prefer the first...pretty tile. as far as popularity It seems subway shape [the first] and its variations w texture and some sizing tweaks / whether bigger subway or the elongated narrow ones , will always be a good bet. not certain about the square.

I prefer rectangular tile. I'm a bit biased because my showers are square tiles and whoever installed them ages ago didn't do the best job. Plus I prefer the offset tiles vs all tiles meeting in the corners. The grid pattern is the square tiles is too...rigid... Not sure how to describe that

I have the square Cloe in the kitchen and the rectangular in the bathroom. They are both lovely and different. We have a 14’ stretch continuous backsplash on one wall of the kitchen and I really love the slightly bigger tiles there. I also like that the square stacked is kind of of a flashback but modernized. You can’t go wrong through!

how about you attatch a pic of your actual kitchen?

Cloe is hot, regardless of the size. (and it's your kitchen, doesn't matter what's hot now. what one do you like?)

There are so many ways to lay this tile in the subway. the 4x4 can also be done in two diff ways.

it just depends on the style of your kitchen and what you want.

Subway layouts:

stacked

Vertical offset stack:

running bond w/herringbone accent

4x4 w/accent

I like this 4x4 shown above, or something like this w/the wood and black. Notice they did the hood too. (this is a zellige, but same size and look)

4x4 just fits this kitchen style. maybe it's the wood, or the stucco hood, but it works here.

(I might have done a wood shelf above the stove, or maybe an inset niche)

Like these shelves. I like the 4x4 w/wood and sconces

it just doesn't have the same effect in the subway layout w/white shelves. (IMO) I would have like the wood shelves w/this much better. Love these pendants though.

Love this one. see how much better it is w/the white oak shelving? breaks up all that white.

See? same tile layout but w/wood shelving. much better.

another zellige, but very similar to cloe. Love this shape w/the open shelving and sconces.

in a kitchen lke this, I think you could either size. here's the 4x4, wood trim hood, soft blue island, gold hardware.

subway running bond w/the hood done in the same pattern

Another poster on here posted her kitchen w/Silestone countertops and Cloe subway tile.

subway size in a herringbone. this one is pretty w/the gold and the wood on the vent hood. Without that wood and gold pendants, it would have been too white.

another wood trim vent hood with regular subway layout and a black countertop. this is also very pretty.

I even like it on the back of a peninsula or island. sometimes there is nothing there but boring white paint. If the kitchen has nothing else going for it, a tiled back surface like this may take it up a notch.

This is a new layout that I've seen one other time. vertical stack w/large grout accent borders

As you can see, tons of layouts, all look 'hot'. pick what you like.

What’s the overall style of your house?

I say rectangle seems more classic to me. I have square tiles in a bathroom and I don’t like it so perhaps I’m biased.

We did the Cloe subway stacked and I love it! The subtle variations in the color really look nice. We mounted white oak shelves like some of the pictures Beth posted and those are my favorite spots in the kitchen. You’ll enjoy the tile.

Use the shape YOU like !

I do not comprehend people who make decisions on their home, their world by taking a poll to see what other's prefer?!!! WHO CARES what's 'trendy'--THEY will change their minds next week!!! Go with what works in YOUR space with what YOU like. I have squares--had them for 20+ years. Is it a 'relief' to hear they are back in "in"--heck NO. These things come and GO!!! I liked the look when DH put them in and they still make me happy.

Wow. Such good info! Thank you all for taking the time to respond. Someone asked above what our kitchen will look like. We’re doing white cabinets on the perimeter with floating light wood shelves. The island will be a rift sawn oak with a light white wash stain. Our bar area will be black cabinets and floating light wood shelves. This post with all the pictures was so helpful! Thanks again

I went with the square offset. Couldn't be happier!

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If you haven’t done your new kitchen yet, hold off on buying backsplash tiles. Once the cabinets, floor, countertop and lighting are done, you will make a better tile choice. Please don’t buy anything too early.

Subway tile is classic and gives a clean look to almost any kitchen.

IMO whatever is in today might be gone tomorrow and also never choose backsplash until the rest of the kitchen is in and all the lighting in, that goes for wall color too.If you want answers here you need to provide pics of all the other choices for your space in your lighting .

I prefer rectangular as I associate square with bathrooms

My house was built with square tiles in the 1950s. Rectangle tile would be inappropriate.

Patricia isn't wrong here--trends change and nothing is really classic. Before rectangle tile became trendy (again) in kitchens, it was mainly found in old public restrooms and subways.

Subway is classic. If square tile is 'becoming more popular', that's called trendy. Which means it won't be popular a few years from now.

Red Ryder and Patricia gave great advice on not making your backsplash decision until other items are in place! Don’t let anyone rush you on that. My tile gal helped me pick 4 possibilities AND checked availability on them ahead of time; all pieces looked great together in her shop. But she told me not to fall in love with any of them until she came by my house to see the cabinets, quartzite, and floors in place and made sure the colors still worked together. We quickly eliminated 2 choices as they didn’t look the same in my kitchen, and then we picked what we liked best.

Looking at @Beth H. :'s photos above, the 4x4s seem so fresh! After so many years of subway tile backsplashes, I love the look of the 4x4s she shows.

I prefer the rectangle. IDK what it is, but I actually don't like the square at all.

My favorite for subway tile is the stacked patterns, like Beth mentioned.

We did square 4 x 4's in an offset pattern for this kitchen, just to shake things up a bit:

Bernal Heights Sustainable Kitchen · More Info

You can't go wrong either way. They are both classic shapes.

@User Me too, I don't know what it is, but I also do not like square tiles.

@arcy_gw People with decision fatigue (me, major fatigue) ask others opinions not necessarily because they want trendy or what's popular. They ask because they can't make a decision or do not have the design sense to know what looks good. At least that's why I ask. I have no design sense at all lol. For instance, I have cherry cabinets, but I like and am drawn to cool colors. So I need someone else to say cool colors do not look good with warm cherry cabinets.

There are so many considerations! I love how Beth posted examples of both sizes in various layouts and talked about what looked great to her. It will all come down to your preference and the feel you wish to create in your kitchen!

We finished our remodel 2 months ago and chose the Cloe in squares, in white. I just really liked the variation in the warm and cool tones, and I also loved how it didn’t feel “flat” to me. We chose the 4” squares because the space between our countertops and bottom of the upper cabinets isn’t great and I felt more horizontal rows/lines in the space would feel more choppy, possibly making the space look squished or busy. We laid the squares in a staggered offset pattern and love how it looks.

So much will depend on your space, what you like, and your other specific design elements. Your kitchen sounds gorgeous, I know you’ll make a choice that will be just beautiful. I can’t wait to see your follow up post!

**Just leave the forum if you feel that strongly against people who come on here for help with their home décor decisions.**... I have seen people come on here with great ideas ,only to be shot down by so called pros because they don't like it , some of the pros want everyone's homes to look the bloody same!

The main advantage of rectangular tiles is that you can change the layout at the last minute. They’re so versatile. But if you want an updated “fresh” look, the square tiles definitely would fit the bill. Buy the long rectangle tiles and wait till the last minute to make the decision on how to lay them out.