Williamsville East grad shares 'dorm wisdom' with new students

It may be hard to believe that colleges will be back in session in the next few weeks.

Jeff Gawronski, a Williamsville East alumnus, works in product development for Dorm Buys located in Louisville, Ky., a has a business that helps students prepare for dorm life.

He offers five tips to "Up-grade Your College Dorm Room."

1 - Create a place to sit. Dorm rooms are often equipped with two desks, two wooden chairs, and two beds. Students who want a place to relax or wish to entertain some friends will have to find additional seating. Go simple with the classic bean bag or create more seating options with futons or other similar multi functional seating.

2 - Improve your bed. Most students walk into their dorm room for the first time to find a bed equipped with nothing more than a used and reused twin XL mattress. For starters, a mattress topper (most popular: foam egg crate and featherbed) creates an extra layer of comfort, while down comforters with a duvet cover provide a covering.

3 - Cover the walls. Unbearably small rooms with nothing more than four cylinder block walls make decorating a must. Posters and pictures top the list. It is important to remember not to damage the walls with screws or nails as that will result in a fine; instead, stick with mounting strips or Glue Dots.

4 - Maximize your closet. Finding a college closet large enough to fit one quarter of the clothes the average student has at home is next to impossible without finding creative ways to create space. Products designed to go over bedroom and closet doors hold everything from shoes and purses to hats and accessories. Another way to add space is to find products that create shelving. Look for items that hang from the closet rod or can serve as a substitute for a dresser.

5 - Cook what you can. When is comes to cooking a late night snack in your dorm, it can be done, but first you need to make sure you follow your dorm's rules and regulations on cookware. For instance, hot plates and burners are universally not allowed. But microwaves (less than 700 watts of power) often are allowed. For an easier way to cook, the Electric Multi-Pot and other similar items get the highest recommendations.

Other upgrades include a stylish area rug, trendy floor lamps, curtains to block the sun, shower sandals and a compact refrigerator.

While many things need upgrading upon arrival on any college campus, the Dormbuys.com survey also showed 86 percent of students felt closets and bedding were the two areas most in need of improving.

For information, visit www. dormbuys. com.