less scrubbing means more time for coffee
- Preach. Scrubbing grout is my least favorite “upper body workout.”
- Subway tiles are like the jeans of the tile world—never go out of style, and now with recycled glass, they’re basically the eco-friendly skinny jeans.
- Hex tiles look amazing but yeah, those tiny grout lines are just little soap scum magnets. I tried them once and regretted it after month two.
- I’d rather be sipping coffee than battling mildew... so yeah, subway’s got my vote for now.
I hear you on the hex tiles—those grout lines are relentless. I went with them for a powder room once because they looked so cool, but cleaning was a pain. Has anyone tried those larger format tiles in a bathroom? Wondering if they’re actually easier to keep clean or just look that way in photos...
Larger format tiles are a game changer, honestly. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- Way fewer grout lines, which means less scrubbing (my knees thank me every time).
- They do actually stay cleaner, not just in photos—less space for grime to hide.
- If you go with a light grout and seal it well, it’s even easier.
- Only thing: make sure your floor is super flat. Big tiles don’t forgive bumps.
I’ll admit, hex tiles look awesome, but I’m not missing the toothbrush cleaning sessions...
I get the appeal of big tiles—less grout is a huge win for cleaning, no doubt. But I’ve actually found that smaller hex tiles can be more forgiving if your subfloor isn’t perfect. With large format, even a tiny dip or hump stands out, and you’re stuck with lippage or cracking down the line. I’ve had to redo a section before because of that... not fun. Hex tiles take more time to install and clean, sure, but they can hide imperfections better and add a lot of character. Just depends on what you’re willing to trade off, I guess.
That makes a lot of sense about the subfloor—honestly, I hadn’t really thought about how much more noticeable imperfections would be with bigger tiles until I started reading up on it. I’m in the middle of my first bathroom reno, and I keep going back and forth on subway vs hex tiles for the floor. The cleaning aspect is a big deal for me, but now I’m second guessing whether I’m up for the extra prep work that comes with large format.
For hex tiles, did you find that the extra grout lines make it feel colder underfoot, or is that not really noticeable? I’ve heard people say it can make the floor feel “busier,” but maybe that’s just a design thing. Also, was the installation as tricky as people say, or is it just more time-consuming? I’m not super confident with tiling yet, so I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth the headache for the look.
Appreciate your take on hiding imperfections—definitely something I need to factor in since my house is old and nothing is really flat or level...
