is there a reason the head of the bed has to be at the "closet" end of the room? that's what's making it look so cramped in my opinion. i'd say rotate the bed so that the closet is at the foot. this'll probably give you better access, too.

i agree with maxwell that a paint job, strategically placed curtains, and good lighting will make this space really fantastic.

Yeah, I'd flip the bed too, or simply detach the headboard posts if that's possible.

Shelves. Shelves. Shelves. But keep at least one wall completely clutter free so you don't feel like you live in a warehouse. And go with a light color of paint to maximize light. Also, use mirrors to give the illusion of more space (cheap trick, but it works!)

i love me some small space puzzles. For ease let's call the wall with the door on it A, the closet wall, B, the long wall C and the short wall opposite the closet D.
Try this for fun (reason: I don't like that you have to climb on the bed to get to your clothes, and I think the set you have feels unrestful)
I'd turn your bed 45 degrees so it nestles into the closet (the left side of it hard against wall B, as you lie down)into the inside of the closet. Paint the closet a cool color, use it to display things you use, beautfully. Now hang a high bar all the way across the room the long way (parallel to wall C)and hang your clothes there, with a curtain in front of them. I think that will give you both more storage and easier access, and get rid of the weird, nothing-behind-your-head-but-us-chickens-&-clothes feeling I get from that room.
Consider getting rid of the head and foot board. The room is so tiny already that the extra visiual detail is distracting and clutters up the space visually. If you won't do that, consider painting it white or whatever color you choose for the walls to allow it to fade away.
Another set up to consider: flip the bed so the headboard is against the wall where your foot board currently is (D), so you are facing the closet. Hang curtains as you currently plan -- again, easier access, I think.
I love little rooms, and I'd consider turning this into something very cool -- Surround the bed in whatever floor plan you decide on with curtains so it is canopied -- since it's a small room already really play up the coziness and cocoon feeling, so it seems INTENTIONAL as if you ALWAYS planned to put your bed in the closet. Use the same curtains for the closet -- for a room that small, with that much fabric, you can go for something really busy and patterned and it will be like the inside of a great purse or jewel box; I'm imagining all kinds of possibilities -- a black and white print -- maybe Greek key pattern -- with lime green walls a la Wearstler, or something mysterious and gypsy-like with red or chocolate brown walls (or choco with white curtains...yummy); or all white like the Delano hotel, or light blue walls and white curtains like clouds, or covering all the walls in some great grey menswear flannel or wool (or wallpaper) with crisp white bed linens. You might consider getting a mirror cut to size for the closet wall or another wall (or use multitudes of those square mirrors) -- it would open up the space. Don't make small gestures in that little room, make big ones, and only make a few of them. Also, get all the same hangers if you don't have them already so when you leave the closet curtain open, it will still feel in control. As you suggest, lighting is key. light the corners, not the room or the ceiling, and think about function -- a place to put your book or magazine or computer (speaking of, think about getting a rolling parsons table to slide your bed into -- leave a little room between your bed and the wall so it can move freely. Allows you to breakfast in bed or use the computer, and then you slide it down to the end of the bed. only works with no foot board...I think Ikea has them).
good luck send pics!

Holly -- if you are reluctant to paint or are forbidden to do so by the lease, consider Maxwell's suggested color scheme in reverse. With walls remaining white, add long curtains, ceiling to floor, in a breathable natural fabric (I'm thinking linen) -- in a soothing shade of scandanavian blue, or similar color. Then consider a subtle echo of that color in a duvet cover and/or pillows.

Also another definite yes to the bed flipping. Good luck!

Jeesh.... your "closet" is literally bigger than my bedroom. And I had the same issue of having to deal with a closet, a double bed, a dresser, and a desk in there! The only advice I can "second" is that of rotating the bed so that the head is closer to the door. Being in there with the door open and being able to see into the rest of your space is really going to keep you from feeling claustrophobic.

I'm finally going to be able to expand into the rest of the space and am turning a 6x9 room into an office (yes, this was the second bedroom originally) -- SlaneyC's advice of keeping one wall free so I don't feel like I'm in a warehouse (or cupboard) is a great one - thanks.

I had tiny bedrooms like this in my first two apartments in New York. If this closet had a window, they probably would have listed it as a 1 bdr! Now that I have a big bedroom (11 x 17), I kind of miss the coziness of this kind.

If you can't take out the overhead light, just put a dimmer in there. I, too, understand the reluctancy to adapt or invest in rental spaces.

If your landlord will let you rip out the shelves and rod (or even just the rod), I would just put up IKEA Billy bookshelves on the whole wall, per Slaney's suggestion. They're only like 8-9 inches deep and will open up the space a lot more. They're also super cheap but sturdy! I feel like the clothes are cluttering up the room.

You can put your clothes in a wardrobe in the living room. Getting dressed in that bedroom is not going to be fun anyway.

Good luck!

What about mentally going in the opposite direction and celebrating the coziness? I'd take all of Maxwell's suggestions, then define the bed with a tent of fabric -- like mosquito net, but more opaque. I did something like this when I was young by taking cotton bedspreads, attaching them to one another in a grid with iron-on fusible tape, nailing the center on the ceiling, and picking up more over the corners of the bed. This left fabric hanging down the headboard and footboard walls. It was cheap. It was fun. (Really, I'm still describing the bed.)

My actual bedroom is the same size so I understand. I have a very similar set up and I couldn't believe the difference after I hung curtains over the shelves and bar where I store my clothes. I just used brackets and a shower curtain and mounted it near the ceiling. It covered up my clothes and set a great backdrop for my bed. And I have to agree with SlaneyC. Shelves help - especially when they go to the ceiling. Just one wall and the whole room gets a lot more height.

I'd definetly switch the bed so the head is facing the closet, and I'd take off the headboard/footboard if you can and just use a plain bed frame (you can probably store the head and footboard underneath). Although I am generally not a fan of the sides of the bed being against the wall I think I'd do it in this case, just to open up more space into the room. Good idea to put curtains in front of the clothes too. You can install one of those lighting strips in the closet to show through gauzy curtains.

Then, I'd mount a couple of free floating shelves on the side of the bed that is next to the door and also put up some wall reading lamps. Can you put the bureau in the closet? That might free up some space too.

440 square ft studio is not tiny...in my book...maybe i'm just being sensitive now...

i agree flip the bed...or if you choose to do a wall length floor-to-ceiling curtain to close off the closet, then keep the bed that way may not be so bad.

painting would do wonders - play with different shades of one color for different rooms, maybe?

consider your closet-turned-bedroom a complete blessing. something tells me you are not the first tenant to use it as a bedroom though.

I like it. I would keep the head of the bed in the same direction but I would probably lose that precious 2 feet so I would have some space between the bed and the wall because I've had trouble with having a bed against a wall. Since this is also your closet, this place is like your womb - TOTALLY PRIVATE - and that begins absolutely at the doorway. Good on Maxwell for suggesting the curtain over the doorway but when you move through that curtain, you're in bed! Jump in, and mush into your comforter. This means you definitely have to get those curtains (flat sheets on clip rings and an extendable shower curtain in matching metal) ya gotta get those curtains up right away behind your headboard. I think the floaty curtains on two sides will help you feel floaty and Calgon take me away in there. You shouldn't have a light over your bed like that. If nothing else, it must be bad feng shui. (whatever that means! heeheehee)

oh, hey! dO YOU HAVE room to rotate the bed against the wall on the same side as the door!?? If you do, then I vote for that.

what about sliding shoji doors instead of curtains? You can even get one to match and place it on rails in front of the entryway. That way the headless bed would look better flush against something straight rather than the flowy curtains.

Hi,

I am envious of your "found" space. I too have a "large" closet, maybe I could do something with
mine.

What are the dimensions of your closet/bedroom.

Thanks,
Susan

I feel so silly, I see you gave some of the measurements. What is the width of the room?

What did you do with the things you had in the closet? How do you avoid feeling closed in?

Thanks again.

Susan

these are some fantastic ideas! many thanks to everyone.

you all have completely convinced me to flip my headboard & footboard. tonight. :-)

in regards to rotating the bed 45 degrees:
my queen bed measures approximately 7'x 5.5'
the short side of the room is 8'
rotating it that way would only leave a foot behind it for closet space. but having 3.5' on the side would be pretty great.

I wished you shown what the main room look like. I don't understand why you couldnt just make this like a studio instead of jamming the bed in the closet.

i would not switch the bed around. i have this pet peeve where i MUST face the door when i'm on my bed. I think you should do curtains. the flowing fabric would be a nice touch while doors might make the room look smaller, plus you cant really slide the doors easily or even to the side anywhere. i also think doors would make getting to your clothes that much more difficult. you could also play around with extending the fabric and nailing the ends to the ceiling to make a canapy over the bed, if the fabric is light and sheer enough the light will go through nicely.

they sell shoe trees that slide beneath the bed and shoe shelves that could fit into your shelves to give you more shelf space in which you could put shoes or sweaters.

i would also consider one of full wall mural posters of a beach scene or city scene to take up the full wall to the right of the closet so when you walk in its like a huge "window"
i've seen them on urbn.com but i bet you could google around for less expensive ones.

Susan-
The room is 8' by 9', the door is on the longer (ha) wall.

I moved in to this apartment two weeks ago.
In anticipation of moving, I purged a lot of junk I didn't need or want - gave clothes to Goodwill, sold off extra furniture on Craigslist, sold LPs & CDs I wasn't really attached to. Frankly, simplifying is addictive. AND, I use the money I receive from those things to add to my redecorating fund.

Amazingly, ALL of the things that needed to go in my closet actually still fit in it!
(and i am also blessed with lots and lots of kitchen cabinet space, so that helps)

lucy, might I suggest:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764553224/sr=8-3/qid=1154460030/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-8090205-7098239?ie=UTF8

LOL! There seem to be two "lucy"s posting....I have added a capital "L" to my post here. I made the comment about the shoji blinds. Sorry I was not more clear. I actually have them in my L-shaped studio (to divide the bedroom area from the living/dining, and they are divided into four. All move on the slider, with the two middle ones recessed a bit. So if you need to get something out of the way right-hand side of the closet, you move the partition to the left. the ones in the middle can be moved to the right or left, and the one on the left is moved to the right. I should take pics of mine and show you. they're really cool and make the room look streamlined.

My suggestion in putting the bed with the left side against the wall means actually using that loset space and moving the clothes storage to a new rod that runs the length of the room, perpendicular to the foot of the bed. You could also pick up a rolling garment rack to do the same thing, hide it behind a curtain, like a little beach cabana.
Then get a set of shelves and put them on wall C (next to the garment rack) so the shelves face the foot of the bed (now nestled into the closet, wall B) and use it for books, folded clothes, etc. If you have great shoes and purses, put them on display on the open closet shelves.
I have half a mind to come up there and do it myself, invite you back in at the end of the day for a Trading Spaces stle reveal...
BTW: you can cover a wall in fabric by soaking it in liquid starch, then smoothing it up over the wall like wall paper. Comes off easily without damaging the wall...
For that room I would also consider navy blue walls with white bedlinens and curtains...crispy!

Thanks Holly,

I hope when I get home and measure my room/closet there is something I can do with it also.

Susan

sorry I misunderstood the 1 foot concern.
Two options: one, the rod could extend over your bed at the foot of the bed and the shortened space could be used for short hanging things -- shirts or skirts or jackets. Then there would be a double rod to the right of the bed (achieved perhaps with a high stationary rod all the way across the room, and a lower garment rack beneath it). In my bed-in-closet world view, the bed would be bracketed with curtains at the foot and the head, so when you walk in the room and face the bed, it looks a little like a stage with the curtains open. The slothes storage would be fronted by a curtain as well, and if you had clothes extending over the foot of your bed -- not a bad option if the ceiling is 8 feet or higher -- they could be behind a short curtain or just be open to your view in the bed. a good reason to keep the clothes neat and tidy...and all on the same hanger.
If you don't want clothes there, then do the Billy shelving unit or similar from Ikea for folding storage. And put a big big mirror, or entire mirror wall, to the right (wall D) when you walk in.
Conversely, you can hang shirts or jackets or skirts on rods or hooks that extend perpendicular to the wall, like in a store (so the front of a jacket would face you when its hanging, rather than you viewing the shoulder.) This could be achieved with plumbers pipe, an elbow joint and two flanges screwed into the wall and ceiling. At least 2 of these could fit side by side (maybe a total of four, 2 above 2 below...they would be 1 foot deep, and not encrouch on the bed at all)
If you want quick diagrams of these ideas, email me at rednotebookstudio@hotmail.com.
Don't let the whole rental thing deter you from having a fgreat bedroom. Easy enough to paint it back to white when you move out, and really: many are the AT readers who have been in their rental places for 15 years...enjoy your space fully.

As soon as I saw this question I could think of only one example I've seen that really wowed me. It took me HOURS to finally find it in one of my design books. Hope this helps although the photos are not all-encompassing but it should give you some idea.

Bed is great in the closet, very cozy, and hopefully you won't stick with all white decor but go with something much richer. If you flip the bed 90 degrees then, yes, you MUST move the rod or just remove it altogether and make do with some kind of armoire/hooks/etc. in the newly open space. As for flipping the bed 180 degrees, I could see the argument for either doing it or not. If you leave it as is, a great curtain will make a dramatic backdrop and an LCD TV wall-mounted at the foot of the bed will make the orientation feel correct - and fabulous. If you do flip the bed 180 degrees, a tiny TV would still be great hung from a bracket in the upper corner above where the tall dresser currently is (and it wouldn't need to be a flat screen). Hopefully you might move that tall dresser elsewhere as it appears to be blocking your access to the "closet" as is. Beads would be cute in the doorway too. And replace the overhead light with a cute short little chandelier or pendant on a dimmer. Good luck; it's going to be great!

Please, please, please, whatever you decide, do come back and post a picture of the room when you're done!

getrid of all those boxes and shoes on the shelves are store them under the bed. Put books or a few select knicknacks on at least one shelf and maybe even squeeze another shelf into that space.

Turn the bed to the other end so that when in bed you can see the shelves and hanging the curtain is a good idea for hiding the closet bar and the clothes.

You should not take up any floor space with objects. All lamps and shelving should be elevated and attached to the wall and make use of the space under the bed.

I like the idea of the tent-like look around the bed but that and the hanging clothing on the bar might be overwelming.
-Jessica

My suggestion to tidy the closet itself, is to invest in uniform hangers. Even with a curtain or screen, when that's pulled aside the actual closet part of the room will additional symmetry.

I bought IKEA's hangers and pants clips, because they're inexpensive and make my closet look like a C P Shades store. Every time I had an extra five bucks, I'd pick up another set of 8 hangers.

Nicely done, Anne!

Anne...check out page 109 of the March Domino Magazine. Very similar idea - bed partially in closet + unification of space with color.

Anne, What book is that?

Take out the closet completely (or take out the rod as has been suggested), move the bed back into the newly liberated space where the closet used to be and get an Ikea Pax wardrobe for the living room.

This way you get more useful manoeuvre room around the bed and you use the more plentiful space from your living room (which would have had to have accomodate a bed before your brilliant idea of putting it in the closet - I mean that sincerely) for storage without either room feeling too cramped.

With the rod removed you can use the remaining shelving as more of a built in head board and decorate rather than store there.

which would have had to have accomodate...

Huh? Well you get what I mean

I second the idea of making the whole room like one ginormous bed - the fabric hanging from the ceiling idea is smashing - it would be like a secret coccoon - use a range of creams, beiges, soft peaches, ivories - basically think of vintage underwear - for the colours - light and airy but without the starkness of white

I officially change my position re the closet, and endorse adopting Jamie's living room wardrobe thing. Make the bedroom about sleeping and resting alone (still include a large standing mirror to open the space. Ikea has a cool one that';s about $160 and gigantic). Make everything in it beautiful; everything on the shelves should be something you like to look at. Make it a cocoon: Use fabric and a staple gun to make ceiling to floor curtains for the bed and headboard in whatever pattern or color strikes your fancy. If you use a boldly pattterned print, use a LOT of it. Use table lamps for lighting -- light spaces, not rooms. no overhead lighting. will make the room feel like an interrogation room at the sheriff's office. You can do this whole thing in a weekend -- post pictures!
Myself, I'd put all my books on the shelves, or taking a page out of the newest Domino, get uniform white boxes and fill the entire shelving unit with them, and hide your things in there.
I'm so excited to see what you do!

szig - It's House Beautiful Small Spaces

I think this is an easy one.
1. GET RID OF QUEEN BED AND GET A FULL MATTRESS
a. Mattress size:
Sure, you have a queen bed, but really a full bed would save some room and work better in there. it is a pain, but consider just getting one. try to find someone who just bought a new one, but suddenly had to move and will sell mattress cheap on craistlist or something.

b. try to get a platform bed that had one foot of nothing underneath. no underbed dusty storage, no platform bed drawers, just air!

c. white linens
Use white sheets, blanket, pillows, or mostly white. also, don't get low dust ruffle or huge comforters that hang to floor. let yourself see floor and space. and don't let old queen size sheets hang over edge.

2. COVER THAT CLOSET!
this is so easy, just get a thick slightly off white curtain to hang from ceiling to floor to cover your closet. nothing transparent. nothing that looks like an ugly white window curtain. instead think south beach. i used an off white ikea bedspread for mine.

3. use some delicate lighting that user above suggested.

4. forget shelves or storage. you have a closet, don't make any other big shelves. don't have any other furniture in room, except for maybe one tiny nightstand if you need it.

5. floor
what is the floor madeof? real wood, wood laminate, wood parquet are all ok. keep everything in room in the closet, don't have clutter, just sleep there, and hang a few pictures on the wall.

hope this helps, looks like a great place.

What if you were not to use your closet as a closet, but rather push the head of your bed all the way to the back wall of the closet? I think it might create a cozy sort of sleeping nook/cocoon. Then you could use the shelves above the bed in a couple different ways: 1) you could use them as book shelves or to display knickknacks or artwork. 2) you could also use them as deep storage, and cover them with a neutral colored curtain (I think something similar in color to the walls would help to make the space feel larger.) The Ikea Setaria Roman blinds (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15594&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=10845&langId=-1&categoryId=15847&chosenPartNumber=60093987) are a snap to hang, and it’s a 2 second spackling job to repair the holes when you move out.

Then maybe you could find a nice wardrobe to place right outside the bedroom door. As much as it would take space away from your main living area, it would help to make your sleeping area a calmer space and to give you easier access to your clothes. Ikea’s Pax Brevik wardrobe (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=42681) has a unobtrusive, clean feel about it and might not look some much like your bedroom’s spilling out into your living room.

Really like your idea of creating a boudoir feel and using Chinese lanterns. Dimmer switch attachments might work nicely with them.

Good luck!

Put a trifold screen behind the headboard and hide that closet.

I would paint with Ellen Kennon's full spectrum paints. They will make the room shimmer and glow even in low light conditions.

I would use jewel tone colors and just repaint when it is time to move. A room that size won't take long to repaint.