Hex tiles are gorgeous, but yeah, they can be a nightmare with old, wavy walls. I tried using them in my own bathroom reno (house built in the 40s), and even with spacers and a laser level, there were spots where the lines just wouldn’t cooperate. I ended up feathering the grout a bit thicker in some places to hide the worst of it—probably not “by the book,” but it worked for my sanity.
Subway tiles are definitely more forgiving if you’re dealing with less-than-perfect surfaces. I do love how hex tiles look when they’re done right, though. There’s something about that honeycomb pattern that feels both classic and modern at the same time. But honestly, sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the extra headache unless you’ve got perfectly straight walls or a lot of patience.
Zellige is a whole different beast. The imperfections are kind of the point, right? I’ve never understood people who want those to look machine-perfect. Isn’t the charm in the wonkiness?
I totally get the hex tile struggle—had a client with a 1920s bungalow, and those walls were anything but straight. We ended up using a combo: hex on the floor, subway on the walls. The subway tiles handled the unevenness way better, and the hex still gave that pop of character. Zellige’s quirks are honestly what make it sing, though. I’d never try to “fix” those—embrace the handmade vibe, right? Sometimes the imperfections are what make a space feel alive.
I’ve run into the same issue with old houses—those walls are never square. Subway tiles are way more forgiving when you’re dealing with wonky surfaces. I get the love for hex, but honestly, if you want clean lines and less headache, subway’s the way to go. That said, I do appreciate a little imperfection, especially with handmade tiles. There’s something about a slightly uneven edge that just feels right in a vintage space.
I hear you on the old house quirks—my bathroom walls are about as straight as a country road. Subway tiles definitely saved my sanity during our last reno. Still, there’s something charming about a hex floor that’s just a little off-kilter... kind of matches the rest of the place, honestly. I guess it depends how much “character” you want to embrace!
Title: Subway tiles vs. hexagon tiles in the bathroom—what’s your pick?
Yeah, I get what you mean about the “character” showing through. My place is 1920s and nothing is square—if you try to force it, you just end up frustrated. Subway tiles have been way more forgiving for me, especially on those wavy walls. They hide a lot of sins if you don’t stare too close.
That said, I do like the look of a wonky hex floor. It fits with the age of the house, and honestly, if everything was perfectly straight it’d feel weird. The only thing that bugged me was cleaning grout lines on hex tiles—way more corners for grime to settle in. If you’re not into scrubbing floors, subway might be the easier route.
In the end, I guess it’s about how much “old house charm” you want to lean into versus how much hassle you’re willing to put up with. For me, function wins most days... but I still appreciate a little crooked charm here and there.