Hex tiles definitely hide a lot of the weirdness in old floors. I like how they sort of embrace imperfections instead of fighting them. Subway tiles look sharp, but every little uneven spot stands out more. For me, hex wins for older houses.
I totally get what you mean about hex tiles being more forgiving. I’m in the middle of my first bathroom reno and honestly, the idea of lining up subway tiles perfectly on my old, slightly wavy walls is kinda intimidating. But at the same time, I love that crisp, classic subway look. Has anyone tried mixing both styles in one space? Like hex on the floor and subway on the walls? Wondering if that helps balance out imperfections but still gives you that clean vibe...
Subway tiles on wavy walls aren't as bad as people think—imperfections can actually add some character, especially if you embrace a bit of unevenness. I've done a reno where the slight wonkiness made the space feel less sterile. Mixing hex and subway is cool, but don't stress over perfect lines too much. Sometimes a little imperfection makes it feel more lived-in and real.
Sometimes a little imperfection makes it feel more lived-in and real.
Totally get this. I did a bathroom last year with subway tiles on a wall that was anything but flat. At first, I tried to fight the waves, but honestly, once I stepped back, the slight unevenness just made it feel more like an old-school European bath than a showroom. It’s way less stressful if you stop chasing perfection.
I’ve mixed hex and subway too—hex on the floor, subway on the walls. The lines don’t always match up perfectly, but that’s kind of the charm. Honestly, obsessing over every grout line just takes the fun out of it. A little wonkiness gives the space some soul. If everything’s too perfect, it starts to look like nobody actually lives there... or worse, like a hospital.
I hear you on the “lived-in” vibe—my last bathroom reno taught me that lesson the hard way. I spent hours trying to get every subway tile lined up like a Tetris master, but my 1920s walls had other plans. At some point, I just shrugged and let the tiles do their thing. Now, every time I see that little dip by the window, it kind of makes me smile. It’s like a reminder that real people actually use this space.
Mixing hex and subway is such a classic move. I’ve done hex on the floor too, and yeah, those grout lines never want to play nice with the wall tiles. But honestly, I think that’s what keeps it from looking like a hotel lobby. There’s something about a little mismatch that feels more welcoming.
I do get why some folks chase that perfect grid though. There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing everything line up just right... but at the end of the day, I’d rather have a bathroom that feels like home than one that looks like a catalog page. Plus, if you ever drop something and chip a tile, it’s way less heartbreaking when things aren’t already “perfect.”
Curious—do you ever find yourself noticing the imperfections more at first, then forgetting about them after a while? I swear, the stuff I obsessed over during install is invisible to me now. Maybe it’s just part of the process. Or maybe I’m just getting lazier with age.
Either way, I’ll take a little character over sterile any day.
