When Bill Gates was a Harvard freshman, he reportedly slept directly on his dorm-room mattress.  Taking the time to actually get the proper sheets and make his bed, it seemed, was just too much trouble for the future Microsoft mogul.

For those of us who might want a bit more dorm-room comfort, there are some simple and cost-effective strategies for making your or your child’s dorm room feel like home.

Here are a few tips along with some especially helpful dorm room products, services, discounts, and deals.  High school seniors might also keep these in mind as they tour prospective colleges.

1.  Maximize Forgotten Space

Most dorm rooms are far from spacious, so it is important to use every available nook and cranny.  To do this, try the “over and under” approach—as in over your door and under your bed.

Start on both the front and backsides of your interior doors with over-the-door racks for shoes, towels, mirrors, caps, bags, laundry hampers, and more.  There are over-the-door racks for almost anything.

Use “bed lifts” or “bed risers”—plastic or wooden supports placed under bed legs—to raise your bed an additional five to seven inches and provide you with usable storage space.  Consider the extra space under your bed your newfound horizontal closet.  A so-called “dust ruffle” can keep your under-the-bed storage hidden.

Most of these items will cost you in the $10-to-$30 range.

2.  Coordinate With Your Roommate

There is nothing worse than showing up at your undersized dorm room and realizing that you and your new roommate have two of everything.  To avoid duplication and conserve some funds, call your roommate before you set foot on campus and coordinate your purchases.

If you really want to go over the top, you can even work out a common décor and color scheme.  Martha Stewart would be proud.

3.  Invest in Your Bedding

Despite what Bill Gates might say, anything that makes your bed more inviting can make a big difference in your ability to rest and recuperate.

Many colleges will mail you bedding options offered directly by the school or an affiliated company, but those usually aren’t the best quality or deal. 

Check in advance if your dorm bed will be a twin, extra-long twin or something else, and then take a few extra minutes to shop around.  Think higher thread count and softer fabrics.  Pick up a mattress pad or protector, a comforter and high-quality pillows (the ones in most dorm rooms aren’t the greatest).  If you or your child will be heading off to a cold-weather school, get a set of flannel sheets, too.

4.  Overcome Common Dorm Issues

In my travels to colleges across the country, the two most common dorm issues I’ve found are poor lighting and cold, hard floors.  Fortunately, this is easily overcome with a few strategically placed floor lamps and plush rugs.  If you plan to visit the campus before you are officially enrolled, take a few digital photos so you can prepare.

Because large items like lamps and floor coverings may be expensive to ship if you will be attending school across country, use free in-store pickup programs.  Bed Bath & Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond.com) will allow you to browse for the items in your hometown store, select the items you want, and then arrange to pick them up at the store nearest your college.  Linens ‘n Things (www.lnt.com) also will arrange for free in-store pickup so long as you make your purchase on its website.

5.  Don't Pay Extra for the Same Stuff

Both Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things offer ubiquitous coupon promotions.  To sign up for these coupon mailings, register on their websites.  Even better, because both companies accept the coupons of competitors, finding a coupon for one of these retail chains is almost as good as finding a coupon for both.

Additionally, Bed Bath & Beyond customers who sign up for the Upromise program (www.upromise.com)—a free third-party service that enables you to earn money for college as rebates on daily purchases—can earn an additional 1 percent rebate toward their college savings accounts.

Another third-party service, Student Advantage (www.studentadvantage.com), offers its members a 10 percent discount at Linens ‘n Things stores.  Annual student membership costs less than $25.

At both retail chains, you can even set up a “college registry” so Grandma, Grandpa or your wacky uncle might hook you up with some dorm-room goodies.

One more cost-saving opportunity:  The Container Store offers special after-hours “College Night” events in the summer where college-bound students and their parents can save 20 percent off every regular-priced item in the store.  Check out www.containerstore.com/collegenight for upcoming events in your area.

Your dorm room may be small—and your budget even smaller—but this doesn't mean that you can’t live comfortably, too.