apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Horizontal stripes! They make people look fat, and walls look wider. ;) Even just painting the bottom half of the wall one color and the top half a lighter color would do wonders.

If you want to get really visually tricky, do the stripe trick with the short walls (including the closet doors if you want), paint the long walls a light color, and paint the ceiling a dark color. The dark ceiling brings the whole room "down", making it look squatter and therefore wider, the stripes elongate the short walls, and the light color on the long walls makes them seem "airier" and further away. It's a very handy visual illusion.

Pale colors recede. I'd also go as monochromatic as possible - which might mean replacing (and painting) the closet doors. And maybe adding some molding-trim to eliminate the outline of your closet doors. Take into account your celing color and carpet too...

I'd paint the shelves the same color as the rest of the room. And paint the wall above the shelf space a lighter tone than the rest of the room. Or, you could put mirrors (frameless) in that space above the shelves, too. It might have a nice effect.

dark colors recede. paint the long walls dark and leave the closet wall light

I'd go dark - perhaps a nice deep blue? (blue is a color that inspires calm and creativity)

Definately no mirrors - just leave the shelf, doors and trim white. The blue and white with medium toned wood furniture and some orange/coral accents will lend this room to a nautical/beach theme...

take off the closet doors and repurpose the space as a nook (maybe where a desk can nestle?). Paint the inside of the closet a light color and keep the other walls dark.

First, I am seeing a light neutral color - a good khaki, stone blue or maybe beachglass green.

Then, I would do something clever with stripes. Purchase 2 sheens of the same color: flat and semi-gloss. Paint stripes on the wall in the 2 sheens. This will give a subtle, but very cool effect.

I would do vertical (up/down) stripes on the far wall with the closet, and horizontal stripes on the long walls. This will lead your eye toward the closet, making the room appear longer.

Alternatively, you could go bi-color. On the long walls, I am seeing sandy beige on the top third, and beachglass green on the bottom 2/3. For the far wall, I see the wall in beachglass flat/semi-gloss stripes, and the door sandy beige.

I agree that you really need some trim around the closet door. Crown molding would be a nice touch too, if you can swing it.

I would stick with a lighter color for the shelf and ceiling.

Definitely go for a monochromatic look in a neutral color and get some good curtains for the window that would make the window look taller. Could you remove the closet doors and go with a curtain as well? Might make the room feel bigger. When you put in the office, go for height rather than size - it will make the floor space seem bigger.

Elizabeth here... Thanks for the ideas! I'd like to keep doors on the closet and I like the molding idea. Curtains are definitely in order!

I've had a suggestion before of painting everything a single, neutral color (like an oatmeal) and painting one short wall, or just the closet doors a deep color - a blue or leaf green. Thoughts?