Add a Touch of Spring on a Budget

Affordable, Stylish Updates for the Most-Used Rooms in Your Home

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Most everyone in the U.S. has experienced a winter filled with snow and unusually cold temperatures. Relief from the cold weather is in sight, so start an indoor spring makeover to create a fresh, new look without breaking the bank.

Try a splash of color - one of the most economical ways to update the look in a room. Take advantage of Lowe's newest paint palette, Creative Ideas for Color^TM from Valspar, which makes choosing paint colors easier by narrowing colors into key areas--Living Spaces, Bed & Bath and Kids & Fun.

    --  Looking for the perfect shade? Bring home a quart-size paint sample and
        paint a piece of poster board to hold up to the wall to see how the
        color will look in your home under both natural and artificial lighting.
    --  "The color family blooming for home this spring season will include new
        shades of turquoise, ranging from brighter, more vibrant varieties to
        more subtle versions," said Melissa Birdsong, vice president of trend,
        design and packaging at Lowe's. "Glass Tilefrom the Creative Ideas for
        ColorTM palette is a soft livable green-tinted version perfect for
        spring and beyond."

Turn an everyday room into a great space by adding a few accessories, simple items with maximum impact.

    --  Choose the perfect rug to complement any room. Rugs can help define the
        room and the furniture in it, or cover up blemishes.
    --  Window panels and pillows can also add that extra pop of color. Try an
        allen + rothTM silk decorative pillow and lined window panels to help
        transform the space.
    --  Dress up windows with custom blinds and shades, which will provide both
        privacy and control of the level of light inside a room. It's easy to
        order custom blinds and shades without leaving home at
        http://lowes.levolor.com/. Included are tips and DIY videos to help get
        the job done fast.

Bring your home to life with the right lighting. Rule of thumb: every living space should have three sources of light to create the right level for the right task or mood. Change your existing light fixtures or add to what you already have to create layers of lighting:

    --  Install recessed lighting for good general illumination and add dimmer
        switches to change the mood in the room.
    --  To accent a space, add one or more stylish pendant lights over the
        kitchen sink or island or informal dining area.
    --  Add accent lamps to add personality and table and floor lamps to
        highlight key areas of your room and provide good lighting for reading.

Add style to cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom or even a dresser inexpensively with knobs and drawer pulls.

    --  Count your existing hardware to get the correct Number you'll need. Some
        kitchens have knobs (single hole) and pulls (two holes) so keep track of
        each.
    --  If you currently have pulls, measure the space between the holes to make
        sure you buy the correct size. If you already have knobs attached
        through a single hole, keep it simple by replacing with a knob of a
        different style.
    --  Determine your style and finish. For example, look for traditional,
        casual, or contemporary in brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze or polished
        chrome, to coordinate with your decor.

For the experienced DIY'er, install backsplash tiles to add personality as well as protection to bare kitchen wall areas between wall cabinets and countertops.

    --  Choose from an array of colors and styles, from mosaic tile to stone -
        even peel and stick metal.
    --  Determine the size and layout of the tile before you buy. Whether you're
        thinking of a running bond with one color of subway tile or a whimsical
        mosaic, having a plan to go by will make the job easier.

Most of all, make projects fun. Whether it's painting, accessorizing or lighting up a room, Lowe's is the one-stop shop to make your spring makeover a reality at a fraction of the cost. Get inspired and learn more from the experts at Lowe's on Lowes.com. Click on Lowe's Creative Ideas, and become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/LowesCreativeIdeas.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2009 sales of $47.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. 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 Lowes.com.

    Source: Lowe's Companies, Inc.