I’ve done both subway and hex tiles in old houses, and honestly, hex tiles do hide imperfections a bit better just because the smaller pieces can “bend” with the floor a little. The extra grout lines never made it feel colder to me, but yeah, they do make the floor look busier—depends if that bugs you. Install-wise, it’s not super hard, just slow. Lining up all those little hexes takes patience, but it’s forgiving if your floor isn’t perfect. I’d say if you like the look, go for it. Just budget extra time for install and grouting.
I just finished my first bathroom reno and went with hex tiles on the floor. It took me way longer than I expected—lining up all those little pieces was kind of a pain, honestly. But you’re right, the extra grout lines really did help hide some dips in my old floor. I will say, cleaning all that grout is a bit more work than with subway tiles, but I don’t regret it. The look is classic and it feels solid underfoot. If you’re patient, it’s totally doable.
I hear you on the hex tile install—it’s definitely a patience game. When I work with hex tiles, I always recommend dry-laying a few rows first to get a feel for the pattern and catch any alignment issues early. For uneven floors, those extra grout lines really do help mask imperfections, like you noticed. If cleaning grout’s a pain, sealing it well makes a big difference and keeps maintenance down. Subway tiles are faster to set, but hex has that timeless vibe... just comes down to how much time you want to spend on install and upkeep.
Subway tiles are faster to set, but hex has that timeless vibe... just comes down to how much time you want to spend on install and upkeep.
That’s kind of where I’m stuck. Subway tiles seem way less stressful for a first-timer like me—straight lines, fewer chances to mess up. But man, hex tiles look so good when they’re done right. I’m not sure I trust my patience (or knees) enough for all those tiny grout lines, though. Sealing grout sounds smart, but does it really make cleaning that much easier?
I’m not sure I trust my patience (or knees) enough for all those tiny grout lines, though.
Honestly, you’re not wrong about the knees—hex tiles are a workout. Sealing grout does help with cleaning, but it’s not magic. You’ll still need to scrub, just maybe not as often. If you’re leaning subway, you’ll probably appreciate the easier install and maintenance. Are you thinking about doing the walls, floor, or both? That can make a difference with tile choice too.
