, which is nice if you’re going for that modern vibe. Still, I find myself missing subway tiles sometimes just because they’re so forgiving when it comes to cleaning and hiding little scuffs.

Funny thing—my neighbor went all-in on tiny white hex tiles for her bathroom floor because she loved that vintage look. She regrets it every time her kids track in mud or drop their bath toys. Meanwhile, my cousin swears by big matte-finish hex tiles in her guest bath and says they’re super easy to keep clean... but she doesn’t have kids or pets.

If you’re set on hexagons but want less hassle, maybe try a darker grout? It hides stains way better than white or light gray. Or go with a matte finish tile—it helps with both slip factor and hiding water spots. At the end of the day, I guess it comes down to how much time you want to spend cleaning versus how much you love that geometric look. For me, I’ll probably stick with subway tiles for high-traffic spots and save the fancy hexes for accent walls or low-use powder rooms.

- Totally agree on the grout lines—fewer is always better for cleaning. I spent way too long researching grout colors and still ended up with some stains showing on the lighter ones.
- The slip factor is something I hadn’t really thought about until now. I was leaning toward glossy hex tiles for the floor, but maybe matte is smarter, especially since I’ve got a dog who treats bath time like a slip-n-slide.
- Subway tiles just seem easier all around. I like that they’re classic but still look good with modern fixtures. Plus, if you mess up the caulk or get a chip, it’s not super obvious.
- I do love the look of hex tiles for accent walls, though. They’re kind of a pain to line up, but the geometric vibe is cool in small doses.
- Dark grout is a solid tip. I’ve seen some bathrooms where the white grout just looks dingy after a few months, especially with kids or pets.
- Honestly, I’m probably going to stick with subway for the main areas and maybe experiment with hex in the shower niche or a backsplash. Less stress, more style... at least in theory.

I keep coming back to the cleaning thing too.

“I spent way too long researching grout colors and still ended up with some stains showing on the lighter ones.”

The slip factor is something I hadn’t even considered until now, honestly. Is matte tile really that much less slippery than glossy? I’ve got a toddler who’s basically a tornado in the bath, so safety’s a big deal for me.

Also, for those who’ve done accent hex tiles—did you find it hard to keep the lines straight? I’m not super handy and the idea of messing up a geometric pattern kind of stresses me out. Is it worth the hassle for a small area like a niche, or does it just end up looking wonky?