Maybe blinds over your eyes?

First of all, congratulations on your first "real world" place.

I'd pick up the color of the sheets and/or rug -- the curtains should be floor to ceiling -- for some reason I think vertical stripes.

Like the teddy...

Helpful.

Check the velvet panels at Ballard Designs. There is a gorgeous cinnamon-y, terra-cotta-ish color velvet there that would give you great weight and color.

Personally, though, in all but the largest rooms, I like relating the drapery color as closely as possible to the wall.

I do like the idea of the matchstick blinds, but given the window width, that won't be cheap.

Also check Pier 1, The Company Store, West Elm and Ikea. And check the sale bins at Pottery Barn... I've found some amazing deals. Sometimes you have to buy them too long, but an easy fix that any drycleaner can help with.

Hey, JonathanB, that slightly sarcastic "helpful" was directed at joebelt, not you!

Alexandra, please ignore the mean comment and don't be discouraged. This is usually a supportive community.

As for your new space, congrats! I think Maxwell's tall curtain idea is great. I'm thinking that repositioning your furniture might help too, but I'm not sure what kind of space you're dealing with.

I would second the Pier 1 suggestion--they usually have some pretty good finds in their clearance areas. The same with Lowe's, believe it or not. If you have a World Market, give them a try--their prices are usually pretty good. Good Luck!

patrick (the other one), spice up your world with humor my friend.

Now for my advise. The room doesn't flow enough. It feels cramped. I would work on that first. It doesn't breathe. The dresser is too bulky for such a small room. A mirror hang on the wall would serve you better in such a tight space. Consider turning the bed and facing the windows. It will elongate the room. You can work out a full wall nightstand in back where the heater (AC?) is. Hopefully get some storage on both side. Keep it low though. No higher than the headboard. I would use the exterior light to open up the room. Light blocking blinds are only making this room smaller. Open up your room to the world outside with a translucent window treatment. For starters...

I'm absorbing some of this advise for my own bedroom, which needs help and I'm addressing in the Cure that's starting.

maybe an armoire or storage cabinet that would hold both clothing and your tv? i personally really hate a television in the bedroom, especially one that's not able to be hidden away.

also, i live in an apt and got around the no-paint thing -- i talked to my landlord and agreed to restore the paint to neutral white when i leave if he'll let me paint. you might be able to broker a similar deal.

an armoire in such a small space??? Like trying to fit an elephant in the gerbil's cage.

np, p(2).

joebelt

I think most of us would nominate p(2) as having the quickest wit in the west.

Might well be the case but in the East I rule the land. :)

target has those bamboo hang shades - i have them in my apartment and they look just as nice as more expensive ones (especially when you buy some nice drapes)...urban outfitters has lots of cheap textiles if you are on a budget.

Which east? Maybe I'm missing the humor in obviously putting down someone who is honestly wanting real help. My "advise" for you is to learn some grammar and manners.

Alexandra, congrats on your first apartment! As the others have suggested, I think going with deep wine or terracotta color drapes would look really nice. Maybe you could also continue the theme with a few pillows on the bed. For artwork, if you want some placeholders while you find meaningful stuff, doing a few "budget design show style" canvases can bring more color into the room. Craft and art supply stores have them fairly cheap in different sizes, and I think it's fun to just throw some acrylic craft paint on there in whatever color strikes my fancy. It's not necessarily "art," but I like it!

I had the exact same size window in the studio I lived in throughout my 20's! If this is your first apartment I doubt you will want to splash out on custom shades (which cost me quite a few hundred back then); I recommend going to Home Depot and getting 3 smaller shades to install (they can trim them if needed). You can then use a window scarf/valance strung on wire to cover the top part of the shades and hang down on the sides; these can be purchased pretty cheaply at Bed Bath & Beyond.

I think the biggest issue with your room is that you have not been very bold with color. Everything matches, but your bed linens and rug seem kind of drab. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. Find a favorite scarf, dress, etc. that you love and work with those colors; and think bold (bright red, turquoise blue, amethyst, etc.). If you get tired of the color, all you have to do is swap linens and your rug (which is small and not likely to be costly) again.

Christine (the one in DC), you'd miss humor if it was tattooed on your forehead.

I think I have the exact same window, awkward radiator/ac placement and all :D

In terms of color and style... well, depending on how high up you are and what sort of light you get, I wouldn't even get blinds. Right now, the windows look too much like part of the wall and it's a little claustrophobic. I think a nice bold circles pattern could be nice (and would match your rug). Perhaps in blue, since the pale green of your bed could sort of work into an ocean theme?

In looking at the pand I'd open the blinds up during the day so the room can get some light which is not helping at all and yes, add artwork and don't worry too much if it really and truly goes with your color choices but should be somewhat close though and go with what you like, they can be prints of something famous and again, don't be afraid to go with bold color here too.

Good luck on this new journey in your new "real world" apartment.ictures, I tend to agree with many here that the room, first of all, is much too drab and cramped, that is, too much furniture and faced so that there doesn't seem to be much room between the end of the bed and the dresser.

Secondly, the colors, while nice, they seem washed out and muted and do not seem to be doing anything without something bold to compliment them, something like a brighter green, terracotta or similar color that is already in your rug and go bold on any pattern, not so much so that it becomes busy, but a few well choosen large circles say can do more than a bunch of tiny ones, which when added up, can look very bus

Eek! Apt Therapy hiccupped and this is the thanks I get! Geez, sorry it doesn't make any sense.

In looking at the pics, I tend to agree with the other commenters that the room is bland, it does not help that you have little lighting in there, and shot at night probably.

That said, the colors appear washed out and muted, I would agree that you need more punch in the color department, including on your walls and don't try to get too matchy, matchy however things should coordinate at least somewhat though.

I also agree that the furniture placement seems cramped so some rearranging is in order here as well.

Go with what's in your rug but with more intensity as themselves what you have just isn't working and use the more intense color to add pop to your room.

Good luck with your new "real world" apartment

I like the style of Pottery Barn curtain that Maxwell suggested, but I'd use a different kind of rod, since your windows appear to go completely wall-to-wall from left-to-right. The very good thing about that much window is that once you have curtains, it almost amounts to the same effect as an accent wall that's painted a different color from the rest of the room.

Meanwhile, it kind of looks like the kind of blinds that some landlords provide, so if you're not allowed to paint, I'd think you might not have the option fo taking these down. If you can, I like the Pier 1 shades, though.

If you're a tad too shy about painting those canvas panels that Christine describes, consider finding coordinating fabrics and stretching them onto artists stretcher bars, which aren't all that expensive, and stapling them on the back so that the edges are just fabric; that way there's no need for picture frames, and you can mix and match them however you like, kind of like I did here for someone else who was renting and couldn't really paint:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artycurtis/176669175/in/set-72057594097309896/

I think perhaps "washed out and neutral" comes more from the photos than the elements. I think that rug is a treasure trove of color inspiration, and quite rich. Ditto the bed linens.

I'd still do a wall-related color for window treatments.

But what about also using a window treatment-inspired hanging behind the bed, to serve as a headboard of sorts and also eat up some of the white wall-ness, in the absence of paint?

I'm a newb on this site but I'll take a shot.

-Definitely consider repositioning your bed if that is possible.

-Window covering... instead of a rod use one of those cable rods they have at ikea - they look really sleek, you dont need to weight down your seemingly dark area with too much hardware.
-I would personally go with a very light curtain that can let sunlight in.
-Once you have some nice curtains up, put a nice tall vase with something very tall in it on or over near your desk. You need some vertical dimension, everything seems low to the ground. It could have nice artificial or real flower or grass, or bamboo. Just be careful not to get too tacky with it.
-Put a real bold decent sized piece of art over your bed. A color that doesnt clash but still really pops. Like something that is maybe just a solid color - you might be able to make for yourself
- Lastly, add some visual dimension, light, and interest buy adding a hanging light fixture. Maybe one above your bed even.

I like a lot of light so I wouldn't use anything too heavy or dark. I would probably use white wood blinds with a colorful valance or a pretty rod with a sheer scarf draped over the rod. That way you are getting a lot of light still coming in your windows. I noticed you have an avocado comforter. The Fall colors show a lot of avocado with rust or deep reds which might be nice. You do need to add some color. I love your rug.
Check out this site for lamps etc. http://www.ilikefurniture.com/lighting1.html