Hey! Dorm rooms are tough - you want it to feel like home, but you cant fit a lot and you don't want to buy anything NICE because it needs to be mobile later on.

I went to Ole Miss where the girls (feel free to google "Ole Miss Dorm's" - it'll blow your mind) go ALL OUT (like the pic below) to make their dorms perfect.

I was not like that and to be honest it sounds like my style is a bit more like yours. I have a few ideas that I hope can help!

First: heres a link from Society6 talking about (ironically enough) Ole Miss dorm room styling suggestions:

https://www.society19.com/20-amazing-ole-miss-dorm-rooms-major-dorm-decor-inspiration/

Still not my style, but it has a lot of good ideas that I didn't think of!

Storage is always an issue which can make your room feel cluttered. A lot of people like to loft their beds and put those "cubes" underneath with stuff in the cubbies and cover the under part of their bed with a long bedskirt.

You don't want to clutter your room, but i'm all about STUFF that can make it more cozy! A lot of people got/made "headboards" (i.e. usually just a normal twin headboard on stilts they leaned against the wall behind their beds).

I think the sticky-removable wallpaper is a little too high maintenance for a dorm, but I love tapestries! Houzz has a bunch, so does Society6 and Urban Outfitters.

I suggest a printed bedding and lots and lots of throw pillows to shove in the corners of your bed. Kind of makes it like a couch and adds some texture and color!

I love photos/anything personal. If you have any artwork/local things from home/where you are from - decorate your shelves above your bed with them/frame them.

Doing anything vertical is key. Where you're "shelves" are in your room next to the cabinet and your bed - you could get a floor to ceiling bookshelf/cubbies/drawers to put things in instead.

You can find fun/funkier window curtains by using a shower curtain holder (i.e. fits in-between the walls to hold up curtains of your choice.

I also love macrame hanging plant holders (even if you use fake plants) you can find attachments to hang them from the ceiling.

Maybe a fun/patterned rug for your floor as well!

I hope this helps and good luck!!

First off - congrats on having a one-person dorm room.

Second, I totally agree that your vertical space is not being maxed out. I would definitely look into ways of elevating that bed up enough to house IKEA chest of drawers underneath. Look here: https://www.dormco.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SMBR-SUPRIMA09-WHT .

Adding several sturdy shelves into the wall studs takes less space than a bookshelf. (tons of price ranges - Target, Amazon, etc)

Wall mount an adjustable reading lamp at bed area (look here: https://www.amazon.com/acegoo-Bedside-Minimalist-Dimmable-Headboard/dp/B076B33Y9T/ref=sr_1_10?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1516559336&sr=1-10&keywords=reading+wall+lamp&refinements=p_72%3A1248909011)

I would lose those curtains and install a roman shade with room darkening backing (tons of choice here - look at Amazon, Walmart, Pottery Barn, Home Depot, etc)

In the photo where the printer and tv outlet are, try IKEA Hemnes desk: a dorm fridge can go underneath, and medium-size TV and printer can go on top. Food and office supplies go in drawers.

Invest in a comfy, sturdy desk chair for yourself - that one in the picture makes my back hurt just looking at it ;)

Those other chairs look like they are for visitors - so I would go with some decent folding ones plus table (look at this IKEA Applaro set for small spaces: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09053923/)

Those walls need love - removable murals work mental wonders (like the beach? Look at https://www.amazon.com/Wall26-Removable-Wall-Sticker-Mural/dp/B00XH8FIQS) As big as you can go, the better.

Good luck--have fun!

One more idea...you mentioned revamping furniture tops: contact paper is your friend here. Grey marble is a fun one: https://www.amazon.com/d-c-fix-346-0306-Decorative-Self-Adhesive-Marble/dp/B00504QXM0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1516559911&sr=8-3&keywords=marble+contact+paper

You mentioned you cannot do anything permanent, and that's the case in most dorm rooms. But you can use something that's not going to damage the walls. For instance, washi tape. It comes in different styles, looks fashionable, and adds some personality to your space, plus you can easily remove it at any time. Here's an idea on how to use it for wall decorating https://ivypanda.com/blog/dorm-room-decor-ideas/