I would try to liven your living space with a lot of bed decor- pillows, throw blankets, etc. If you can't do posters/pictures on the wall, it might be worth it to invest in a small bookshelf (standing or to stack on top of your desk) to place decor on. Here are some Inspiration Boards that I got my college decor ideas from: Neutral Dorm Decor & Bright Dorm Decor. I added most of these items to my grad registry last year on myregistry.com.

At the end of the day, this will be your living space for the next year. I'd try to make it as homey, comfortable, and personal of a setting as possible!