An Airy 700-Square-Foot Apartment Shows How to Take Advantage of Natural Light

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Gray couch with gold pillows beneath shelves on wall and next to mirror in corner

Name: Gabriela Houston and roommate
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 700 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, renting

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Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: My goal with my home is always to make things feel cozy and welcoming. Growing up we moved a lot and always shared rooms, so it never felt like home.

I love to bring in new and thrifted pieces that bring personality, warmth, and fun to the space while keeping things relatively neutral. The space is such an open, airy loft-style apartment, and the open concept allows for the space to flow and feel cohesive.

What is your favorite room and why? Living room! Everything except the bedroom is really one room (open concept), but I love the living area. The windows are so open and large, which brings tons of natural light, and the tall walls of this loft space gave a lot of flexibility for decorating! Plus — lots of throw pillows!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Cozy, airy, boho, mid-century

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? An adorable vintage basket wall set from @tinytasselthrift.

Any advice for creating a home you love? The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was to pick things you love. If you love the pieces, it will all come together.

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