When planned right, the space can be  a personal oasis to retire in – especially at the end of a long day. From layouts to furnishings, here are some tips for maximising your bedroom space!

1. Opt for a Smaller Bedframe

The bed is probably going to be the bulkiest furniture in the room – hence choosing a sleeker bedframe or doing without one can help you save space. For instance, in place of a bedframe, this sleep area is demarcated with a pop of restful blue.

2. Blend Your Carpentry

Built-in carpentry such as wardrobes can take up space. Rather than leaving them as bulky blocks in the corner, incorporate them into the overall room design! Shown above: the cabinet mirrors the look of the surrounding textures of black and wood. Its seamless design makes the room appear more spacious.

3. Turn It into a Multi-Functional Space

Break out of convention by carving out areas for seating, build in a desk and invest in a projector. This way, your bedroom can double as a workspace as well as an additional entertainment centre. You can also try this idea for other rooms.

4. Have a Loft Bed with a Walk-in Wardrobe

Due to its stacked design, this two-in-one bedroom offers expanded space for both a sleep area as well as a ‘walk-in wardrobe’. Keep the area well-lit with track lights, and you’ll find that getting dressed for the day has never been easier!

5. Design a Built-In Vanity Cabinet

This concealed vanity cabinet to maximise storage space is perfect for any beauty junkie. The mirror swings open to reveal another set of shelves for you to store your beauty favourites. Getting ready for the day will be much more efficient with everything within easy reach!

This article was contributed by Qanvast

While working from home means less time spent on commuting and more time for family, a work day at home can be filled with distractions. Looking to maximise your productivity? Here are some tips on making your home office more conducive.

Carve Out a Productive Space

Carve out a corner in your home and designate it as your ‘office space’. The area should be dedicated to work, with potential distractions such as your television or gaming console removed from the space.

Having a designated work space is an important step to keep you mentally checked into ‘work mode’. So no to having your bed and sofa close by! Just like the actual office, your work space should be properly furnished to help you stay focused.

Include Proper Furnishings

Speaking of furnishings, a good office chair can help address bad body posture – often the root cause of body aches after sitting at your desk for a prolonged period of timeIt would be wise to invest in a good quality chair to reduce strain on your muscles. Here is a handy checklist when shopping for that ergonomic chair:

• Adjustable seat height – The dining-turned-office chair has to go! Ideally, your chair should be adjusted to a height that allows your thighs to be horizontal and your arms aligned to the height of the desk. Your monitor screen should also be at your eye level or slightly below it. This will provide stability and keep your posture upright.

• Lower back support – Sitting down for a prolonged period without lower back support can lead to slouching, and strain your back and neck. A chair with good lower back support should fit and support the curvature of your lower back.

• Backrest – The backrest provides support to your mid to upper back and keeps your shoulders and neck straight. A good backrest should be angled at about 90 degrees upright or slightly reclined.

Minimise Noise

A certain amount of noise is inevitable in any urban setting, and can stem from many sources – construction or renovation works, road traffic, or simply from having your family all at home at the same time! The good news? More often than not, these distractions are temporary, and there are simple steps you can take to minimise them.

 

• Install door draft stoppers and curtains –  As sound enters primarily through doors and windows, using a door draft stopper to seal the gap between your door and the floor can decrease noise levels. Curtains can also help minimise sounds coming in through your window.

• Plan ahead – There are some sources of noise that you can manage, and your neighbour’s home renovation is one of them. Home renovation may generate uncomfortable levels of noise but remember that these are temporary, and your new neighbours are as eager as you to have the works completed as soon as possible! Enquire about the renovation schedule from your neighbour or their contractor. If possible, plan your work commitments around it to avoid times where loud noise due to drilling and hacking might be generated.

• Provide feedback – Taking an urgent business call or just need that short respite? Have a chat with your neighbours or their contractor to work out something with them. If there is excessive noise from renovation work going on for a prolonged period or at timings that are not allowed, you may inform your nearest HDB branch which can help look into the matter.

From keeping clean to getting organised, there’s a lot more to home maintenance than one might have imagined. But what if we told you that you can keep household tasks to the minimum, with these hacks?

Whether its maximising space or creating storage solutions, listed below are some built-in ideas to minimise the upkeep of your new home.

1. A Recessed Dry Kitchen and Concealed Door

The idea of having a recessed dry kitchen in a tidy home is great, and it gets better when it comes with a sliding door that conceals the entire space when it’s not in use.

Pair that with a custom sink cover board and you’ll be able to hide the dirty dishes while expanding the space of the countertop.

2. A Master En Suite That Blends In with the Wardrobe

By using a near-identical wooden laminate, the designer of this easy-on-the-eye HDB home was able to create an almost seamless facade with the master bedroom en suite’s entrance and an adjoining wardrobe. Closing the bathroom’s door completes the illusion of a continuous wraparound, while conveniently hiding anything you deem unsightly.

3. A TV Feature Wall that Doubles Up as the Bedroom Entrance

Much like the example above, hiding the master bedroom of this small but clever 3-room HDB flat behind a TV feature wall guarantees privacy while satisfying the need for a visually cleaner home.

4. A Hidden Wet and Dry Kitchen

The concealed dry/wet kitchen setup in this resale HDB flat at Kim Tian Road is ingenious.

Pocket doors fronting a baking counter and black cabinets hide both fixtures from plain sight. The same goes for the entrance to the wet kitchen which can be closed off during  heavy cooking.

5. A Compact Ironing Board Within the Wardrobe

It’s nifty, space-saving, and guarantees less clutter – what’s not to love about a foldable ironing board that is hidden within the wardrobe? From the easy accessibility to no longer having to assemble the ironing board, this design feature makes ironing much more manageable.

6. Hidden Shelves and a Galley Counter

With a set of well-placed pocket doors in the right colour, it’s possible to make everything (read: shelves, kitchen appliances, and even one half of a galley kitchen counter layout) blend into the surroundings. Just check out the rest of this 38-year-old HDB flat’s 180-degree makeover.

7. A Concealed Dresser in the Bedroom Wall

The design of this master bedroom’s slatted wood walls is definitely noteworthy, as it’s able to completely conceal a dresser, mirror and all, right beside the bed! Not only is it convenient, it also perfectly conceals any wardrobe-related clutter.

This article was contributed by Qanvast

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

You may have seen this material in many new homes lately – essentially glass panels with vertical grooves, fluted glass makes for a stylish yet functional design accent that home owners and interior designers cannot get enough of.

The semi-transparent nature of fluted glass enables it to partially obscure what’s behind, while letting light shine through, making it an apt solution for privacy needs. We round up 8 ideas for incorporating classy fluted glass in your HDB home renovation!

1. Conceal Your Service Yard

Want to conceal hanging laundry in your service yard without sacrificing natural light? The owner of this 3-room HDB flat cleverly inserted fluted glass panels within the yard’s sliding doors to achieve both desired outcomes!

2. Separate the Study and Bedroom

Instead of a typical solid panelled door, why not consider an inlay of fluted glass? Besides partitioning the bedroom and study in this cosy abode, the fluted glass door adds a touch of privacy while enabling light to flow between the rooms.

3. Demarcate your Kitchen and Dining Space

Harkening back to the design aesthetics of the 50s and 60s, this Canberra BTO flat utilised fluted glass folding screens for their kitchen. The glass panels are also functional — ensuring that the kitchen and dining space are sufficiently illuminated, while keeping cooking fumes and noise out of the communal areas.

4. Spice Up Your Bathroom

Because of its texture, fluted glass also works great as a shower screen. Apart from providing additional privacy, it is also a great accent piece for your bathroom.

5. Design Indoor Hallway Windows

Other than being the material of choice for bespoke privacy screens, fluted glass can be used for indoor hallway windows in the home too.

6. Partition your Bedroom and Dressing Area

This charming home opted for fluted glass between master bedroom and the walk-in wardrobe. We love how the material perfectly complements the blinds while serving as a chic privacy screen!

7. Mask Visual Clutter Within Cabinets

Some homes have worked in fluted glass in their cabinetry, which offers a unique open look while hiding the clutter. Take a page out of this MUJI-inspired flat in Toa Payoh, which integrated fluted glass panes in the wooden sliding doors of the built-in wardrobe.

8. Create a Flexible Work Space

Need a work space from time to time? Install foldable fluted glass doors that help you segregate a private work area from the adjacent living area when required. You can always open up the doors to let in more natural light on off-work days!

This article was contributed by Qanvast, Singapore’s go-to renovation platform. 

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

While working-from-home (WFH) has its appeal, some may find themselves missing the catch up sessions with colleagues at the pantry, or having a dedicated workspace.

With WFH is here to stay, here are some ideas to spruce up your home office, to inspire you and get your work mojo back.

1. Co-Work at Home

If you’re one who thrives on face-to-face interactions, transform your dining table into a co-working space! Family members can join you at the table to work, or for a quick chat over snacks so you will feel less alone while working.

Tip: Divvy up your table by the number of “co-workers” you have so that everyone has ample space!

2. Adopt a Productive Workspace

A messy workspace can result in a messy headspace. If you’re guilty of a cluttered home office and feeling low on productivity, it’s probably time to declutter. Swop out post-its for a notepad to keep track of daily tasks, or stay neat by keeping your documents in storage boxes or folders.

Tip: Organisation is key – keep only the essentials on your tabletop while working.

3. Switch Up Your Working Space

Feeling restless sitting at the same desk all these months? A change in work environment can help to boost creativity and provide inspiration. Shift your workspace to a different room, preferably one with plenty of natural light and some scenery to enjoy the #HDBeautiful views from.

Tip: Try to move to a new spot with a view of the greenery outdoors so you can relax your eyes and mind in between emails.

4. Create a Cosy Corner

Been working on your bed or couch with a makeshift table? Create a functional study nook with some compact furnishings! Not only are they practical and comfortable, these work-from-home essentials also help with maximising space.

Tip: Mount a foldable study table to the wall to optimise space in the room.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg