Are you planning to travel to Chattanooga soon? Read our tips below on the things to do in Chattanooga and where to stay! Chattanooga is a city located in the southeastern part of Tennessee. It is especially popular with climbers as it has more rock in a 25-mile radius than…

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Love the classic look that metro tiles offer? When it comes to metro tile bathroom ideas, there are plenty of styles to choose from. While it’s easy to get in a spin when considering bathroom tile ideas, from geometric shapes and tiny mosaics to large slabs and a plethora of patterns, the tile trends are vast.

It’s fun to keep an eye on interior trends, but when it comes to fixtures and fittings that need to last, classic designs reign supreme. After all, do you really want your bathroom tiles to date as quickly as last year’s Tiktok craze?  Choosing metro tile bathroom ideas offers an enduring style that will outlast any fashion fad.

Metro tile bathroom ideas

‘Metro tiles are a popular choice as they allow for a few different styles to be achieved, depending on how they are positioned,’ says Richard Fox, Senior Designer, Ripples. ‘You can opt for a traditional brick layout, interesting borders, or a herringbone pattern. There are lots of options, so they’re a versatile choice. Depending on the colour or style you choose, metro tiles can work for contemporary, traditional or more industrial schemes.’

1. Give them a traditional spin

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

These classic metro bathroom tile ideas take their influence from those used in the first underground and metro stations in London, Paris and New York at the turn of the twentieth century. For that reason, they work well as a backdrop to items from the same period.

Here they offset a gorgeous traditional-style freestanding slipper bath with heritage brassware. The Toulouse-Lautrec print is a fun nod to the era, while the pale stripped wood flooring and the modern furniture and accessories keep the room looking current.

2. Choose a dark neutral

Image credit: Future PLC/Jamie Mason

Instead of white subway tile ideas, consider a darker neutral like grey with bright white grout. With a simple, elegant base it’s easy to liven your scheme up with accessories in bold colours, such as this sunshine yellow stool and towel.

‘White and grey will always be popular colour choices for the classic metro tile,’ says Louisa Swannell, Head of Creative Design, Walls & Floors. ‘However, in the past few years, we have also seen an increase in rich Victorian green tones, as well as pink, as people bring more colour into their homes.’

3. Mix with a dark patterned floor

Image credit: Future PLC/Alexander James

When you’re considering shower tile ideas, one that’s less likely to date is a classic contemporary look. In a wet room, mixing metro tiles on the walls with modern Moroccan-style patterned tiles on the floor is a great way to achieve this.

It’s a subtle way to introduce a trend, and at the same time, dark colours ground a scheme. By reflecting the floor tile colour in the grout you will create a cohesive look.

‘You can use almost any colour of grout with white tiles, if you are looking for a particularly bold effect a dark grey can be very striking,’ says Colin Lincoln-Evans, Buyer at Tile Mountain.

4. Bring in a bold splashback

Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole

Of course neutrals are a safer bet when choosing tiles. But if you love colour, choose a favourite shade for a bold splashback. When you’re only tiling a section, rather than a whole wall, you can be a little braver when looking at how to tile a splashback.

Choosing colours of nature such as deep blue for your subway tile ideas means you’re less likely to tire of them. Surrounding the tiles with white walls and flooring will allow them to stand out. Leave vivid tones such as fuchsia pink for painted alcoves or towels and accessories, as it’s far easier and cost-effective to change them.

5. Unite your bath and shower area

Image credit: Future PLC/David Parmiter

Taking your tiles up to the ceiling will create a completely waterproof space. This is ideal with a shower-bath idea, as you won’t need to worry about splashes.

‘Tiles are a timeless choice for showers, and metro tiles seem to be the most popular,’ says Louisa Swannell, Head of Creative Design, Walls & Floors. ‘Not only are they waterproof and easy to clean, but they can also make a real feature of the space. They’re so versatile, they pair well with pretty much anything. They’re the perfect pairing for a bold patterned tile as the two will balance each other out.’

6. Frame with a black border

Image credit: Ripples

Give your white metro tiles an edge, quite literally, with black mouldings or edging tiles. If you’ve opted to tile up to dado height, this is a stylish way to finish the section. Particularly, if you repeat the graphic linear effect elsewhere, such as with a Crittal-style shower screen or room divider and a geometric bathroom floor tile idea in the same shades.

‘Borders and dados can be used to break up the tiling and add that little bit of interest, especially if these have colour or contrast,’ says Richard Fox, Senior Designer, Ripples.

7. Clad the walls in colour

Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles

Colourful bathrooms have seen a huge revival in recent years. After an entire generation distanced itself from the avocado suites of the seventies with crisp white schemes, a new era has seen colour creep back to the bathroom.

In fact, it’s done more than creep in, it’s boldly announced itself in many a modern maximalist scheme. If you’re keen for colour, you can create impact by tiling all the bathroom walls in your favourite hue. Natural materials, such as timber look great with soft green and will provide a wonderful counter balance.

8. Go for gold accents

Image credit: Future PLC/David Parmiter

Taps, shower fittings and hardware in warm metallics, such as brass are a popular bathroom trend. Against a cool white scheme, brassware in a polished finish can add glamour and will stand out against industrial-style metro tiles.

To really ramp up the glam factor, breakup an expanse of white tiles with a row of gold tiles and an alcove in the same shimmering accent tone as the brassware. ‘If you have a neutral scheme, you could continue this into the shower, and perhaps opt for a bolder tile to make a feature of the space,’ says Louisa Swannell, Head of Creative Design at Walls and Floors. 

9. Create interest with geometric shapes

Image credit: Ripples

Pairing white metro tiles with dark grout gives a distinctive linear look. A great way to create an interesting contrast with these graphic lines is by laying hexagonal tiles on the floor in the same dark tone.

‘The metro tile can sometimes look quite busy on the walls, so a neutral or plain tile as a contrast can help focus the eye,’ says Dena Kirby, Senior Designer, Ripples. ‘However, if you are looking to make an impact, then patterned or geometric floor tiles also work as a great combination.’ Keeping things simple is also great for small bathroom tile ideas.

10.  Break up sections of colour

Image credit: Ca’ Pietra from Hyperion Tiles

Crisp white metro tiles look gorgeous with dark colours, like navy blue. Teamed together as a splashback and painted wall they look smart and stylish. So why not have a bit of fun, with a bold pattern on the floor?

These 3D effect tiles can be laid to create petal or starburst effects, so experiment with a style that you like before laying them. Tiling is a job that could be undertaken by a proficient DIYer. As long as you have the right tools and to know how to grout tiles, it’s possible to do it in a weekend.

Why are metro tiles good for bathrooms?

One of the reasons for the enduring appeal of metro tiles is their versatility. ‘They’re completely at home in any style of bathroom,’ says Colin Roby-Welford, Creative Director, Fired Earth. ‘Depending on how they’re styled, they can look modern or timeless and traditional.’

Can I use metro tiles in a shower?

‘Metro tiles are just like any other ceramic, porcelain or natural stone tile, and can work brilliantly within a shower,’ says Richard Fox, Senior Designer, Ripples. 

Are metro tiles hard to clean?

The tiles themselves are easy to clean. They tend to be glazed so shampoo and soap generally rinse straight off. ‘Just be aware of the grout lines which come with metro tiles,’ says Richard fox, Ripples. ‘Often a darker grout colour will aid with cleaning within a shower area.’

If you’ve opted for white grout, it’s easy to find out how to clean grout in tiles to keep them looking their best.

The post Metro tile bathroom ideas – get on board with these 10 inspiring looks appeared first on Ideal Home.

Knowing how to clean an air fryer is a real essential if you plan on getting the most out of your machine. If you’ve picked up a new air fryer, odds are it’s about to get a lot of heavy use in your kitchen. From speedy lunches to homemade healthy-ish sweet potato chips, your air fryer is the perfect stand-in to keep your oven usage low on a hot sunny day. The air fryer can also be the perfect stand-in for those busy Sunday lunches where the roasties simply won’t fit into your already-full oven.

No matter how you plan to use it, even the best air fryers will need to be cleaned regularly. If you’re wondering ‘how often do I need to clean my air fryer? the answer is: after every use. This will prevent any residue from the air fryer basket from burning and creating nasty smells in the kitchen, and it will also keep your cooking as sanitary as possible.

The good news is that air fryers are very easy to clean. In fact, it’s one of their most appealing features. However, some parts are easier to clean than others. They often come with dishwasher-safe inserts, meaning that the trays and baskets can simply be placed in your dishwasher after you’re finished using them. However, a lot of people get so much daily use out of their air fryer that waiting for a dishwasher cycle to finish will be a hassle. 

Luckily, we think that once you know how to clean an air fryer by hand, it’s actually so easy that you won’t need to wash it in the dishwasher on a regular basis anyway. For five steps on how to clean an air fryer, keep reading.

1. Make sure it’s unplugged

Before you get started, make sure you unplug your air fryer to cut off the electricity supply. Most air fryers have a removable tray that simply pulls out of the machine, but some (such as the Tefal ActiFry range) have a different design that allows you to lift out the pan inserts from the top of the machine. Regardless of what your specific air fryer may be, switching it off before starting the cleaning process is a safe and smart move.

2. Get rid of residue

Cooking meats like bacon can often leave a layer of fat coating your air fryer basket.

Many air fryers collect fat at the bottom of the tray, whether it’s dripped away from bacon or fallen off fries. This can solidify when cooled, which can be tricky to wash away with water. Remove fat and crumbs using a dry paper towel, which will help the cleaning process before you start washing.

It’s best to do this before your air fryer basket cools, but if any liquids have already solidified, rinsing some hot water in the air fryer basket or even letting the machine run for a minute or so to warm it up again is an easy way of wiping excess oils away from the basket.

3. Get washing

Wash your basket and tray using soapy warm water and a cloth or sponge. Many air fryers have non-stick coatings, so don’t use anything too abrasive or you may risk damaging the basket. 

Be sure to clean both the inside and outside of the basket, as well as any holes in the insert. Either dry with a clean cloth or leave to drain.

Of course, if your air fryer basket is dishwasher-safe, you could always put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher for a quick rinse. This is great after heavy use, but it might not be necessary after cooking a few chicken goujons or some asparagus. Hand-washing will be quicker, less harsh on the basket, and will also have your air fryer up and running again in time for dinner.

4. Clean the fryer unit

While knowing how to clean an air fryer basket will come in useful on the regular, it’s also important to know how to clean the exterior of your machine. Wipe it clean with a damp microfibre cloth, taking extra care around any buttons and controls.

Some air fryers can mark easily if you operate with greasy fingers. Using a light cleaning spray will help you to buff away any lingering marks.

5. Tackle the inside

Image credit: Ninja

Every now and again it’s important to clean the interior heater in your air fryer. This can be tricky, especially because you should avoid getting the heating element wet.
One of the best ways to clean the inside of an air fryer is to lay it on its back and apply a paste made out of a very small amount of water and some baking soda. Leave this to dry out and then scrub away the paste with a toothbrush.

Baking soda is a great natural cleaner that you’ll see in many of our care and cleaning guides, and scrubbing it away will help to rub any residue and absorbed oil away from the air fryer uni. Just make sure it’s all gone before you next use your air fryer!

How often should I clean my air fryer?

You should clean the basket after every use, or you’ll end up with burnt residue or dangerous hot oils that can emit smoke and damage your air fryer.

Luckily, if you follow our tips on how to clean an air fryer basket you should be able to do this in minutes. As for the exterior and inner heating element, this can be done less frequently.

See more cleaning tips with our guide on how to clean a BBQ 

The post How to clean an air fryer: the easiest way appeared first on Ideal Home.