The Rental Edit - Living Room

Securing a three-storey townhouse has been perfect from a zoning point of view — Lachy and I have dedicated areas without living on top of one another — but it also meant sacrificing on the size of our living spaces and bedrooms. Sadly we said goodbye to some adored pieces, including bench seats and occasional chairs from our bedrooms, and had to replace our sofa because it simply couldn't fit up the new staircase. A big lesson learnt the hard way, and one you don't need to make.

When selecting furniture, invest in key pieces that are compact enough to fit any sized space and versatile enough to have multiple uses. Think occasional chairs that would work in a living room, a bedroom nook or a home office — the Hugo Bow and Felix Cocoon tick this box perfectly.

With sofas, please don't make my mistake. These are investment pieces and you shouldn't be replacing them with every move. Opt for a smaller sofa paired with occasional chairs, like the Ethnicraft Ellipse or Globe West Kennedy Beckett — or if you want something larger, choose a modular that comes apart to move through doorways, narrow staircases and lifts.

When it's time for tables, think one word: round. Nothing beats a round shape for versatility and for maximising space. In my living and dining area I've used a round dining table (with a removable top for easy transport), a round coffee table and round side tables. They fit into nooks a rectangle never could, and repeating the shape creates flow between the two zones.

And our number one rental go-to? Ottomans — the ultimate multitasker. Coffee table, footrest, extra seating when entertaining. Finally, if you're a regular house-hopper, consider lightweight pieces that don't need much assembly. A bed and base ensemble is far easier to move than a frame that has to be pulled apart and rebuilt each time.

I adore our new living and alfresco areas — they're the hub of our home, part of the open plan kitchen level. But with a south-facing orientation and dwellings either side limiting our window options, the space simply doesn't get much natural light. Fine during the day; at night, another story.

The fix is an easy one: lamps, lamps and more lamps. They instantly add light and personality, and they move house with you. But lamps are not all created equal. First decide whether you need task lighting — directional light for reading or working — or ambient lighting to light the room generally and create mood.

In my space it was the latter, so I chose lamps that throw a lot of light evenly, mixing floor and table lamps for variation. Our go-to ambient choices are the Remi floor lamp, the Easton Canopy table lamp and the Margot desk lamp. For task lighting behind the sofa, at desks and bedsides, we've had fun with the colourful Pia floor and desk lamps and kept it classic with the ever-popular Mahala.

Townhouse and apartment living often means outdoor space is limited or non-existent. With one small courtyard and a few balconies, we'd begun to miss the ability to connect with nature — so we did the next best thing and brought the outdoors in.

It's no surprise that we love an indoor plant at norsu. Plants instantly transform the feel of a space, bringing life, comfort and beauty while improving air quality. I may have gone slightly overboard, putting them in literally every room, but I can't tell you what a difference it has made to the mood.

Think of your plants as styling accessories: they make the perfect feature for a dining or coffee table, and fill that awkward corner you don't know what to do with. Instead of buying flowers weekly, invest in a plant. Mix up sizes, varieties and tones — a Hoya for a table top or island bench, something taller like a rubber plant or fiddle leaf fig for the floor, and a cascading Devil's Ivy for shelves.

Keep plants in their original plastic pots and sit them inside a decorative pot for easy watering — and easy moving later. Pots are a great way to add personality: choose colours that connect with your soft furnishings, accessories and artwork.