The Design Files: The colourful and quirky home of Electric Confetti's Natalie Jarvis

Who: Natalie and Scott Jarvis, of Electric Confetti, and their children, Matilda (5), Stella (2) and Hugo (8 months)

Where: Brighton, Victoria

What: A colourful, quirky and highly liveable family rental home

Natalie Jarvis is the entrepreneur behind neon design studio Electric Confetti – a Melbourne-based small business and manufacturer of exceptionally popular decorative neon signs.

Not surprisingly, the house Natalie and her partner Scott rent in Brighton is full of colour, fun and quirky details. Theirs is a joyful, vibrant 1960s home, where playful details reign supreme.

The Jarvis family has been here for three years. Although they’re not able to make structural changes, Natalie has relished the chance to inject her distinctive, eclectic style at home; industrial furniture meets colourful textiles, vintage posters and, of course, Electric Confetti’s popular neon designs.

Having been brought up in an antique shop, Natalie has a special appreciation for vintage furniture – not just for the aesthetics, she says, but also the quality craftsmanship and value for money.

Alongside treasured secondhand finds, Natalie’s favourite pieces include a plush upholstered armchair from Space to Create, a brilliant bold art print by Craig and Karl, the girls’ bunk beds by Playroom, and a custom-built cubby house by local company Castle and Cubby.

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For now, renting really suits the family lifestyle. “It’s actually a relief not having to make endless decisions on renovations,” Natalie says.

“I favour furniture that can be used in multiple configurations, so it will hopefully fit the next house, too. For example, our sofa with the chaise, and the bunk beds, which work in various configurations, or can be separated entirely.”

As a busy small-business owner and mum, Natalie is refreshingly relaxed when it comes to home decoration.

“I get a real creative outlet through work, so I really don’t mind the fact that we’re limited in what we can do here,” she says.

“It’s a small space, and can be quite intense, not to mention messy, with three young kids, but it has a great aspect; we love being five minutes to work, kinder and day care, and it’s just a short stroll to the beach.”

For now, the Jarvis family home is everything it needs to be.

The Design Files guide to tailoring a space

With house prices ever on the rise, the dream of home ownership is a distant hope for many. Whether you own or rent, it’s always possible to personalise a space.

• Reforms to rental laws in Victoria mean more flexibility for tenants, allowing minor modifications, such as installing picture hooks. Or try 3M sticky hooks for a strong hold with no wall damage.
• Invest in modular or convertible furniture where possible, offering flexibility.
• House plants offer one of the quickest ways to personalise a space. Consider a plant-delivery service – try Plant Mama (plantmama.com.au) in Melbourne or Leaf Supply (leaf-supply.com) in Sydney.