Maybe a bit more art and some curtains? I'm not a huge tapestry person, but if you can't paint, a wall of tacked up fabric makes a major difference. I'll try and come up with some more ideas. Stay tuned!

Here's an updated version with my art hung - better? I like the idea of hanging up some simple curtains...

Is there anyway you can flip your pillow to the other end and make yourself a fabric covered headboard (that you attach to the wall instead of to your bed)? I think that would change the look from a dorm room to a bedroom.

Oooh I like! A fabric covered headboard would be a great idea... Should I play off of the art hanging above my bed (hard to see the details on it in this picture) with the light blue and rusty orange? Or off of the Gustav Mahler orange and purple? I think more black/white would be too much.

Don't go black and white. Do something fun. Well, your sheets are purple. Are they always purple? If they are then you can tie that in with the headboard and the artwork. I would go with a pattern that has alot of rich color in it, including a good shot of purple. The other colors are up to you, maybe get a couple samples of your favorite fabrics and bring them back to your dorm room to see which one fits the best.

Can you get rid of the hutch above the desk (perhaps your school has storage for furniture not in use)? If so, the space above would be great for a bulletin or inspiration board. Cover cork in a dynamic pattern, or just use cork and cover it with a lot of beautiful photos and imagery.

I like the idea of removing the hutch above the desk. If you still want some shelf space, you could get some smaller shelves to stack in the corner there and then add the bulletin/inspiration board next to them.

Also, I noticed a floor lamp in one picture. I would explore lighting a bit, too. You'll definitely need good task lighting for studying, etc. But some ambient lighting can really help to warm the place up during down time. I used some Christmas lights behind a curtain in my old dorm room for a cool effect.

The drawers on the bed and desk could be covered in a light weight cotton fabric that matches the fabric head board or coordinates with it. The way to do this is to staple the fabric to the inside of the drawers using a staple gun and short tacks. You can find this gadget at any hardware store. You'll need it for the headboard. The headboard can be made by using spray glue, pillow batting, and foam board. Are you allowed to put a plant hook in the ceiling? If so, a hanging lamp may work there. That lampshade on the floor lamp is dying to be made over too. Would you believe that a child's elastic waist skirt makes an easy fabric cover for a lampshade? (in the foreground of the pic of my daughter secretly catching me applying lipstick) So go shopping for wee clothes or raid your niece's closet! You may even want to start with the skirt and choose fabrics that match IT rather than the other way around. Hope these ideas work of give you a starting point for ideas of your own.

I just looked at your "before" pics again. I'm wondering if you could add some shelving to replace the hutch to the desk by purchasing a DIY pine garage shelving unit like this one http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100670799/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 at the hardware store while you are there for your staple gun and EXTRA staples. This could go over your fridge. The shelves can be placed at various heights so that the top shelf could be above the fridge. Your microwave can be placed on a shelf. Purchase curtains or bedsheets to staple to the top shelf on the front and both sides. If you need to cut some length off of it, cut it off of the top. You can then use a hot glue gun to glue a fun upholstery trim to. That will be a fun way to hide the rough ends and staples. You'll want to find some rope to match your trim (it should be in the same department) so you can tie the curtains back during times of heavy "kitchen" usage. Also...if the idea of stapling the fabric to the inside of the drawers makes you leery, consider the hot glue gun as a tool for adhering it. I've hot glued curtains to the walls and they came off without taking the paint off surprisingly. As for the hutch on your desk...will it fit on the floor of your closet and hold sweaters...or your shoes? Ok....I'm done! ...........maybe. This is fun!

One thing that helped SO much when I was living in a dorm at Bama was to not use the god-awful overhead fluorescent light. So use LAMPS! TJ Maxx and Homegoods are always good for that.

The other thing that helped was a rug, which you've got covered.

And how do you feel about rearranging the furniture? Is your roomie cool w/that? I'm not sure if the room is deep enough for this, or how it will even look, but you could use the back of the desk/hutch as a sort of headboard. That could work 2 ways...either have the desk closer to the window, so that when sitting at the desk your back is to the window, or turn the desk where it's sitting now to face the window and turn your bed to line the adjacent wall. Of course you've got the fridge/microwave to work with too, and I can't see what's in that back left corner, so that may not work.

On another ideabook I just glanced at, someone took grosgrain ribbon, dipped it in fabric starch. It will dry in place and you can remove it when time to move out--could use this for a ribbon accent or why not a large piece of fabric to look like wallpaper? Worth a try!