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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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Painted Subway Tile Backsplash Tutorial

April 24, 2014 by Bethany Sy

If you follow on Instagram, you know that we did a painted subway tile backsplash recently, and we made this one to look like SLATE! It turned out amazing if I do say so myself.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

*this post contains affiliate links*

Trela is a long-time reader of our lil’ blog, and choosing slate for her painted subway tile backsplash was totally her call. I got really excited, because while we’re old pros at the subway pattern… it’s not often that someone asks for slate. I knew it was special when we were done. And you guys agreed… because a TON of you have asked for a tutorial!

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash Tutorial

If I had known in advance, I would have taken pics of our process at Trela’s house… but I didn’t. So naturally I found a slab of scrap drywall in the bowels of our garage, cut it to 16” (standard backsplash height) primed, and painted it white. Just for you.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Subway tiles are 3” tall by 6” wide (we googled it!), but when you’re measuring out your grid, you have to include the width of your 1/4  painters tape. So I put some tape on my ruler so I wouldn’t have to think too much. Thinking always leads to mistakes. Somebody please make me a t-shirt that says that.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

For subway tiles, we do the horizontal lines first. So I made a tiny pencil mark every 3 1/4” all the way up both sides. Then I placed my tape horizontally just above my pencil markings.

Painted Subway Tile BacksplashPainted Subway Tile Backsplash

The way subway tiles are staggered like bricks makes it a little more complicated than your basic grid… but nothing to lose your marbles over. You’re just going to measure out your 3 1/4” AGAIN along the top and bottom this time, then tap up vertical lines to make a perfect grid with perfect squares.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Next, use a razor blade and slice the edge of the tape on every other ‘tile’ in your first column. This looks tedious, but it actually goes quite fast. And you don’t need to push the razor… just lightly score it and tear off the tape on that ‘tile’.

Sawdust and Embryos

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Then on the next column, do the opposite tiles and just continue down the line until it looks like this!

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

When people email and ask how we ‘get it to look like natural stone’… they’re never happy with my answer: just blotch it on! So, even though I hate the sound of my own monotone voice and the repetitive click of the dryer in the background, this little gem is for you. And you. And you! And you’ll see for yourself. WE JUST BLOTCH IT ON!

For this painted subway tile backsplash (in order to get the ‘slate look’) I used Apple Barrel acrylic craft paint in black (flat) and pewter gray.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Acrylic paint dries pretty fast, so we just start taking tape up almost immediately. If you let it dry too long, it’s less likely to have a crisp line.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Every once in awhile, you’re going to have a situation where the tape pulls off a bit of paint from the ‘grout line’… or there might be some crazy seepage that needs touching up. In these cases, just go back and touch it up after the tape has been removed! Your sponge brush has a flat edge, so it’s easy to keep things straight even without tape.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

We recommend rolling on a clear water-based sealer (this is our go-to stuff) on your painted subway tile backsplash a few days later just for added protection. You wouldn’t believe how durable these painted backsplashes ARE! And they’re easier to clean that tile!

Pretty fabulous eh?

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Trela’s backsplash just kills me… it looks so fabulous! Of course it doesn’t hurt that she had an amazing kitchen to begin with.

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Here’s a pic of her kitchen BEFORE… just so you can see how much a backsplash truly changes the look of a kitchen!

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

I love it so much, I’m thinking it might be time for me to update my painted backsplash. I just propped up my piece of drywall to see how it looks… Thoughts? We might be due for a new wall color first…!

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

Sawdust & Embryos

For the tutorial on the current backsplash in our kitchen, click the image below!

Painted Subway Tile Backsplash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for pinning!



Paint your backsplash to look like slate subway tiles!

 

 

*this post contains affiliate links

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

« Dear Embryos
Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift Idea »

Comments

  1. 63

    Kelly says

    September 13, 2022 at 11:33 am

    Once you’ve used the Minwax clear water-based sealer over the painted tile pattern, what type of prep needs done on the wall if you want to paint over it with a new tile pattern? Can you paint over the sealer with the Apple Barrel paint? Do you sand the sealer?

    Reply
    • 64

      Bethany Sy says

      September 14, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      If the sealer you used has a glossy sheen to it at all, you’ll want to sand with some 220 grit sandpaper just to dull it down. Then paint away with whatever paint you like!

      Reply
  2. 65

    Kellie says

    December 31, 2020 at 6:55 pm

    Love it
    Question how do you install the painted drywall to the wall it’s self?
    Do I screw it to the wall?

    Reply
    • 66

      Bethany Sy says

      January 2, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      We do the painting right onto the wall. We only used a scrap piece of drywall for the purpose of the tutorial.

      Reply
  3. 67

    Kelsey says

    May 14, 2020 at 6:39 pm

    Hi there! I’m doing DIY updates to my kitchen since we can’t afford to completely redo it for another few years. I’ve been looking into the Peel and Stick metro/subway tile backsplashes, but read that they are not recommended on textured walls. We have that “orange peel” texture from the late ’90s/early 2000s. In my search for another option, I stumbled across your blog. This is seriously awesome!! Do you think that painting white subway tiles with gray grout would turn out okay on textured walls?

    Reply
    • 68

      Bethany Sy says

      May 18, 2020 at 12:41 pm

      Yes it totally works on textured walls!!

      Reply
  4. 69

    Leesa Kuhn says

    April 17, 2019 at 12:08 am

    I just purchased a subway tile stencil. I felt this would be a sure-fire way to have uniform tiles. BUT, I was thinking about using glossy paint to give it a kitchen-tile look against my eggshell walls. You have said use craft paint. What is the advantage? Also, do you ever mix any other colors but gray and black?

    Reply
    • 70

      Bethany Sy says

      April 17, 2019 at 11:25 am

      I used craft paint because I wanted the dull ‘matte’ look so it would look more like slate. But you can totally use glossy paint! They make glossy graft paints, which would be the cheapest option. But you could also just use latex wall paint. Good luck!!

      Reply
  5. 71

    Connie says

    February 5, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    Love the demonstration! I have a light tan base coat that I want to be the grout lines and I would like to paint it to look like white subway tile. What color would you use? Just white dabbed on or a mixture? I am going for a traditional white subway tile look. Thanks!

    Reply
    • 72

      Bethany Sy says

      February 6, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      Hey Connie! If you’re wanting your tiles to just look like white ceramic tiles, you could just use a roller and some high gloss white paint! The dabbing and multiple shades is what makes it look like ‘natural stone’, but it sounds like that’s not the look you’re going for?

      Reply
  6. 73

    Kimberly says

    January 28, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    Hi Bethany, I wanted to know when you make the grid.. I see you are measuring 3 and 1/4 across but what about vertically how much are you measuring across there? becasue you are making 3 x 6 tiles but allowing for 1/4 tape too.. so not sure on that.. thanks.Kim

    Reply
  7. 74

    Susan says

    November 3, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    This is great! I was wanting the opposite effect: gray grout lines and white tiles. Should I paint the wall gray and blotch on white? Thoughts?! Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • 75

      Bethany Sy says

      November 5, 2018 at 12:11 pm

      Yes exactly!

      Reply
  8. 76

    becky says

    March 14, 2018 at 12:04 am

    I’m late to the party and was just directed to your blog! I am in love. This is SO what I am going to do with my kitchen. I just need a “pros” advice. my walls are painted a light brown and I want to do a brown tone subway tile. Would the light brown be okay for the “grout”. I want it to really flow color wise but the bricks be darker than the grout.

    Reply
    • 77

      Bethany Sy says

      March 14, 2018 at 2:21 am

      Hey Becky! YAY I’m so excited that you’re going to tackle this! If you’re existing backsplash is painted a solid brown, I fear that your darker brown tiles won’t stand out much at all. I’m not suggesting that you paint it white as your grout color, but I would paint it a lighter tan color at least. You could do a couple ‘bricks’ in an inconspicuous corner and take the tape off to see what you think before you go to all the work of the whole thing. No matter what you decide, I’d love to see pictures when you’re done! beth@realitydaydream.com

      Reply
  9. 78

    Asmaa says

    November 5, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Woooow ! looks great 🙂
    please, how Can I stick the drywall on the ceramic?

    Thanks In advance 🙂

    Reply
    • 79

      Bethany Sy says

      November 6, 2017 at 11:03 am

      If you already have a ceramic tile backsplash and want to paint it. I would recommend sanding the whole thing down lightly with 150 grit sandpaper to take the glossy sheen off. Then prime with a good oil-based primer, then paint white (or whatever color you want your ‘grout’). The taping part should be easy at this point, because you’ll be able to see the indentations of where the grout is, so there won’t be any measuring! Good luck! Send pics when you’re done! beth@realitydaydream.com

      Reply
  10. 80

    Teresa says

    April 13, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    How did you make sure that the painters tape layout for the grout was level all the way up and down?

    Reply
    • 81

      Bethany Sy says

      April 24, 2017 at 7:00 pm

      Hey Teresa! We made sure the very first strip of tape was level using a laser level, and then the rest we just measure the same distance at the top and bottom from the previous vertical strip of tape. Does that make sense?

      Reply
  11. 82

    Miranda Fisher says

    August 1, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    I just finished mine, thanks for all your help

    Reply
    • 83

      Beth @ Reality Daydream says

      August 2, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      Yayyyy! I wanna see pics! Email me at beth@realitydaydream.com

      Reply
  12. 84

    Jessica says

    July 5, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    What happens if this gets wet? Does it bubble up?

    Reply
    • 85

      Beth @ Reality Daydream says

      July 5, 2016 at 8:23 pm

      Nope! It’s just like your plain painted drywall would react to water! And it’s soooo much easier to clean than real grout.

      Reply
  13. 86

    Janis Zapfel-Reeves says

    October 1, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I certainly hope you can reply back. I have been researching this and always coming back to your website to really make sure this is really THAT easy. I am priming and painting my grout color this weekend ( I am going from barn door red all around the kitchen to a beige for the grout color..must prime first. LOL!) I am ready but there ONE thing I cannot get an answer for. Home Depot wanted me to buy this little jar of something for $12 a jar ( it would take at least 4 -5 jars) to seal it. What are you using? Please name drop,product drops, store drop. This is the ONE missing piece to my project.

    Reply
    • 87

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      October 1, 2015 at 6:08 pm

      LOL! I swear, it really is easy! The taping gets a little tedious. But once you’re done with that, it gets fun and it’s all downhill from there. 🙂 We use Minwax PolyCrylic to seal our backsplashes and it’s very durable. You can buy a quart at any home improvement store! And I can guarantee it’s less than $12… and you will use a small fraction of the quart. Bonus! That’s so crazy that they were trying to BS you into buying that!

      Reply
      • 88

        Janis Zapfel-Reeves says

        October 1, 2015 at 6:18 pm

        Thank you so so so much! One more trip to HD and I can be 100% ready! I am so excited to get started.

        Reply
        • 89

          Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

          October 2, 2015 at 12:45 pm

          be sure to send pics when you’re done!!

          Reply
      • 90

        Heather Johnson says

        October 24, 2018 at 4:54 pm

        Did you use the water base or oil base for the polycrlic please?

        Reply
        • 91

          Bethany Sy says

          October 24, 2018 at 7:46 pm

          PolyCrylic is water-based.

          Reply
  14. 92

    marisa says

    September 20, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    i am considering combining your gloss design and subway tile projects and doing subway tile shapes with a gloss coat in our bathroom…. love your ideas.

    Reply
  15. 93

    cheri says

    February 1, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    I just ordered my tape to do this because i cant find it anywhere?!?!?!?! Im so excited to try it!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

    Reply
  16. 94

    Tiffany says

    September 26, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    If you are using latex paint, when do you recommend peeling off the tape during the process? I love your work btw.

    Reply
  17. 95

    Astral Riles says

    August 12, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    OMG I absolutely LOVE this idea. Both you and Trela did an awesome job on your backsplash projects. At 1st I was a non-believer, but now that I have seen the tutorial, I am tempted to give a try myself. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    Reply
  18. 96

    Lori @Vintage Charm Restored says

    July 28, 2014 at 9:07 am

    absolutely love this idea!! What a great idea!!

    Reply
  19. 97

    Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says

    May 5, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    Oh I LOVVVVE the way this turned out! Most beautiful!

    Reply
  20. 98

    Abbey says

    May 2, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Awesome as always. 🙂 I think this one’s my fav so far!

    Reply
  21. 99

    Leah K says

    April 29, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    I love it! Such a great idea. I was wondering if you have ever done painted tile in shapes that arent square in nature? I fell in love with this beautiful aqua Moroccan tile and now that we are buying our first house I tried to find it, and of course they dont sell it anymore. I was thinking I could use my vinyl cutter to make a stencil and use this same technique. I am hesitant to try it, only because I havent done something this massive before.Also, do you have any suggestions for making it look like glass tile?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • 100

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 30, 2014 at 4:49 pm

      Leah I’m thinking that you’d have to use a stencil to get any curvy shapes like that, or vinyl like you said. Though that could get pricey. As for glass-like tiles, just use high gloss paint for the tiles with an eggshell finish on the grout below. Does that make sense? It looks a lot like glass!!

      Reply
      • 101

        Leah K says

        May 1, 2014 at 12:18 pm

        Wonderful! thank you for the reply and suggestions!

        Reply
  22. 102

    Andi says

    April 29, 2014 at 11:59 am

    Absolutely beautiful. 🙂

    -andi

    Reply
  23. 103

    Claire says

    April 28, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    I secretly hope that you don’t change your kitchen because the wall color and backsplash combo are so unique and it looks so good! But if you do I know that whatever you come up with will look equally as fab!

    Reply
    • 104

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 30, 2014 at 4:50 pm

      Awwww I’m glad you love our kitchen! I still really like it too, but sooner or later I know I’m going to be itching for a change. 🙂

      Reply
  24. 105

    Cassidy says

    April 26, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    LOVE that “pretend” backsplash for your kitchen! You should absolutely do it!

    Reply
  25. 106

    Trela says

    April 24, 2014 at 6:07 pm

    Ok, you guys, so what she forgot to tell you was this literally took TWO hours — start to so-happy-I-couldn’t-stop-bouncing finish (minus a sealer, which is going on this weekend). We don’t have a huge kitchen, but it’s quite a bit of backsplash, and it was SO fast. My friends asked me how it looks up close — you have to be SUPER close to tell it’s not actually tile (like when I’m washing dishes I can kind of tell — only kind of, but when I’m bleary “must have caffeine” morning eyed I can’t tell at all). My gut told me slate — my husband was super dubious, and now we both wish we had done it years ago.

    Reply
    • 107

      Jennifer says

      April 25, 2014 at 6:07 pm

      Trela,

      2 hours? Wow! That’s great. Makes it seem do-able without getting worn down.

      Reply
    • 108

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 28, 2014 at 1:11 pm

      Trela you are soooooooooo sweet! And I’m so glad your gut told your slate. 🙂

      Reply
  26. 109

    Diane SyWassink says

    April 24, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    Wow!!!! I have always said I just want my walls white (because in the winter months it helps brighten the room). I am really impressed with how the subway tiles look in the kitchen you did. It really brought out other darks in that kitchen. Look at that counter top in the before and then in the after. The darks pop out all over the place in the after pictures. Good job, Beth!!!

    Reply
    • 110

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 28, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Thanks so much Diane! Your opinion means a lot!

      Reply
  27. 111

    randomcreativity says

    April 24, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    thank you! I was pretty sure I could figure out the “just slap the paint on,” but it was nice to see a video 🙂 I just ordered my 1/4″ masking tape last week 🙂

    Reply
    • 112

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 28, 2014 at 1:13 pm

      Wooohoo! Awesome! Be sure to send us pics!

      Reply
  28. 113

    Jennifer says

    April 24, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    Do you always use craft paint? Do you do more than one coat?

    Reply
    • 114

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 28, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      We almost always use craft paint… the only exception is if the homeowner has a can of paint that they’ve used elsewhere in the house and they want us to use it so that it will be an exact match as an accent color. You can mix latex paint and acrylic, just not oil/water based paints. We rarely need to do more than one coat of paint. Sometimes when we’re doing a solid tile, it needs a second coat. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  29. 115

    lyndsey says

    April 24, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Thanks so much for the video! I think I have the confidence to do this to my backsplash! And, scoring the tape will save me hours, and save me from brain damage.

    Reply
    • 116

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 24, 2014 at 4:09 pm

      Send pics when you’re done!! Good luck!

      Reply
  30. 117

    Caitlyn says

    April 24, 2014 at 10:36 am

    I love the look of the slate ’tile’, I’m building an outdoor daybed bench, and I might just have to do that along the base of the bench!! As for using the slate in your kitchen, I love it but I’m also totally obsessed with your current backsplash, that would be so hard for me let go of!

    Reply
  31. 118

    Julie @ follow your heart woodworking says

    April 24, 2014 at 9:51 am

    Wow, amazing difference, it looks great! Did you coat it with anything after you painted?

    Reply
    • 119

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 24, 2014 at 10:18 am

      Julie! Good question! I need to add that info to the post! We recommend rolling on a clear coat of WATER-BASED sealer a few days after painting your backsplash. It makes it extra durable!!

      Reply
  32. 120

    Crystal says

    April 24, 2014 at 9:44 am

    Beautiful. We have textured walls, so I doubt this would work for us. If you decided to do the subway tile in your kitchen, I would use brown colors to match with your counter tops.

    Reply
    • 121

      Bethany @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 24, 2014 at 10:17 am

      Crystal! You’d be surprised! We do textured backsplashes all the time and they turn out amazing!

      Reply
  33. 122

    Tammy says

    April 24, 2014 at 8:42 am

    They are all awesome…!! I love your kitchen colors but I would never have the patient’s to do that. I’d say leave it as is…

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
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