The Rental Edit - Kristy's Bedroom

My bedroom is compact, and I have a king size bed — meaning there's really only room for the bed and two bedsides. My last bedroom was the opposite, a whopping 6x6 metres where the furniture was dwarfed. Moving here meant saying goodbye to extra pieces like bench seats and occasional chairs. I knew as soon as I stepped foot in this space that I needed to get creative for it to feel less like a shoe box and more like a luxe boudoir.

One of the easiest ways to create the illusion of more space is a floor mirror. I have an oversized arch floor mirror that I never intended to transport to this home — and I'm so glad I did. It has completely opened up the room, reflects light beautifully sitting opposite the window, and doubles as a dressing mirror. Just don't ask our removalists how they feel about carrying 50kg up several flights of narrow stairs. Choose a frame colour that suits your palette and a shape that suits your style.

Next, the colour palette. Believe it or not, colour changes how large or small a room feels. Using pastels here was a deliberate decision, recommended by our styling team, to open up the space and create the feminine look I wanted. We used the Sunsets in Verona artwork as the focal point, then chose cushions, throws and accessories in tones that connect back to the art, keeping everything else neutral so nothing competes. It has an instant calming effect the moment you walk in.

And finally, furniture positioning. I've deliberately positioned the bed closer to the window rather than centring it on the wall. That leaves more floor space as you walk in, and genuinely makes the room feel larger.

The charcoal tones in the carpet and roller blinds are great from a rental and practicality point of view, but they lacked the softness I wanted. The home is a modern build with lots of angular lines and square edging — and while I love that clean aesthetic, it can feel clinical. This space needed softening to feel homely and inviting.

By far the biggest game changer was adding linen sheer curtains. The existing roller blinds are brilliant for blocking light, but with the blind retracted the heavy black steel window frames looked stark and the light was harsh. I cannot begin to tell you the difference these inexpensive sheers made — the transformation was instant. Two packs of ready-to-hang linen curtains, then the rail and fixings from Bunnings for under $15, using a spring-fit bracket so no drill was needed. Best part: completely transportable to the next home.

Four tips before you invest: buy the longest curtain you can find so the linen pools on the floor; hang them as close to the ceiling as possible to create the illusion of height; opt for a light tone to keep the room bright; and choose fabric carefully — linen costs more, but you can't beat the look.

Another simple way to bring softness is texture: warm woollen throws, sheepskins, chunky knits and cushions in velvet and boucle. Ours are all toned in white, which adds cosiness without overwhelming the room with colour.

Curved objects counterbalance all those angular lines — the arch mirror, the Margot lamp, the Marmoset Found teardrop vases. Small things, but they really do make a difference. And as always, plants: they add life and soften the space, and the larger one fills that awkward nook that's too small for a chair but too big to leave bare.