Lining them up was like a puzzle you can’t walk away from.
That’s exactly it. I tried hex tiles once on a master bath reno, thinking it’d be a showstopper. Looked great in photos, but the install was brutal—one off-center piece and suddenly you’re redoing half the floor. I’ve found buyers usually appreciate the “wow” factor, but honestly, most just want clean lines and something easy to keep up with. Subway tiles might not be flashy, but they’re timeless and way less headache if you’re flipping or renting. Every now and then I get tempted by some wild pattern or color, but after a few tough lessons, I stick to what sells and what won’t have me cursing at 2am with a tile spacer in hand.
I hear you on the hex tiles—those things look amazing in theory, but man, they’ll test your patience and your knees. I did a small powder room with them once and swore I’d never do it again unless someone paid me double. Subway tiles just make life easier. They’re forgiving if your walls aren’t perfectly straight, and you can get creative with patterns if you want a little flair. I get the appeal of something bold, but after wrestling with grout lines for hours, “timeless” starts to sound pretty good.
I thought hex tiles would be a fun “statement” for my first bathroom reno. Turns out, the only statement I made was a string of words I can’t repeat here while trying to line up those tiny edges. My knees still haven’t forgiven me. Subway tiles might not be flashy, but after that experience, I’m all about easy wins and straight lines. Maybe I’ll get wild with grout color next time... or just stick to paint.
Honestly, I get the subway tile appeal—clean lines, easier to lay out, less swearing involved. But after running the math and watching a few install videos, I actually went with hex tiles for my first go. Here’s why:
- The small size let me work around weird corners and pipes without as many awkward cuts.
- Even though lining up those points was tedious, the pattern hides minor mistakes way better than straight rows.
- Grout lines are everywhere, so if one’s off... it kinda blends in.
Yeah, knees hated me for a week, but I don’t regret it. I’d probably do bigger hexes next time, though.
Even though lining up those points was tedious, the pattern hides minor mistakes way better than straight rows.
That’s spot on. Hex tiles do a great job camouflaging imperfections—subway tiles are less forgiving if your lines wander even a little. I’ve seen plenty of “almost straight” subway jobs where one off-kilter row just ruins the whole look.
That said, hex tiles can be brutal on your patience, especially with all those tiny grout lines. I usually recommend them for smaller spaces or accent areas unless you’re really committed. Bigger hexes are definitely easier on the knees and faster to lay, but you lose some of that classic mosaic vibe.
I lean subway for timelessness and resale, but hex is great if you want something a bit more playful or unique. Just make sure you’re ready for a lot of grout cleanup... it’s no joke.
