skip to main content

Flat or bevelled metro tiles?

Emmeline Westin

5 years ago

You opt for tiling. You progress even further and decide that metro tiles are right for you, and then you have to decide whether you want to go for a flat or bevelled finish. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Which metro tile finish would you choose (or have chosen)? And why?

Featured Answer

Sarah Cameron

5 years ago

Don't you think these metro tiles make a room feel rather like a public lavatory?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (37)

frmawson
5 years ago
Hi Emmeline Get some samples (you pay then take them back - that's Topps Tiles if \i remember rightly/and/or support a local tile shop - I did with the bathroom tiles), see what a friend's done; visit some neighbours ie with the same size kitchen; see the tiles in different light/time of day/evening - I went for a light beigy bevelled shiny - looks good. If in doubt go for LIGHT. You're right - there is too much choice! Am in the lounge now - more decisions!
Daisy England
5 years ago
Neither. My pet hate is metro tiles. Vile things.
Related Discussions
Where can I find grey metro tiles like this?
Q
Comments (15)
I threw them all away at the weekend! I did also like one that had a touch of brown though so very likely to be those! The samples only cost £2 I think so would definitely order them. We are just doing the house up to rent for my father-in-law so it's really like for like replacing with white suite (has a 70s one at the mo!), limited tiling and a vinyl wood effect floor.
...See More
Problem with metro tile with grey grout in kitchen
Q
Comments (29)
Thanks again for all your comments. Particularly helpful to be alerted to socket issue. I took these pics before the builder replaced the sockets with some nice chrome ones. (see new pics) However, he's still got them in the wrong place. Will raise that today. He hasn't actually finished the hood area in these pictures - as I stopped him. But also the chimney extractor doesn't seem to be functioning so it needs to come down anyway. This solves this problem and we can tile behind it - although I'm still worried that he's not going to be able to redo the job well enough. I've added some more pics with better light. Still finishing the floor and just have to adjust and tweak a few things but (apart from tiling) nearly there! The kitchen is Howdens Burford Grey, Pure White Quartz from Master Quartz (not been impressed with this as marking so easily with pans, belt buckles, any kind of grime - but probably shouldn't have chosen white! - anyone else had problems with their quartz?), Paint mainly F&B Wimborne White and Slipper Satin woodwork, engineered oak floor from Howdens.
...See More
White Metro Tiles With Grey or White Grout?
Q
Comments (9)
It comes down to personal taste doesn’t it? I prefer white tile with white grout as I think the grey grout has a grubbiness about it, rather like public toilets in the 1960’s and 70’s. Obviously if you are relatively young then you will not have this wonderful memory lol!
...See More
White or Grey Grout with Metro Tiles?
Q
Comments (31)
Thank you SO MUCH everyone for you thoughts, ideas and examples. After quite a bit of back-and-forthing, we decided on..... White grout for both bathrooms. We're really thrilled with it, truthfully it does come down to personal preference, but I thought it would be useful for those researching in future to know why I think we prefer it. In this instance, we liked it because: We have floor-to-ceiling metro tiles on all walls - they're everywhere. I love the look of grey grout, but I believe it would have been too overpowering from every angle. If we had half a wall painted a solid colour (white), or just tiled the shower space, grey probably would have worked well. Our tiles are bevelled - this actually adds a lot of definition and contrast to the tiles already. It prevents the tiles from feeling 'washed out' or boring. We just prefer the look! (see pictures). Some considerations: I have no idea how easy it will be to keep these clean. We have some candles in the room, and I can already tell we will have to be diligent about cleaning the smoke off. Thanks again - hope someone finds the pictures useful!
...See More
Laura
5 years ago
Defintaley flat! My kitchen has been 'finished' for 18 months but I can only find the colour tile I like in bevelled. I'll keep waiting to find what I want
PRO
User
5 years ago
I like both.. I think the flat type is great for hygiene and it probably serves this purpose in the kitchen picture you've chosen. Also the bevelled style is very tactile and gives a much warmer feel to the tile, which is great in a bathroom environment.. Both rooms are beautiful.
tamp75
5 years ago
I'm with Daisy & Sarah. Hate the things. Public toilets or London Underground style, but that's just my opinion. However, if for any odd reason I had to have them, I'd go for flat with a nice crackle glaze which kind of detracts from the public places style.
louisecampbell09
5 years ago
but alot of people like the London underground look. I do. And I prefer flat faced tiles
suesigngirl
5 years ago
I don't like these tiles much as they look a bit 'public lavatory' in style. My son has some bevelled soft grey metro tiles in his kitchen and they took a lot longer to fit due to the need to cut some to fit around sockets etc. He wasted quite a few trying to make them look neat and straight where the cut edge met the sockets due to the changing depth of the tile surface.
apismalifica
5 years ago
Not keen on metro tiles, but if anything, flat
Rosie B
5 years ago
Surely it's time to move on from these ghastly toilet tiles. So many sheep following a style.....and manufacturers must be thrilled to be able to overcharge for such basic tiles. Where has individuality of design gone?
Daisy England
5 years ago
I'm just glad I'm not the only person who detests these things.
hunnyshooga
5 years ago
I like both however if you go flat you can always change it up by using Tile Decals .....

..
Joanna Biddolph
5 years ago
Neither. They always make me think of public loos. I prefer large tiles. Very large. And I like to place them landscape, not portrait - if they aren't square.
msclelluk
5 years ago
Beveled as they add more texture @ the light bounces around more ... I like them !
Lisa Herring
5 years ago
flat....got them in my bathroom in black mixed with chrome and black glass mosaic tiles.....looks fab
Mel Brady
5 years ago
Pointless comment from Daisy! Anyway I think they're lovely, maybe choose which may be easier to clean in the long run!? Good luck with your project!
Tidy Towers
5 years ago
Think about something else altogether. I have flat cream metro tiles behind my cooker and plan to have them behind my sink too, but you don't see them on new pictures of kitchens anymore on Houzz and I am almost regretting them..... Don't know what's "next," square tiles look bathroomy to me, brick bond square tiles hurt my eyes somehow.
geloma
5 years ago
I prefer the flat, and like the look.
Jasmine Cat
5 years ago
l think both look great, but flat tiles are much easier to keep clean. Bathrooms are for pampering yourself, not housework!
PRO
fraser bathrooms
5 years ago
Metro tiles are cheap look cheap and are the work of the devil. I instal bathrooms for a living and refuse to fit them.

For kitchen splashbacks there are some small tiles with a more rustic look and cracked glaze that do look good.

Last house I worked in had white metro tiles in kitchen totally ruined the look
Darren
5 years ago
I agree that white beveled gloss metro tiles with dark grout can look a bit like a public toilet.... however flat matt, or flat glass metro tiles can look fantastic.
Lisa Herring
5 years ago
fraser bathrooms , I wouldn't want you doing work for me then....at the end of the day its the customers choice not yours....you sound very unprofessional
PRO
fraser bathrooms
5 years ago
It's about not doing the customer a disservice. I have only once had a customer dissatisfied with a job I have done but only because she wouldn't take advise from someone more experienced and only realised how bad her her ideas were when she saw it finished.

I fitted these things in the 80's and know what better options are available now.
PRO
Charlie Howe Design
5 years ago
Like both I think
J C
5 years ago
I'm with Lisa on this..... It's personal choice...... I love them and really like their retro underground references. I am certainly not a sheep in my design choices, I simply go for what I like....... There are many design arrangements which I'm not fond of and would never have in my own home but I accept that design preferences are individual, and enjoy looking at how other people put things together. And to see if I can interpret them in a different way. Wouldn't it be so boring if we all liked the same things!
PRO
Room Revolution Ltd
5 years ago
I think it would have to be the 'bevelled tile', it reflects lights at different angles and looks more chic!
Tracy Sidaway
5 years ago
I'm going for the slightly larger rustic ones in our bathroom, I have the bevelled in my kitchen and I love them.
annarocks123
5 years ago
It has to be the flat tiles, if only because the beveled ones take much longer to clean and I am very lazy. Also with dark grout, for the same, lazy reason
Annalie Evans
5 years ago
Agree they are soooo boring now, you know when a fashion goes on too long... ?'scandi' style anyone??! Lol

Still, I can't help it!! I am totally in love... these have just gone in my en suite even so. I have taken my own twist on them tho... very vintage feel in a dove grey shade and totally crackle glazed surface, although I guess they are flat rather than bevelled for the sake of this discussion. And they look amazing!! even if I do say so myself :)
Joanna Biddolph
5 years ago
Oh yes, 32lolo. I am sick of Scandi style. Where's the character? As with greige or anything safe ...

Can you post a pic of your en suite so I can see if the variation appeals more than the standard do?
Tracy Sidaway
5 years ago
32lolo, can I ask if you were advised to seal the tiles? I have looked at some but it said the crackle glazed needed to be sealed in wet areas?

I personally don't follow 'fashion' in home decor, I prefer more traditional styles. I know everything has a shelf life but I wouldn't have the time or money to be constantly staying up to date with the latest trends.
bouncebob
5 years ago
If you do metro tiles you should go for the real thing: bevel edged!
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
I am not crazy about metro tiles as they look too busy to me but they do have their uses as splash backs or to tile a nichewhere a larger tile woud look ridiculous.

My house had (until last week) an extremely ugly corner fireplace and breast piece up to the ceiling which I have ripped out. For now I am going to use the cast iron log burner with a metal chimney, to reflect some of the heat back and to make a feature of it I will line the walls with metallic metro tiles but have yet to settle on exactly how.

There are oversized metro tiles available that look a lot better than the standard brick size which I prefer.

As an alternative, in the past I have used metros diagonally within a frame using dado tiles for small areas as a feature.
Caroline Foreman
5 years ago
Bevelled, I have a 1930s style bathroom and have them in light green with pencil border and they bring a touch of old and new and look amazing
mimsey1706
5 years ago
Bevelled just updated our kitchen
monicaopal5
5 years ago
Ah metro tiles are escaping the underground to live more stylishly in our homes!!! Think industrial, vintage eclectic and just about everything else in between.. And Im just about to update my kitchen from terracotta tiles to lovely dark grey metro bevelled tiles. I could have opted for the flat but they are exactly that... FLAT. The bevelled edge gives you a two dimensional look and if you choose a different colour grout changes the look again to a more contemporary feel.
Lisa Herring
5 years ago
chris...they only look busy if you use a contrasting grout colour......use the same shade colour grout as the tiles and you wont go googly-eyed :)

More Discussions

Paint over Lick matt paint?

8

0

Thoughts on living space

0

Would I have the space needed for toilet/sink side by side?

5

Help - some side porch inspiration!

0

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.