!()[https://www.gfaglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Designer_Winckelmans_Decorated-Tiles_icon.jpeg]

Wet floors and glossy tiles can be a risky pairing. Bathrooms, showers, and poolside spaces are stunning but hazardous without the right flooring. The challenge? Creating a space that’s both elegant and secure.

You don’t have to pick one over the other. The right tile delivers both safety and sophistication effortlessly.

Why Slip Resistance Is Vital

Slippery surfaces are a top cause of home accidents. In bathrooms, where water and soap create slick conditions, slips are a real threat without proper planning. This is especially critical for homes with children, seniors, or mobility needs.

Your tile choice isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about ensuring safety when the floor is wet.

What Makes Tiles Slip-Resistant?

The secret is texture. Slip-resistant tiles have a subtly grippy surface that provides traction, even when soaked. Some feature advanced coatings for extra grip.

Slip ratings, like R9 to R13 from European standards, measure traction. Higher numbers mean better slip resistance. For wet areas, aim for R10 or higher.

Ratings are helpful, but feeling the tile is key. If possible, test a wet tile sample in a showroom—barefoot if allowed—to assess its grip.

Can Safety Be Stylish?

Yes, and it’s better than ever. The old idea that slip-resistant tiles are dull or rough is long gone. Modern designs combine safety with beauty.

Luxury bathroom tiles now offer slip-resistant options in matte stone finishes, wood-like planks, or marble-inspired textures. These tiles keep you steady while looking elegant.

Texture does more than prevent slips—it adds warmth and depth. Matte finishes feel softer than glossy ones, perfect for a cozy or spa-like bathroom.

Top Tiles for Wet Spaces

Porcelain is a go-to for wet environments. It’s dense, non-porous, and comes in designs mimicking stone, wood, or concrete. Slip-resistant porcelain is ideal for both floors and walls.

Natural stone, like slate or textured limestone, can work but needs regular sealing. For most homeowners, porcelain is the safer, low-maintenance choice.

Talk to a tiles supplier about slip ratings and finishes before deciding. Not every stylish tile is suited for wet conditions.

Grout’s Role in Traction

Grout lines quietly boost slip resistance. Smaller tiles mean more grout joints, which add grip. This is why mosaic tiles are popular for shower floors.

Larger tiles create a sleek look but need a slip-resistant finish in wet areas. Grout quality matters—some include sealers to resist mold and water.

Consider the full system: tile, grout, slope, and drainage. Each part ensures a safe, durable floor.

Designing with Safety in Mind

Your floor should elevate the space, not just prevent falls. For a modern aesthetic, large matte porcelain tiles in neutral tones keep things clean and open. For a natural vibe, textured stone-look tiles add character. For a spa feel, choose soft hues and subtle textures.

Visit a tiles supplier to touch samples. Photos don’t capture a tile’s feel or grip when wet.

Lighting plays a role too. Matte tiles under warm lights create a serene mood. Glossy tiles can brighten a space but must be slip-resistant for safety.

Where Slip-Resistant Tiles Excel

Slip-resistant tiles aren’t just for showers. Use them anywhere water might collect:

Bathroom floors
Walk-in showers
Pool decks
Mudrooms
Laundry rooms

Even small bathrooms benefit from textured tiles if cleaned often. For aging-in-place plans, safe flooring now prevents future issues.

The Final Word

Style is key, but safety is non-negotiable.

Modern luxury bathroom tiles deliver both—gorgeous designs and reliable grip. Whether you prefer sleek minimalism or warm textures, there’s a tile for your vision.

Consult a tiles supplier who understands design and function. Feel the tiles, ask about slip ratings, and test them if you can. The right choice today prevents a fall tomorrow.
Slipping in your bathroom isn’t just dangerous—it’s avoidable. Choose flooring that’s safe and stunning.

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#steamdeck #steam #linuxgaming

00:00 Intro
00:45 Sponsor: Secure your internet connection
01:43 What I wanted from this SteamOS Console
02:48 Console in name only
04:39 The specs
06:03 SteamOS / HoloISO: not easy
11:40 Performance: top notch
14:10 Not worth it, but I love it!
15:51 Support the channel

Fix for AMD GPU bad performance bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.ph…

I went for a Micro ATX PC, which means that, yes, it doesn't look like a console, but it was easy to install the GPU, it has ample room for cooling, and it sort of fits in my TV cabinet, so who cares. It's a Tuxedo Cube.

So here I have an intel core i7 12700,. I have 32Gigs of 3200Mhz RAM, I have a 1TB PCIE4 SSD, with a 750W modular power supply. For the GPU, I got a Radeon 6650XT off Amazon for 300 euros.
The total cost is a bit less than 1400€, which isn't cheap.

On it, I installed HoloISO, which had issues:
First, the default kernel they pick doesn't work with a lot of hardware, it lacks support for a bunch of things, so I had no Wifi and no Bluetooth support. Fortunately, they also ship with the holoiso kernel, which is more mainline, and does support a lot more things. You can select it during boot, with GRUB.

So I turned to the controversial Grub customizer, that's a graphical app that lets you tweak your grub boot options. HoloISO, like SteamOS, is based on Arch, but they don't really ship a correct pacman config with the correct repos, so I had to manually edit the pacman config to add the necessary repos to it, and then run a full system update, followed by the install of Grub Customizer.

And it flat out didn't work, it couldn't open the grub config file. That's because that file is preconfigured with conditions to boot with specific options on certain devices. I just commented all these conditions, and then Grub Customizer managed to open the file, and I could set the HoloISO kernel as the default boot option.

All games ran at 720P max. Of course, a simple web search gave me the answer, it's because SteamOS is meant for the steam deck, but you can change all that in the game's properties to select the max resolution you'll allow.

Then, the performance was horrible. I couldn't manage 1080p60 in Spiderman at medium details, Jedi Fallen Order had to run at 768p on medium to even get close to 60FPS, it was a mess, and this system should have been able to give me a lot more.

After a few hours of looking online, I found a solution: some AMD cards on Linux run in low power mode by default, and don't move to full power when you need them to.

But how's the performance then? Well, I can play virtually everything at least at 1440P, max settings at a smooth 60FPS.

I've completed a full playthrough of Spiderman, also running at 1440p high settings, upscaled to 4K through in game FSR. I've played about 13h of Cyberpunk at max details, 1440p upscaled to 4K through the in game FSR, with sharpness turned to the max, and it maintains 60FPS no problem, even when driving around in the city.

I played about a third of Red Dead Redemption 2, also running at 1440p, high settings, upscaled to 4K through HoloISO, at a smooth 60 fps as well. Everything can run at 4K High details, from 50 to 60 FPS.

And so this makes this console a better performer than a PS5, because PS5 rarely runs AAA games at 4K60, generally, if you want 4K high details, you're using quality mode, and you're running at 30FPS, not 60.

The performance mode on PS5 generally runs games at 1440p, and either medium or high details.

Cost wise, compared to a PS5, it's very expensive for a marginal visual improvement. And yet, I love it, and I plan to play everything I can on this and not on the PS5.

Because it runs Linux, and I love Linux. It also works with an Xbox controller, which I prefer to the dualsense 5. Also, my game library is mostly in Steam these days. I can also start a playthrough on my TV, and then pick up my Steam Deck, make sure my saves are synced, and go play on that outside, or in bed, or on holidays.