Can you remove the soffit? Sometimes they are built much larger than they need to be. Doing a white ceiling and sofit will blend nicely - not sure a dark wall is the right way to go in this space unless you are looking for that sort of moody, dramatic bathroom.

And of course - lighting lighting lighting.

Unfortunately the soffit can't be removed. Thanks!

I have a bathroom with no windows. I put a framed print with a highly three dimensional scenic image to kind of "replace" a window.

Sometimes an oddity like that can become an interesting feature…by painting the angles in different colors or ….shades of one color…
i would paint it all white first …then consider shades of pale sky blue or aqua …for-the angles

It does look like preparing a smoother surface for paint may be a big challenge…you may want to consider shiplap or another thin (paintable?panelling) to cover that problem

Or a rough stucco finish…

My entire lower level has lots of those "drop boxes" for HVAC, etc. It is a large area with one side of windows and a slider. There are four room that have no windows, including the bathroom.

I painted everything dark, walls, ceiling, boxes with bright white trim. No one noticed the soffits at all. Whatever you chose, paint it all one color.

Judianna, I'd love to see a pic of your one-color room with white trim!

The other problem you have is the condition of the walls and ceiling. You will have to resurface them or (and I know you said no wallpaper) wallpaper walls and ceiling with a product called anaglypta, a wallpaper that you can put right over those walls. It comes in lots of patterns; you can leave it white; but it is made to be painted.

I'll take a photo...meantime, this is what I suggest.

Nice pic. Yes. I plan on having the walls and ceiling primed and skimcoated before painting to get the effect of a relatively "squared off" space. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions so far. It is giving me more to think about.

Do you know what's inside the soffit other than the recessed light? The reason I ask, is because there may be something in there that is easy enough to move/remove or is small enough that the soffit can be made much smaller. Right now it seems like it is that size to accommodate the recessed light housing ( which was a design thing back in the day ) . It would be worth it to poke a whole and see what is going on.

Are you keeping the small sink? Thinking a nice chunky sink/vanity with a large fabulous mirror would really brighten up the space and bring in some drama - the small sink seems to beg for a small mirror, which is a missed opportunity in this room I think

I just came across this photo today. I think it illustrates la_la Girl’s suggestion very well.

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