Layout Size and Realism

I live in a small, one bedroom apartment. The maximum area I have available is approximately 24 sq. ft. in one corner of the main living area. I would love to work in HO scale or possibly On30, but the space is just not there to do anything other than running short trains around in a circle with no chance to create the illusion that that is not exactly what they are doing. So, I - or the fates - have decided on N scale.

This is the corner space I have to build in. It's not very much, but there is an electrical outlet and there are no windows panels which would require access.