What Jinx said.

Can you add a rod? Put holes in the wall..

First thought was exactly what Jinx said.

Yes, i like Jinx’s pics for you. I’ve seen where decorators hang the rods almost to the ceiling, then mount woven shades to cover the drywall. Gives the illusion of mych taller windows. i shall search for a photo!

I think Jinx has a great suggestion!

These work really great..and you can still hang rod across the entire area…no holes

Here you go:

Agree with Jinx et al

Nini, I did that in my beach house. Not sure if I would do it in a rental, but those blinds do come in a lot of different price points...

I have done the roman shade trick many times! The thing about that is, when it gets really hot (which is almost half of the year) I need to close everything as it gets so hot.

I also wonder what to do with that extra wall space on the right if hanging curtains. How could I make it look symmetrical?

BTW, I already have curtains that I purchased long ago. They are a fairly neutral creamy color.

I am pretty good with window treatments but given this situation and the heat etc, I am not sure what I should do.

My former home in Austin. I did all of that on my own.

I always love seeing that room! You did such a great job with those curtains.

I wouldn’t worry about symmetry. It’ll look fine, plus come in handy pulling the curtains shut when it’s triple digits.

@Jilly how would you hang the curtains? Would you cover the windows equally with curtains and then leave the extra wall space alone?

I like the idea, but would it be a problem that, when pulled all the way back, your window on the right will remain partially covered?

Yes, I’d do equally and not a fabric wall. The asymmetry wouldn’t bother me.

I don’t think the stack on the window closest to the wall would be too much, as they aren’t super narrow windows. I just wouldn’t use extremely heavy, thick, stiff drapes.

I would cover the wall on the left with fabric, and try to cover as little of the right window as possible.

You want to suggest/imply that the space on the left is window.

World’s Worst Mock-Up. :D

I’d keep it simple like this. If it’s not crucial to cover the door, you could have enough panel thickness for just the windows … but give the illusion that it could all be covered. I hope that makes sense!

I’d maybe hang a bit higher than this, about the halfway mark to the ceiling. You could do regular rods or French return rods.

I think covering the whole wall wouldn’t fool the eye, because of the door and other window location. It would look like you have one very wide window on one side.

@Jilly, that looks pretty good! Thanks for taking the time to do that for me! You are always so helpful!

My pleasure! I love your apartment. :)

Another option would be relaxed or tailored Roman shades over just the windows. But knowing your taste, and being in the living room, I like the curtains better. Plus, drapes are easier to open and close.

These are IKEA panels (2 panels each side) that I lined and pleated for my son’s room. Sorry for the blurry picture, but you get the idea.

Thanks for the second mock up Jinx! Last night I read your post but the picture did not show up. Odd!

Thanks for sharing rather. Your curtains look lovely!

I love your rug!

Amy, have you thought about putting UV window film on your windows? I used it on skylights and it worked really well to cut the heat. It's inexpensive and can be easily peeled off if you find a new place.

Thanks bumble!

Dee, do you recommend any particular brand? I think I would need someone to put it on for me as I am horrible at such things. I should do that. Thanks for reminding me!

Is that baseboard heating? For window film my niece used 3M solar film and had it installed. It lasted really well and did the trick. Her windows faced south.

So, I did a terrible mock-up. The colors are off but you can stil get the idea. My walls are not orange for one. And my rug and furnitue have more color and depth.

I would use a pair of somewhat sheer linen curtains to let the light in but cover the ugly windows.

I like the textured woven shade. That will be the harder item to find bc it will be pricy.

Is this a crazy idea? I could paint that one wall as an accent wall and paint the door and trim more of an off white. At least in the photo it looks like a dirty yellow white. I have already made so many holes and other things on my balcony so that I can like little apartment more, why not paint aw well. I can paint back.

This an awful mock up but I did my best to get an idea. I would get a more sheer linen curtain so the light can pour through.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I like that color! I hate to say, yes, do it, because accent walks can be iffy. But you have such wonderful taste; I know you could make it work. It looks beautiful with your rug.

I don’t think I’d do an accent wall. I believe it will make your room look smaller.

I’d go with Jinx’s suggestion. Add black-out liners for heat control. Google ”black-out curtain liner” and you’ll get all sorts of hits.

I tried it with a pic that shows a bit more of the walls and room. This mock up is even worse.

I have energy today. Tomorrow, I will probably just throw in the towel! hah

BB, I have found that sometimes when you use a darker color it makes the wall recede. It might not given everything else happening on that wall. I feel it might look more interesting. I do not know.

I don' think the "darker colors make the room look smaller" is always true. I also think that an accent wall can make an apartment feel more personal somehow.

I keep forgetting to mention I have super long and wide outdoor blackout curtains and a rod ready to put in place just right outside my window and door wall. I can close them and keep the heat out. I will definitely be using them this summer!

I like your mockup with the accent wall - makes it seem very warm and cozy.

Given the other two walls are beige with a very slight orange undertone, I might just paint the two walls the color of the trim. I think that would really make the space feel clean and bright and work well with the accent wall. It would not take long to paint given the size and there are two perfect breaks in the walls where I could end the color.

I like the green accent. And dark colors can actually make walls seem to move back because they aren't bouncing light back at you. And I don't remember if I mentioned that I got some inexpensive thermal blackout curtains from Macy's online -- they go on sale with some regularity. I bought some panels for my son's upstairs bedroom because he said the morning sun was waking him too early when he came home for a break. I didn't want to spend a lot for a few weeks a year. I tried several -- the fabrics can vary in quality. I think you can also get the thermal liner separately or use them with a sheer if you want light control options.

Yes to the accent wall and yes to painting the other wall the trim color, especially if your drapes are going to be white. You have good design instinct, I've always loved your style! Is the blue paint the same color as the background rug color? I would try and match it, or a tad darker paint. Also, make sure your drapes are not so white that they make the trim color (and other walls) look dingy. Looking forward to your living room transformation!

The wall color i used is Pewter Green by SW. I have used it several times before. It can read green or even blue depending on all factors (lighting, natural lighting etc)

Now I just need to find the energy to do all of it!

I am not sure what color curtains I would use. I defeinitely would not use white. Probably more a light linen color.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Amy, my sister lives in Dallas and from her I understand your problem with intense summer heat and sun. Is there any way to mount something on the outside for the windows that could work for a rental? Just a thought.

Arapaho... from my earlier post:

I keep forgetting to mention I have super long and wide outdoor blackout curtains and a rod ready to put in place just right outside my window and door wall. I can close them and keep the heat out. I will definitely be using them this summer!

Great minds they say...

Because it's an apartment, I'd forgo a dark wall and especially repainting only some of the trim. It just makes moving (which you will eventually do) more complicated. What about removable wallpaper?

Spanish, I would advise the same to someone who posted this. When I moved in I hardly did a thing as I never thought I would be here for long Four years later, the crazy housing and rental market have me thinking I might live here quite a while longer. Given that, I would like to enjoy it more by making it my own. A bit disheartened but trying to remain positive.

Amy

I thought about suggesting removable wallpaper, but having just done this in my DDs apartment, i do not suggest it, for two reasons. One, it is far more costly than paint. I would say the wall we did was about the same size, and the wallpaper cost $420 plus tax, S&H and DH's and the DD's labor. It is not a one person job. Not possible.

Also, lesson learned. It can only be applied over matte paint. I did not realize it but their walls have a very slight texture. I think many/most apartments do (covers imperfections better?). As a result, it does not stick on that well. The girls are always smoothing it out LOL. It hasn't fallen down or anything, and because of the pattern you can't tell, but ...

Good point, Mtn. Orange peel texture is very common down here.

Yup. not smooth.

Theirs is so subtle I never noticed. I did know that you need matte paint, but when I read that I thought "oh yeah no problem." Then, move in day ..... oops.

I think too, it's a good reason to go with the color of the trim. A dark color on texture may not look as nice.