Roll Call: Paint, Storage and Style Critical for Back to School Success

Roll Call: Paint, Storage and Style Critical for Back to School Success

Complete Your 'Home'work and Earn a Passing Grade in Home Decor This School Year

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Book bag? Check. Textbooks and sharpened pencils? Check, check. Next steps? Get organized and tackle home decor. Whether your child is headed to kindergarten or you're off to college, start the school year organized and in style by putting home decor on the back-to-school checklist. Storage solutions for class projects and a colorful, fresh coat of paint to transform drab dorm room walls will earn straight A's in decor on this year's report card.

Follow these 5 easy, affordable tips from Lowe's to navigate 'home'room with ease. Just consider us your personal tutor in fresh style available 24/7 at www.lowes.com/backtocampus.

1. Organization 101: Get organized and stay organized. Capture your child's favorite class projects or preserve those term-papers and class notes for easy access come finals by maximizing storage space now. Storage can be both stylish and functional, without breaking budgets, by capitalizing on often under-utilized space. For less than $10, you can find a 10-piece storage set in a multitude of colors and sizes or a collapsible crate for easy, on-the-go organization. Once clutter free, keep electronic cords untangled with a corner unit surge protector complete with USB ports to charge all of your favorite gadgets in one place.

2. Interior Design 203: Channel your inner interior designer. College students are expected to spend almost $34.4 billion on their dorm rooms in 2010 - almost 34 percent higher than last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Impress your friends by complementing hand-me downs in your dorm or apartment with coordinated pieces that portray a mature, yet fun, style. From rugs to curtains and lamps, you can find coordinated, colorful pieces in this season's trendiest colors.

3. Color 305: Paint. Paint is an easy, affordable way to make a huge impact on your home's decor. Valspar Signature's Hi-DEF paint provides truer color, meaning the color you select on the chip actually matches the color you paint on your walls. The paint also has superior fade resistance and enhanced coverage, meaning it covers your existing paint faster and easier and lasts longer, ultimately saving time and money.

    --  Extra Credit: Many dorm rooms and apartments will allow you to paint as
        long as you paint back at the end of the lease term. Cover the drab,
        boring and often scratched walls with a bright splash of color in your
        school's hue. Earn extra style points by transforming an old desk or
        vintage chair with a fresh coat of paint in a favorite accent color.

4. Decor Design 406: Personalize. Create a study zone that is reflective of your personality (or your child's) with easy updates in a favorite color or trendy style. An area rug is a simple way to show your style, while letting you stretch away from your desk during a study break. Use a mini-fridge as a desk side table for easy access to late-night snacks, and add a colorful desk light and portable fan to keep you awake, your roommate asleep and late hours a breeze.

    --  Bonus: Breathe easier and stay healthier by using an air purifier with a
        HEPA filter, which will remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles
        and allergens. Maximize small spaces with the new Idyllis air purifier
        designed to fit on your desk.

5. Senior Seminar: Stain-proof your home. Back to school often means the start of our favorite sports seasons. Don't stress over the inevitable mud stains that come with soccer practice or intramurals. Update your flooring with STAINMASTER carpets that are 30 percent more likely to resist stains than other brands. Lowe's will even take care of the installation, leaving more time to tailgate and cheer on your favorite team.

Final Study Guide: Be the 'Big Man on Campus' and visit www.lowescreativeideas.com for more inspirational dorm room ideas. Become a fan at www.facebook.com/lowes.

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.