I don't have a problem with the presence of a curtain so much - The issue is that this specific curtain installation isn't working for the space:

They should not be tab-tops, but rather pole-rod or pinch-pleat curtains, and in order to blend into the space, I'd choose curtains that are the same color as the walls (or paint the walls to match)

I agree with @bepsf on the pole-rod or pinch-pleat point.

Here's where the options come in. You can definitely get them to match the wall, which is what my sister has done in her basement office to create a storage area that blends with the room.

You can also get something completely different. The closet doors in my building are those annoying and sticky aluminum bifolds... we took most of them out before moving in. My roommates have curtains as closet doors in bright pink-and-gold sari material. It turns their closet area into an accent wall when they're able to close it completely. We also used curtains in the office to hide storage as well, in a red striped material, alternating between opaque and see-through, but still all red.

The one issue I see with it on a regular basis is the tendency for the curtains to "float" and not fall straight to the floor. Easily fixed with some magnets or even fishing sinkers, I just haven't gotten to it.

Really, when it comes down to it, what do you want to see when you walk in? Do you want the "wall" to blend in, or stand out? And then plan accordingly.

Good luck!

Bi-fold doors. They are pretty cheap at home depot and easy to install.

If there isn't space for them to open and close conveniently you could look at sliding closet doors.

Either way for about $100 you could remedy this.

You can install a folding door: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhc/R-100080362/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

They are inexpensive, and can be adjusted to the right size, and will look more like a wall once closed.

I know someone who had the same problem in their rental. They opted to buy frosted plexi doors that slide from side to side. It hid their utility closet/washer and dryer and it worked out great. It also kept the entryway bright and airy since it let light in and out.

i understand completely about the cloth making the hallway feel claustrophobic. my hallway is exactly the width of the door and curtains make it feel cramped. why do you need 4-5 of the ikea panels? how long is that doorway? the panels are what 20" wide? and they can be hung with clip rings from a tension rod. there should be enough length for you to roll something light but weighted at the floor to keep it from swaying in the draft.

nice and clean.

i would opt for some of the long ikea room dividers/curtains. i believe they're on a track and have very clean lines. you can get 2 or 3 that can slide back and forth for easy access to what's behind...and easy/stylish cover-up when it's not in use.

good luck with the search. i would say, if the rest of the space is right...just be creative with this one 'flaw', and make it your own.

Hi, Thank you so much for the ideas so far.

I apologize for the shoddy image quality, the old tenants were still living there and I was only able to snap a couple of stealth photos with a camera phone.
The "cubby" in question is probably roughly 8ft long from the door, which is why I initially considered 4-5 ikea panels, I'd want them to slightly overlap when all closed as there are a lot of exposed pipes and the large washer and dryer side by side (top load, can't be stacked)

There are tons of ideas here I hadn't considered at all, my favorite being the frosted plexi doors. If I can make that work affordably I can see it being the perfect solution for me. Adding in some backlights would brighten up the entrance and make it far more inviting too.

I think the most affordable and clean cut solution would be a wonderful mix of a few of your suggestions (after finding out that the amount of plexi I need would cost me closer to $200):

Buying some fabric and sewing my own (3) wide panels, securing the bottoms & tops to keep their shape (perhaps inserting some doweling cut to the panel width) and then hanging them with clip rings and maybe 2 depths of tension wire (staggering the panels) so that they can stay 'flat' yet still be pulled to open up one of the three main areas (storage vs. washer vs. dryer)

If you think this is flawed or you have a better way to go about this idea please let me know!

I have a similar entry way in my condo.
I put up sliding doors....they are very functional and look clean and simple.
Maybe you could try a habitat re-store, or ikeas "as is" dept for something nice on the cheap?
I always see those huge wardrobe doors...that have been returned, for practically nothing at ikea.

If you want to go the curtain route...I'd take bepsf's advice.

This would be more expensive, but another option for bi-fold or slide doors is mirrored ones. It opens the space a little and large mirrors never seem to be out of place right next to a door (so you can check how you look on the way out!)

@velexere --

I wouldn't use tension cable unless your fabric is extremely lightweight - Cables tend to bow under the slightest weight.

I was assuming there was a pre-existing ceiling track up there you could use, but if not you could install a piece of plumbing pipe using end-mounts for a closet hanging rod and install grommetted floor-length draperies at an appropriate height.

If you go the sliding fabric panel route, your fabric won't stay flat unless you sew in dowels at the top and bottom - then you've got to figure out how to hang the things without leaving a gap at the top...

Sliding plexi doors would look great too, but for a custom size they may end up being more than you wish to spend...
...and of course, you'd end up wanting to do the same thing with the closet across the hall.

I would be checking behind the curtains for monsters every time I came home. I agree with you, it would creep me out as well.

I wonder if a sliding wall-mounted door (maybe lightly frosted glass/plexi) would work or a large blind that could be raised and lowered?

If you're considering having curtains that draw up like a blind, perhaps you might find a small cheap one (at a thrift store, by the curb, etc.), install it in a portion of the space, and use it for a week or two.

In daily use, you are likely to discover some flaws and some strengths of this solution before you plan your final installation. I suspect you will discover how important it is to have high-quality hardware. This will help you budget your resources.

Can you set the new curtain back a bit to give you more space?

Maybe with a tension shower rod?

Install a 2x4 across the top of the space. Install some drywall over it. Install some standard sliding closet doors under it (i.e two hollow core doors with a rolling track installed on top.) You'll have a real closet for very little money.

I'll weigh in on the Ikea straight panels that run on a rail. We put them in our hallway for exactly this situation. We use our hall as a coat closet and find that the rails are sticky and noisy for everyday use. We sewed them ourselves, thinking this would be a money saver but after 4 hours of sewing (b/c i'm very slow!) I think $15 a panel isn't so terrible for a simple neutral panel. If I had it to do over, I'd choose a more interesting fabric.