Monday, July 21, 2008

Back to Campus? Be Prepared with the Essentials Lowe's offers affordable decorating ideas for all college students

MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- These lazy hazy days of summer will soon be over and college students will head back to campus. As students and parents prepare to head down college lane, Lowe's offers essentials for students living in dorms and apartments as well as commuters living at home.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031205/LOWLOGO )

"With only a modest budget, a little effort and thoughtful planning, a dorm room or apartment can be much more than a 'white box'," said Melissa Birdsong, vice president of trend, design & brand for Lowe's. "Focus on efficiency with the space plan and creativity with the decor. A great rug, colorful drapery panels, a cool new lamp... even live plants in interesting planters provide ways to put your personal stamp on your new home away from home."

Decorating a Dorm Room

The tight confines and cramped quarters of dorm living can be quite an adjustment. Balancing your schedule and tastes with your roommate as well as decorating a small space can be as difficult as writing a 20-page paper.

A variety of rugs and carpets, like the Damask Rug (#6923, 9.98) can cover up dull floors and make it a little softer for your feet when they first hit the floor.

Space-saving solutions and small appliances allow you to effectively utilize the space you have. A mini refrigerator, like the Frigidaire 4.4 Cu. Ft. Compact Refrigerator (#61493, 69.99) and GE 0.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave (#85545, 8.57) are essentials for sodas and leftover pizza.

Try versatile products that do double duty. A plastic drawer tower like the Gracious Living 3 Drawer Wide Chest (#110186, 2.97) can store extra clothes, towels, school supplies and serve as a bedside table, too. Also consider the Rubbermaid Wheeled Underbed Storage Box (#110001, 4.97) to store items you need, but do not use all the time.

Freshen up your Apartment

For the apartment dwellers, you probably have more legroom and leeway with decorating, but you still need to be smart with the space.

A basic tool set like the Kobalt 22-Piece Tool Bag Set (#278617, 9.98) gives you everything you need to earn a degree in DIY. With your tool set, you can hang a curtain rod like the Beme 48" - 84" Sienna Bronze Basic Ball Rod (#165272, 7.97) and adorn it with a Springs Brick Aspen Twill Panel Curtain (#170180, 4.88).

Utilize behind the door and wall space by adding hooks for coats and bags like the classy Brainerd 27" 6 Scroll Hook Rail (#123741, 3.97). To make sure you get an A for safety, install a KIDDE AC/DC Plug-in CO Alarm (#282907, 6.87) to alert you if carbon monoxide levels become dangerous.

Just incase you have a spill or stain, be sure to keep around necessary cleaning supplies. Mops, brooms, and trash bags are a must, but do not forget cleaners like the Simple Green Cleaner (#18791, .97) to keep your home spic and span.

On the Go

For commuters, organization and safety are important, whether you are taking public transportation or battling traffic to and from campus.

To stay safe on your commute, use the Vector 100 Watt Power Inverter (#229301, 5.97) to make sure your cell phone is charged to call during an emergency. It's also a good idea to keep a flashlight in your car for emergencies. The Mini Maglite 2-Cell AA Aluminum Flashlight (#76170, .48) is small enough to store in your glove compartment. And, if your car needs freshening up, Lowe's offers interior cleaning wipes and other supplies to keep your car up to speed with your schedule.

When you get home, organize your desk with the Seville Classics 3-Piece Braided Willow Basket (#201836, 9.97). To keep your computer, lights and phone cords easy to manage, consider the 2150 Joule Surge Protector Tap (#294361, 7.97) with six rotating outlets to allow for easy plug access then rotates flat against wall for convenient storage of plugged-in cords.

Show Your School Spirit

Collegiate rugs and LED signs allow you to display your school spirit in your dorm or apartment. Adorn your walls with Collegiate Wall Panels (college offerings vary, .98) and have extra room to pin up reminders or photos of friends. Plus Lowe's has all your tailgating supplies from tarps to coolers and grilling equipment.

And for parents who aren't sure what their college student will need away from home, Lowe's offers gift cards with collegiate logos.

For more ideas on Back to Campus essentials visit your local Lowe's store or online at http://www.lowes.com/ .

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2007 sales of 8.3 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,550 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/ .

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031205/LOWLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Lowe's Companies, Inc.

CONTACT: Abby Buford, Lowe's Companies, Inc., 1-704-758-3497,
abby.b.buford@lowes.com; Amanda Monteleone, GCI Group, 1-404-260-3546,
amonteleone@gcigroup.com

Web site: http://www.lowes.com/

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