Applying paper covering could make you nuts later on. Paint it all one unifying color -- preferably the same as the walls. Cream or white will open up the space, but color will create impact. If you don't need the corner shelves, take them out; they're dated and tend to clutter. Throw down a great rug for accent. ANd I'd do someothing else with the curtains.

Thank u so much, all great stuff! I've only painted over solid wood furniture which I sanded on before so the paint goes over beautifully but wheb it comes to this mdf stuff not sure if u need a special paint or go the traditional route prime it 1st and then paint over!? Did you come across any special paints for furniture painting? Thank you

I agree with inkwitch - get rid of the corner shelves. Then paint paint paint. Switch out the curtains - go to IKEA for some fun Marimekko-style prints. Add a throw rug. Get rid of the propped up pictures and hang stuff on the walls. Is this to be a kid's bedroom? You could check out wall decals, which would save you from having to paint the walls. You can also switch out the hardware on the built-ins to something more stylish. Good luck!

I too have mdf type dressers and dislike them intensely. I was sure that I could not get a professional look if I painted them. So I applied a large wall decal to the dresser (a stylized floral pattern) as an accent. I applied one large one over several drawers and cut lines where the drawers had to open and close. It is a temporary fix but makes me smile when I look at the dressers instead of cringe and I can remove without damage.

You can easily paint your furniture by using a good quality primer and two to three coats of paint. It will make everything look so much better and fresher.

I would start by taking out all the drawers/doors! opening up as much as you can. Then maybe paint just the doors you need to keep! Your personality will shine through with the items you have inside. Then it is just a matter of organization and placement. Get all your picutures up on the wall and ground with a darker throw rug.

jewel tones and textured fabrics!

I would remove the doors on the left and hang some curtains instead, and on the opposite wall hang a large mirror on the wall. As strange as the furniture is, maybe instead of painting you could see if someone could veneer the fronts to match the wood, then you could change the knobs and live with it for a while? Maybe the corner shelves are large enough that you could salvage those and turn them into drawer a couple of drawer fronts.

I would paint the furniture too, maybe keeping in a neutral a shade darker then the wallls. I would also use a bamboo or roman shade for the window to take some weight off the window.

IF you want an eclectic look, I would make sure you add some texture to the builtins somehow. Whether with multiple colors of paint you rub-off in some spots, or stenciling a really subtle european pattern on there, it will add a great deal of character. And GET NEW HARDWARE! This is one of the easiest ways to facelift anything!

Another idea would be to over the doors in either wallcovering or fabric. There are some geeat papers out there right now. One of my favorite sources is Flavor Paper in Brooklyn, NY. Or if going for a more traditional paper, go to Brunschweig and Fils for both papers and fabrics.

Get rid of the cabinets all together. No matter what you do to them, they will look like crap. Ikea is a great idea for clever storage... but don't make any plans until you see the space empty.

I have heard that if you paint your shelves the same color as the walls they blend in to the back round and are not the focal point. Keep the built in's if you like the storage. Paint with soft or neutral tones same as the walls. (finding the right paint as you mentioned) But also limit what you put on the open shelves. It looks like you have too much sitting on them and too mismatched. Keep the open shelves clean looking and simple with just one photo in a nice frame or two, maybe a couple of clean lined organic looking vases or something small.
Add color and clean lines to your window treatments to draw the eye to the window. But not too much so the view and light from the outside will not be obstructed. (the curtains you have now are in the way and look heavy)
Another thought is to change the flooring or at least the color of the carpet. This might be an idea to play with.

Paint and funky hardware. Anthropologie has some great options.
Or cover some of the doors with a grasscloth.