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.
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"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, $29.98) 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, $169.99) and GE 0.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity
Countertop Microwave (#85545, $68.57) 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, $22.97) can store extra
clothes, towels, school supplies and serve as a bedside table, too. Also
consider the Rubbermaid Wheeled Underbed Storage Box (#110001, $14.97) 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, $39.98)
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, $17.97) and adorn it with a Springs Brick Aspen Twill Panel Curtain
(#170180, $14.88).
Utilize behind the door and wall space by adding hooks for coats and bags
like the classy Brainerd 27" 6 Scroll Hook Rail (#123741, $23.97). To make
sure you get an A+ for safety, install a KIDDE AC/DC Plug-in CO Alarm
(#282907, $26.87) 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, $4.97) 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, $15.97) 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, $9.48) 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, $19.97). To keep your computer, lights and
phone cords easy to manage, consider the 2150 Joule Surge Protector Tap
(#294361, $17.97) 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, $9.98) 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 www.lowes.com .
About Lowe's
With fiscal year 2007 sales of $48.3 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
www.Lowes.com .
SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.
