Regardless of your flooring materials, whether carpet, hardwood or tile, adding area rugs in key places brings an extra touch of welcoming warmth.

Choose patterns, colors and textures that complement your furnishings and bring the added touch of comfort to your room. Use various styles in each area you create - they don’t have to be identical. Just coordinate the colors and styles.

Creating the ambiance you desire in any room in your home is easy with the right furniture and accessories. Take into consideration your space, your color scheme, and the placement of your furniture to create just the right sense of coziness that makes you feel comfortable. Once that happens, all that’s left is to enjoy your space with your friends and family.

DirectBuy has a beautiful collection of well-designed brand-name living room furniture and accessories at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices. You’ll also find practically everything else you can imagine for your home remodeling, redecorating, and building projects.

 So you are sitting back reveling in the beauty of your newly installed natural stone tile.  Make sure you can maintain that feeling by learning how to properly clean and care for you tile.  Natural stone including marble, travertine, limestone and others can retain its inherent beauty with proper care.

A good rule of thumb is to always remember to protect your tile from acidic-based solutions.  Items containing acid can etch and dull your stone.  If juice, wine, or other acidic liquids are spilled onto the stone surface, wipe the spill up immediately with mild soap and water.  Never use cleaning products containing acid or vinegar on marble or limestone.  There are many cleaners on the market today specifically designed for cleaning natural stone.

Under foot traffic, dirt particles can cause scratching to the floor surface. Regularly dust mop, sweep, or vacuum floors to minimize scratching to your floor.   In wet areas such as showers, soap scum can be removed by using a non-acidic soap scum remover.  You may also use an ammonia based solution, ½ cup ammonia to 1 gallon of water, to remove soap buildup.

Making the decision to install natural stone tile in your home will add warmth and beauty to your surroundings. Taking the time to adequately clean and care for you natural stone tile will ensure your investment will maintain its luster for years to come.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of flooring solutions for your home including natural stone and many other types of tile - all at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices.

Glass tile is one of the most versatile and beautiful materials you can install in many areas of your home.  Whether you prefer it as a kitchen backsplash or shower wall or floor, it can make an exquisite addition to your surroundings.

Glass does not absorb liquids or foods and can provide a great layer of protection for walls.  Because of its durability and natural protective makeup, glass is also one of the easiest materials to clean. In most cases, you need only use a cloth dampened with mild soapy water to clean glass tile.  After wiping, dry completely by wiping over the surface with a clean rag. 

If you have a busy schedule and want to minimize time spent cleaning some areas of your home, installing glass tile might be the perfect option for you.  Easy to clean and beautiful, it doesn’t get much better than that.

DirectBuy carries a wide range of tile and other great products to make your home all that you want it to be. You can save with manufacturer-direct prices on most anything you need for your home environment.

Building a new home or remodeling an existing home?  If you are considering tile or stone for your design, make sure you order enough material the first time. 

Most tiles and stones are produced in units called lots.  This material was made at the same time and under the same circumstances.  Whether it is a natural stone, glass tile, ceramic, porcelain or any other natural or man-made product, you should order enough from the same lot to cover your project.

A good rule of thumb is to order 10% more than you actually need for waste.  Tile or stone may break during transportation or installation.  You also must take into account corners, closets, wall edges, etc. where tile is more than likely cut in order to fit.  On your initial order, make sure you order at least 10% extra from the same lot in order to maintain consistency in color, veining, and glazing.

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of natural stone and tile options for your home at manufacturer-direct wholesale prices. 

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.

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.

Bamboo is technically a grass and not a wood.  However, caring for this type of flooring is similar to most other contemporary floor finishes. Walking on any floor with dirt and grit particles is the quickest way to damage the finish.

Bamboo flooring is fast becoming one of the most chosen materials for flooring.  It is environmentally friendly and if cared for properly, will add beauty to your home for years to come.

Dust mop your floor or use a soft-bristled broom or vacuum attachment on a regular basis to remove dirt particles.  Avoid using excessive water when mopping and always choose a non abrasive cleaner.  Protect your floor from scratches and indentations by using furniture leg pads and protective rug pads.

DirectBuy has a wide selection of flooring options for you to choose from. With fantastic manufacturer-direct prices, you can select top-quality flooring at prices you can afford to pay.

You’ve thought long and hard, and finally you found the right furniture or carpet for your home. But stains happen, and not your average food and beverage stains. In the event a gross stain does show up on your upholstered furniture or carpet, check out the following cleaning tips to preserve your furniture and carpet.

1. Blood - does it really get any grosser than this? Probably not. Often one of the hardest stains to get out, quickness is key to removing this stain for good. When you discover the stain, pre-treat immediately by applying laundry soap and hydrogen peroxide, then blot the stain. Rinse the stain by blotting again with water then allow to air dry.

2. Pet Stains - you love your critters but their incontinence can be a messy issue. If you have hardwood floors or ceramic tile, it’s not such a big deal since it is easy to clean. But an accident on carpet or upholstery is another matter. Treat the stain quickly by wiping or blotting it up to prevent it from soaking into the fabric or padding of your carpet. Try to remove the odor by spraying the stain with a deodorizing solution or make an organic and environmentally friendly solution out of water and vinegar. Treat the stain by using dishwashing liquid, a stain removal stick or club soda.

3. Sweat/Perspiration - Sweat happens and the imprint it leaves on your furniture can be a dirty one. Laundry detergent or an oxygenated product works well on perspiration stains. Remember after using the cleaning solution, apply water to rinse the soap out of the stain and then allow it to dry.

4. Urine - maybe your child is a bed wetter or you have incontinence issues. Either way it is nothing to be ashamed about. Get rid of the odor and the stain by first treating the stain with clear water. Unlike pet stains, you don’t have to blot. Just go ahead and apply the club soda to the wet stain to remove it and the odor.

5. Vomit - This is probably one of the grossest stains to have to clean. It’s really hard to get out and can leave a huge, nasty stain if not treated. You may be forced to replace your carpet if it isn’t treated correctly. The type of fabric determines the treatment, but the basic idea of cleaning up vomit is to wipe it up, clean the stain with water and soap, powdered detergent or bleach. Wipe and allow it to dry.

While it may seem unpleasant to think about, there is sure to be a time in your life when you will experience a gross stain and need help getting rid of it. The tips above can help you treat and care for the furniture and flooring you love, preserving its look and freshness for more enjoyable years in your home.

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of top-quality carpet and furniture for your living room, dining room and bedroom at manufacturer-direct prices. You’ll find most everything you need in one convenient location to build or remodel your home.