A Cozy 380-Square-Foot Condo Holds Tons of Space-Saving Ideas

Name: Vivian Chow
Location: Toronto, Canada
Type of home: Condo
Size: 380 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I’m a 25-year-old marketing strategist with a creative background in communications and design. I’m also the founder of a candle shop called Baythos. With the rise of micro-condos in Toronto, this is the perfect example that you don’t need a lot of space to create a cozy home. I was inspired by minimalist living without sacrificing colour! Having come from the creative field, it was important for me to bring my personality and art into the studio. The space is decorated with quoted tapestries, live plants, a bookcase filled with books, a Marshall speaker, AND of course many candles (as I’m a candlemaker!) You’ll find tons of smart space-saving ideas in this studio: from doubling the shades as a projector screen to a side table that can double as a coffee table.

I’ve lived in France for a while and loved how all the walls there was clean and white. This gave me a lot of freedom to fill the room with colorful rugs and art. Condos can feel industrial and cold, so I warmed mine up with art and woods. As a marketing strategist, I’m always on social media. I knew that every inch of the space had to be Instagrammable. This space has been used for photoshoots for brands.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Instagram-worthy, artistic, cozy, bright, chic

What is your favorite room and why? My space is one room! Whenever my friends come over, it’s like, “Welcome to my kitchen, living, and bedroom.” In this way, it has to be everything!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A Marshall speaker.

Any advice for creating a home you love? Measure, measure, measure! My space is tiny, so I spent a lot of time taking measurements and looking at measurements at the items I wanted to purchase. Just inches can make a huge difference for small spaces. Always have a ruler with you!

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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