The Rental Edit

Lachy's Chill Zone
Rental tips for design lovers

Welcome back to our final instalment of the Rental Edit - Lachy's chill out zone. As Lachy gets older, his needs are changing, and having a separate zone to escape, relax, spend with friends and study (or let's be real...play video games!) was high on his wish list. Lachy's bedroom is a compact space that doesn't allow for much more than sleeping - so having this area on a separate level of the home has been an absolute game changer (pardon the pun) for him to spend time with friends in, and gain a little more independence as he gets older. Having a second area where his games, books, lego, toys and art supplies can be stored has also been helpful in keeping his bedroom clutter free (well, most of the time anyway, ha). It has also allowed me to claim back the main living room and no longer have to listen to his favourite YouTubers all day long - yippee!!

When it came to designing this multi-purpose space, it was pretty simple. We knew instantly that keeping a similar theme to his bedroom was important, yet we also needed to ensure the main pieces of furniture chosen could grow with him through the years, and were compact in size to survive future moves (more on that in this post). Continuing the wall art theme throughout with the affordable prints and removable wallpaper decal, has given this space a consistent and familiar feel to his bedroom but also allows us to update as his interests change. We have strategically selected objects in an earthy colour palette as it is an open area, and the first room of the home that you see when you walk in the front door. These tones have given the space a warm, welcoming and inviting feel, and we are thrilled to share this transformation with you.

And on a personal note, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for following along on this fun journey over the last few weeks. It's been an absolute pleasure to invite you into my home and share some fun tips and tricks on renting, and I hope you've found it useful in some way? If you missed any of the earlier instalments, you can catch up here...

Big love, Kristy xx

This week we are covering:
- Storage solutions for rentals with limited built-in storage
- Creating cohesion between spaces
- Clever ways to use rugs in your rental

CHALLENGE
Storage solutions for rentals with limited built-in storage
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These Mustard Made lockers have carried us through three moves in recent years, and have managed to look right at home in every space we've lived! They are the ultimate affordable storage solution for homes without wardrobes or limited storage areas. We've used them in virtually every room of our homes over the years from bathrooms to bedrooms, living rooms and home offices, and love the way they manage to look right at home no matter where they are place - it's an added bonus that they're also so easily transportable to carry you through multiple moves, and best of all...don't they just make you feel happy in these colours??

Our top tips for choosing the perfect locker for your space:

First of all, CONSIDER THE WAY YOU INTEND ON USING YOUR LOCKER. These guys have so many uses, and come in so many shapes and sizes, you are bound to find one to suit every storage requirement. Some of our tried and tested (and highly recommended) uses include:
- Shorties for bedside table or under desk storage
- Skinnys or Twinnys for hanging wardrobes and playroom/toy room storage - you will be amazed at how many books, toys and lego you can hide away inside these - say goodbye to mess forever!
- Lowdowns for bathroom vanity storage, schoolbag storage (our personal fave), or TV unit storage
- Midis for office equipment/paperwork storage.

Next up, make sure you MEASURE THE SPACE you have to work with, to ensure you get the most out of your lockers. Don't shy away from an extra couple if you have the room for them. They look great clustered together, and trust me, you'll never regret having the extra storage.

And finally, consider the COLOUR THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU. If you're into a neutral vibe, you can't beat white, but if you're open to some colour - this is your opportunity to really have some fun! Injecting some colour (especially into children's zones) can be the perfect way to reflect personality. Don't think you need to stick to only one colour either. We've created this ombre look using the slate, sage and white Skinny lockers in Lachy's chill zone, that not only spark interest and attention, but also create a connection to other elements in this room in the same colour tones. Our friends at Mustard Made now offer ten colours to choose from- blush, white, ocean, sage, slate, navy, berry, lilac, olive and mustard - giving you the opportunity to tailor something perfect for your needs.

Shop all lockers

CHALLENGE
Creating cohesion between spaces
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While Lachy's bedroom and chill out zone are on completely separate levels of the home, we were very conscious of creating elements of cohesion between the spaces so he felt connected to both. We've done this through the subtle additions of consistent themes that may not be overly noticeable, but actually make a big difference.

The most obvious is the USE OF SIMILAR ART PRINT CLUSTERS in both zones. Continuing with Lachy's love of basketball, we've used several basketball themed prints from our latest print collection to give this space a tween vibe, and make it an area that he and his friends want to spend time in. We've also hung another nostalgic candy piece of art from Dom Gauci of DG Designs in here with the addition of the Wizz Fizz inspired print Dr. Freak. This one really injects a pop of colour that captures your attention.

Another connection is the way in which we've used another REMOVABLE WALLPAPER DESIGN from our friends at Pickawall. We've opted for a feature arch decal this time around in a sage green to pair with the centre locker and other subtle accents in the room. We specifically chose the arch shape as there are a lot of sharp angles in this room, and the curved arch assists softening the space. This decal is an absolute winner. The smaller application allows it to be positioned in virtually any space, adding interest and fun without having to get out your paintbrush.

One more connection is the use of the MUSTARD MADE LOCKERS in both rooms. As if we haven't sung their praises enough above, in this instance, they have also helped to create a wonderful synergy between Lachy's bedroom where they were used as bedsides, and his chill zone where they are the primary storage solution for all the 'stuff' that doesn't need to be on display.

CHALLENGE
Clever ways to use rugs in a rental
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And last, but by no means least - RUGS! These guys are a tenants BFF, and have saved me so many times when I've needed to cover up coloured carpet, bring warmth to floorboards, or hide worn patches of flooring... I've been dying to talk about rugs this entire series, so am literally saving the best to last! I have had a lot of experience with this challenge, and could quite literally write all day on this topic...

So, which rugs are the best for rentals??

In the case of this space, we chosen a ROUND RUG (the Armadillo Braid Weave) to aid in softening the angles in this space, and warming up the floor boards. Round rugs are brilliant for rentals as they can fit in any space or corner nook. You may remember, we've used them in several areas of my home, including two in the alfresco dining area - under a round dining table, and under the occasional chair sitting in the corner. Just writing this makes me realise I may have an unhealthy obsession with a round rug, lol!

We've also chosen a COLOURED RUG in here because it's a space we have designed for a child, and life's too short for boring! The colour of this rug actually lifts the space, and is the focal point of the room. With that said, I would usually opt for a more neutral coloured rug that can be placed in multiple areas of the home and still look right at home. Which brings me to my next point...

RUGS TO COVER CARPET! This one is a contentious topic at norsu HQ - and one that is often frowned upon, generally... But after living in my fair share of rentals with carpet colours that simply don't work with my furnishings no matter how hard you try (I'm talking teal green and mushroom brown to name a few) - I'm actually a big believer in them!! Just make sure you select a rug that primarily pairs with your existing furnishings in a neutral colour such as beige/cream or a natural grey that pairs with both warm and cool tones, and you can't go wrong. Another tip is to select a rug with a weave pattern, which will create a point of difference to the carpet, making it more of a feature and an intentional object in your space, rather than an obvious attempt to just cover up the carpet. Believe me, there's method to this madness! For longevity, I'd recommend selecting rugs in a standard size (2x3m is perfect) and will likely fit most spaces, in a neutral tone to pair with your furniture rather than the rental home you're living in.
Our go to rugs include:
- Armadillo Sherpa in Pumice
- Armadillo Andorra in Terrazzo
- Armadillo Winnow in Alabaster
- Armadillo Braid Weave in Pumice or Chalk

Still stuck on SELECTING THE RIGHT RUG FOR YOUR RENTAL THAT WILL WITHSTAND MULTIPLE MOVES? Our love for rugs expands way beyond the points above, so much so that we've created an entire rug selection guide on the topic. If you need help choosing the perfect rug for your space, see our rug selection guide for more tips.