An Ottawa Apartment Has Earthy Tones, Secondhand Furniture Flips, and Cool Candles

Name: Tia Dumoulin
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 800 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years and 4 months, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live here alone and moved a few months before the pandemic hit. Since I work from home, I’ve been curating pieces for this place to make me feel inspired, motivated, and at peace. I’m certainly attracted to warm earthy tones and clean lines.

I am constantly in a cycle of purging what no longer serves me in order to make space for more meaningful “things” in my life. I always look for ways to fine-tune and edit spaces so it brings me more harmony.

I try to create spaces where it’s not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but to every other sense as well. I want people to come into my space and have an immersive experience where they feel welcomed and at ease. I create moods with scents, colors, sounds, lighting, and so on.

What is your favorite room and why? The living/dining room is where I entertain and where I make most memories with friends and family. When I moved in, this room was painted in a desert rose pink. I thought I could work with it, but after about a month, I decided to paint it green! It’s very soothing to me and grounds me when I paint, write, and listen to music. I also purchased this solid wood dining table off of Facebook Marketplace and refurbished it. Perfect for dinner parties with friends. Definitely one of my favorite pieces in my home!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Warm, inspiring, romantic

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I’ve recently purchased candles from Shy Wolf. Every candle has a detailed description of a scenario to help you imagine the scent. I’ve bought six so far, and they help elevate the mood in every room. You can’t go wrong!

Any advice for creating a home you love? Live in the space for a little while and take your time to furnish it. You don’t need to buy everything at once. And don’t try to copy a room you’ve seen elsewhere, it won’t feel like yours. Every piece you bring into your home needs to bring you joy.

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

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