Lowe's Tutors Students on the Perfect Home Away From Home

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- When many people think of "Back to Campus" they think of dorm rooms and books, notebooks and backpacks. For an entire group of back-to-campus students, this time of year means moving, organization and cramming as much functionality as possible into a frighteningly small and boring space.

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College-bound young adults are creative and independent, and they envision their dorm rooms to be largely reminiscent of Legally Blonde or Old School, so a white-walled dorm room just won't cut it for the next nine months. It's key to invest in high-quality, durable products for the dorm room to ensure that they don't land in the dumpster at the end of school.

"Today's solutions for stylish and affordable organizing can transform an uninspiring dorm room into a distinctive personal space," said Melissa Birdsong, vice president Trend Forecasting and Design for Lowe's. "Young adults are sophisticated when it comes to decor having grown up in the age of decorating shows and authentic individual style. They want to bring the comforts of home with them including their favorite paint color, vibrant floor coverings, funky lamps and innovative small appliances."

Before organizing and maximizing space, the first thing to consider for a student's new dorm room is how to make the room more personal to set it apart and help the student create a sense of home:

- A large rug can cover ugly and often unfashionable dorm room floors. In addition to fun and colorful area rugs, Lowe's carries a unique new carpet system called FLOR. These oversized carpet tiles can be rearranged to create new contemporary designs, and tiles can be easily changed out and cleaned. - Go Team Go! Lowe's comprehensive paint matching system can help paint personal items the exact shade school spirit craves. - Peel-and-stick window films can be applied to a window to block out UV light and add an unusual flair to a room. These also can be easily removed at the end of the semester. - Lamps for task lighting and funky accent lighting give weary eyes a break from fluorescent overhead lights and will last for years. Consider the wide range of fashion lighting to make sure the student's room is unique.

Lowe's has also devised some organization and products tips for the college student that can help turn that 9-foot by 13-foot room into a spacious home fit for hours and hours of studying:

- Choose flat bins with wheels for under-the-bed storage. This is one of the most wasted spaces in students' rooms. Containers on wheels will help utilize this space and make it easy to get to what's stored below. - A 3-drawer or 4-drawer rolling cart makes a great bedside table. Choose one with a surface space large enough to hold a lamp and alarm clock. - A cart with clear drawers makes it easy to locate objects and will match even if your color scheme changes later. Pack it full at the end of the year and make less trips to-and-from the car. - Stackable clear-plastic bins make closet organization simple and lower the chance of avalanches each time the closet door is open. Select sizes based on storage needs. - To keep toiletries organized and to free students' hands on trips to the bathroom, choose a mesh-style basket with handle. The mesh design lets water drip out and reduces the need for cleaning. - Essential to any college room is the mini-fridge and microwave as well as toaster ovens and coffee pots perfect for early morning classes. Be sure to check with campus housing officials to see which small appliances are permitted.

Lastly, in the mind of all college students, cleaning supplies are a must. From trash cans and small vacuums to cleaning products, Lowe's has everything needed to keep that room spotlessly clean. For more information and other tips on "Back to Campus" visit Lowes.com or any Lowe's store nationwide.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2004 sales of $36.5 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 11 million customers a week at more than 1,125 home improvement stores in 49 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 59-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.