Ceramic tile is one of the most widely chosen tiles for home installations.  It is durable, cost effective, and comes in many shapes, colors, and patterns.  If you are choosing an installation of ceramic in your home, proper cleaning will help maintain its beauty for many years. 

Here are a few general guidelines for cleaning ceramic tile:

1. Sweep your floors regularly to remove dirt and dust particles. Dirt and grime under foot is the main culprit of scratching.

2. Always sweep or vacuum prior to mopping to remove grit and dirt. If vacuuming, don’t use the beater bar attachment as it can scratch the surface of the tile.

3. Damp mop your floor with an approved cleaner. Most common cleaners will specify on the direction label what type of flooring for which it is suited. After mopping, dry surface with a clean rag.

The aesthetic options for ceramic tile have increased dramatically over the years.  If you find this is the right tile for your home design, protect your investment by maintaining it properly.  It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of ceramic tile as well as many other beautiful tile and natural stone options for your home - all at manufacturer-direct prices. You’ll find most everything you need to build or remodel your home at great savings.

Most of us have seen the beautiful Italian hand-painted tiles, but it might be outside our budget range to consider a full wall installation of either of these tiles.  If you have found a beautiful tile that is a perfect fit for your décor, but just a bit expensive for your pocketbook to have as a full wall installation, there is a great alternative. 

Select several of these more expensive tiles to use as a focal point and surround them in a tile that fits within your budget.  Oftentimes, this is even a better alternative to a full wall installation as you are not overpowered by the tile or the design.

Whether you choose hand-painted, forged metal, mural reproduction or any of the other hundreds of unique and beautiful tiles available today, make them a focal point of your design and don’t break the bank by surrounding them with complimentary, yet economically-priced tile.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of beautiful tile for your home at manufacturer-direct prices to help you create the look you want within your price range.

Want to create a cool room for your teen? Here are some tips on how you can turn what was once a child’s bedroom into a cool hang out at home for your teenager and their friends.

Bedroom Furniture

Just because your child is a teenager, that doesn’t mean he or she has stopped growing. On the contrary, you don’t know how many more growth spurts will hit by the time your teen enters high school and leaves for college. Make sure your teen’s bedroom furniture can grow with them in terms of bed size and the height and width of dressers, end tables and bookshelves.

To Theme or Not to Theme?

Some teens may want a theme while others might prefer a more conservative approach. Make sure you include them in the decisions so they will be happy with the final design. Some cool and quirky themes include video games, snowboarding, sports and Hollywood glam.

Cool Elements

Choose from a wide variety of products to give your teen’s room a personal flair - lava lamps, bold pillows and rugs, faux fur, animal prints, bean bag and giant shoe chairs, and artwork are just a few ideas.

Whatever your teen’s special interests may be, you can find ways to incorporate them into a cool bedroom theme that will make spending time in their own personal retreat more enticing.

DirectBuy has everything you need and more to make your teenager’s room a hip and happening spot. You’ll find a wide range of bedroom furniture to furnish any bedroom in your home in the style just right for your taste - and all at manufacturer-direct prices.

There are certain materials and structural elements that give contemporary kitchen cabinets their unique, futuristic feel.Materials include plastic laminates, special wood veneers, enamels, lacquers, or metal foil laminate for the kitchen cabinet facings and textures such as horizontal ribbing in the surface or drawer heads for a high-tech look and feel.

Contemporary kitchen cabinets use frameless construction with full overlay doors and no toe kick panel for a high-tech feel. Accessories such as knobs and range hoods are often made of polished stainless steel. The countertops are normally made from tile, Corian, stainless steel or polished stone.

Overall, contemporary kitchen designs are intended to portray a very modern, futuristic feeling with clean, sleek lines.

DirectBuy Carries a wide range of cabinets - from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. With manufacturer-direct prices, you can choose the style and design you want, and still save money.

It used to be that wood flooring was just wood flooring.  The finish was determined by the type of wood chosen.  Today, there are many types of finishes to choose from based on the look you desire for your home.  Hardwood flooring can either arrive prefinished from the manufacturer or you can have the finish done onsite after installation.Finishes:

• Oil-Modified Urethane - is the most common type of finish. This finish will amber over time and is available in gloss, satin, and semi-gloss. This finish coat typically dries in about 8 hours.
• Moisture-Cured Urethane - is best applied by a professional. While more durable and water resistant than most other finishes, it has a strong odor during application. This finish is normally available in gloss or satin.
• Water-Based Urethane - is clear and non-yellowing. It has a milder odor than most other finishes and typically dries in just a few hours.
• Penetrating Stains and Wax - are actually absorbed by the wood. Once dry, it provides a protective seal over the wood.

If you are building a new home or remodeling your current home, look into the many color and finish choice now available to you in hardwood flooring.

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of hardwood flooring options to make your home the showplace you want it to be. Manufacturer-direct prices help you choose high quality and stay within your budget.

A coffee table, also known as a cocktail table, is a great addition to any living or family room. Designed to go in front of a sofa, you want a coffee table that is durable and easy to clean.

Coffee tables come in various styles and materials. Some incorporate cabinets or drawers for added storage, which can be very important considering coffee tables usually hold books, magazines and knick knacks.

There is a large selection of coffee tables on the market in different styles and designs. Try to choose not only a functional coffee table, but one that will add a touch of style to your décor.

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of coffee tables and living room furniture in styles ranging from country to contemporary and everything in between. At manufacturer-direct prices, you can choose great quality and remain within your furniture budget.

Tired of that worn out carpet?  Is your linoleum flooring curling up at the edges?  Want to look at a beautiful backsplash while slaving in the kitchen? 

Update your home decor with tile.  There are many types of colors, patterns, and textures available to suit any personal taste or style of architecture. Here is a list of a few of the more common types of tile:

• Ceramic Tile - ceramic tile is clay based and is most often glazed on top to produce different colors and textures. Glazed ceramic is a good choice for walls in areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry area.
• Porcelain Tile - porcelain tile is sand based and fired at extremely high temperatures which produces an almost glass-like product. It is a good choice for flooring both indoors and outside.
• Natural Stone - there are many types of natural stone from which to choose, marble, granite, travertine, limestone, slate, etc. Depending on the type of material chosen, natural stone can be used for flooring, countertops, wall applications, etc.
• Glass Tile - glass is offered in a myriad of colors, textures, and finishes. Depending on the finish you choose, glass can be used in both wall and floor applications.

DirectBuy carries a beautiful selection of tiling options for your home at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices.  Let one of the product specialists guide you in the right direction for choosing the type of tile you need based on your needs and desired style.

When it comes to natural stone, there are many types of surface finishes available today.  While a polished finish is usually the most requested, a honed finish is running a close second.  A material which has been honed creates a less formal appearance than polished material. Honing a material produces a matte-like finish. 

Some natural stones are referred to as “highly honed.” This term refers to a surface finish with a soft sheen, falling between a regular honed and polished finish.

Honed natural stone is often requested for floor applications because it tends to be more slip resistant than a polished stone.  Many homeowners use the same stone in a room with two different finishes.  For example, someone will use marble with a honed finish on the floor and the same marble with a polished finish on the walls.

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of beautiful flooring options for your home building or home remodeling projects. You’ll find great choices and great prices to help you get the look that’s right for you - all at manufacturer-direct prices.

If you are considering replacing your current flooring, take a look at new designs offered in carpet tiles or squares.  Although carpet tiles have been around for years, advanced technology and new designs are bringing this type of flooring into the forefront. 

Homeowners are finding these modular tiles trendy, stylish, and a great alternative to traditional carpet.  You can buy carpet squares for any architectural style and you can even create your own unique design by mixing and matching colors, textures, and patterns.

Another great plus for using carpet tiles is most homeowners can do their own installation.  Simply measure the area of your room and peel and stick the tiles down.  Viola! A new room and look in no time flat. 

So, if you are thinking of changing out that stained carpet or you are building a new home, take a look at carpet tiles.  It might just be the hippest square thing you can do.

DirectBuy offers great flooring options for your home including modular carpet tiles and many other great choices of fine carpeting, hardwood, many types of tile and more. You can choose the flooring that’s perfect to fit your lifestyle and save with manufacturer-direct prices.

There is nothing like entertaining outdoors in your backyard or patio area on a sunny day, but what about night? During the summer months, days are longer and nights are cooler, but you don’t want to party in the dark. So illuminate the nights with outdoor lighting.

How you want to decorate your outdoors will determine the type, design and style of outdoor lighting you choose. Depending on the layout of your backyard and the structure of your patio, you can mount outdoor lighting to your ceilings and walls.

If you have a covered patio, a hanging pendant would make an excellent choice as well as a chandelier for a more decadent look.

Whatever style of outdoor lighting you like best, DirectBuy offers a wide variety of styles to suit your needs. Manufacturer-direct prices make it easy to get high quality lighting fixtures and stay within your budget.