Space need not be a luxury – it all comes down to making the right choices to maximise it. From renovation to furnishing, read on for 5 ways to create a sense of openness in your flat, regardless of its type and size!

1. Go Bold with an Open Floor Plan

A bold way to visually open up your flat is by removing walls between the living area, dining area and kitchen. If you prefer some demarcation between rooms, you can replace walls with glass panels which will give a feeling of spaciousness.

If you plan to demolish or alter any walls, make sure the works are carried out only after obtaining HDB’s approval. This ensures that your renovations do not compromise the structural integrity of your flat.

2. Let in Natural Light

Nothing beats natural light when it comes to brightening up interiors, so choose sheer window coverings rather than opaque blinds to make the most of our sunny climate. Full-length curtains that sweep the floor are another great way to make the ceiling look higher!

3. Accentuate Your Ceiling

You’ve heard of statement walls, but what about statement ceilings? The clever use of overhead accents adds both vertical dimension and visual interest to your home. Similarly, unique pendant lights that draw the eye upwards can make a room feel bigger.

4. Tone Down the Colour Palette

Achieve a bright and airy vibe by using lighter hues throughout your home. Darker colours absorb rather than reflect light, so go with off-white or muted tones from your flooring and wall shades to upholstery.

5. Curate Your Furnishings

Conserve space in your flat by being intentional with your furnishing choices. The key is avoiding clutter so keep these tips in mind:

• Opt for multi-functional pieces such as daybeds, or expandable tables
• Choose furniture with exposed legs to allow light to filter through
• Colour-coordinate your furniture and walls, as contrasting colours break up a room and can make it seem smaller
• Place mirrors strategically on darker walls or near windows to reflect natural light
• Decorate with statement pieces such as a large art print, rather than many small knick-knacks

There are many components to think about when it comes to the interior design of your home. Besides deciding on fixtures, furnishings and furniture, did you know that there are also options available when it comes to wall finishes?

Check out the wall finishes that you can pick from, to create the home of your dreams!

1. Paint

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to breathe new life into a space! Aside from being the most economical option, paint requires minimal maintenance. Plus, the wide catalogue of shades and tones are bound to leave home owners spoilt for choice.

Pro-tip: If you’re going the DIY route, using a paint primer helps to cover flaws while ensuring a smooth finish.

2. Wallpaper

From floral motifs, to illusion pieces and even bespoke drawings, express your creativity with wallpapers! Available in a wide variety of designs, wall papers are highly versatile and are relatively easy on the wallet.

Pro-tip: To prevent the curling of wallpaper, wallpapers should be installed on walls that are not exposed to sunlight and moisture. 

3. Tiles

Often featured in kitchen backsplash and bathroom walls, tiles can make for creative accent walls too. From mosaic decorative tiles to wood plank tiles to brick patterned tiles – the design possibilities are endless.

Pro-tip: Tiles are best suited for homeowners who prefer low maintenance walls.

4. Laminates

Durable as paint, textured like wallpaper – that’s laminate for you. Laminates can be installed anywhere in the house, even in the kitchen and bathrooms that are high in moisture. Laminates are more resistant to wear and tear, moisture, and heat, as compared to other finishes.

Pro-tip: For longer-lasting laminates, install over walls that have been primed, or over painted drywalls.

5. Cement Screed

For home owners going for an industrial chic or contemporary interior design, a cement screed wall finishing would be the choice pick. As cement screed is applied by hand by the contractor, it’s unlikely that they can replicate the exact design from the magazines.

Pro-tip: To maintain the cement screed wall in its rawest form, avoid fixing frames or shelves over the wall.

This view was definitely a pull factor when Wilfred and his wife were debating whether to purchase the 4-room resale flat at Whampoa. “We decided to go ahead with it. I mean, where else can you get a such a view?” he shared.

Renovation took a long time, but the result was worth it. The couple did not engage an interior designer, and were adamant about being very hands-on in the process. Thus, they felt that hiring a contractor would suffice to translate their vision into a reality.

“During the process, I consulted my friend who does interior design for commercial spaces, and that helped a lot. I shared with her my ideas, and got her professional opinion on whether they would work,” Wilfred explained. Trained in architecture, it is no wonder that he had a knack for design and an eye for detail.

The built-in cabinets under the windows contain the couple’s massive shoe collection

Both Wilfred and his wife share a love for shoes, and to store their impressive shoe collection. they built cabinets along an entire stretch of the wall.

The furniture in the living room were sourced from various online and offline sources – namely, Crate and Barrel and Castlery. The couple enjoy having friends over, so they invested in a large dining table from Picket and Rail, that fitted right in with the industrial-themed décor of their home.

“My favourite part of the home? Definitely the kitchen. We don’t cook often enough though!” Wilfred explained with a laugh.

Blue mosaic tiles on the kitchen wall create a stunning backdrop for the dark-panelled cabinetry

They also replaced the concrete wall of one of the rooms with full glass panels to demarcate their working space. A highlight of this room is the impressive display of limited edition sneakers and Medicom Toys collected from the couple’s travels around the world.

Wilfred shows us some of his limited edition sneakers that he keeps in neat boxes in the study room.

Much like the rest of the house, the bedroom is also tastefully designed to fit the industrial theme. Furniture items have been kept to a minimum so that the bedroom remains clutter-free and neat.

With the versatility and aesthetics that a beautiful kitchen island provides, it’s little wonder why most home owners dream of having one in their new home. Here’s a list of our recommended kitchen island types for your HDB home!

Make a Design Statement

A standalone island can be an interesting focal point in your kitchen, with the use of contrasting colours and materials to help it stand out. Decorate with key pieces and keep it clutter-free for maximum visual appeal.

Dining that Sets the Bar

By extending your countertop and adding bar seating, you can combine your kitchen island with your dining table to save space. This layout offers plenty of flexible options – use the area to work, for quick meals or even extra seating when guests come over. It’s also the perfect hang out spot for the whole family as you prepare and enjoy your meals!

Divide and Conquer

If you’re looking to separate your dry and wet kitchens, consider having an island to act as a divider between the dry kitchen and your living room. You might even be able to incorporate a utility sink in the divider. This way, you’ll always have a washing area as you prepare your morning coffee or a mid-day snack.

Workstation on Wheels 

A kitchen trolley is a smart solution, offering extra utility space for cooking or even entertaining. You’ll have ingredients and materials within easy reach, and you can serve out a big meal from the kitchen to the dining area by wheeling it out. Plus, it can be easily put away to create a bigger communal space for hosting purposes.

Storage Island 

Storage is always welcome in extra doses. Building them into the kitchen island means more space for your ceramics collection and quicker access to them! For some out-of-the-box ideas, consider a wine rack cabinet or even a mini bookshelf for your culinary reads.

Doors may not be the first things that home owners think of when renovating their homes. However, the types of room doors installed can totally change the look of your home. If you’re seeking inspiration on what kind of doors to fix in your home, check out our handy shortlist!

1. Hinged Doors

These doors are mounted on hinges on one end of the door, and are a classic design that comes in a variety of materials and finishes. They are also easy to install. Add some character to the hinged doors by selecting handles that match your overall home décor. The best part? Hinged doors are highly versatile and suit every room.

2. Bi-fold Doors

Bi-fold doors are another type of hinged doors but slightly more space-efficient! These multi-panelled doors come with a folding mechanism that lets you open the doors in a neat manner. When opened, the panels stack up so these are also great for compact spaces. Bi-fold doors are usually used for balconies and bathrooms.

3. French Doors

They say two is better than one, and you can achieve that with French doors. These doors are installed as a pair, and its wide-set style helps create an illusion of a bigger space. Depending on the décor of your home, you can opt to either install the doors hinged at the sides, or as sliding doors.

4. Sliding Doors

If you prefer a more compact alternative to the traditional hinged doors, sliding room doors might just be the thing for you. These doors open with a smooth gliding motion, making it space-efficient as you need not cater space for the door to swing. Depending on the aesthetic you’re going for, you could either opt for a plain design which camouflages with your walls, or a pop of design for something unique!

5. Pivot Doors

A pivot door is one that rotates on a spindle, which allows the door to swing both ways. With no need for a door handle, pivot room doors fit well in minimalist homes. However, such doors tend to be quite heavy and would require ample space to accommodate the swinging doors.

Now that you have a better idea on the types of door for your flat, you might be excited to install or even replace the existing main or internal doors. But wait up! Don’t forget that a permit is required if you are making these fixes:

• Replacing the main entrance door and/or frame if your unit is along the fire escape route, or
• Intending to reposition internal door entrances

Learn more of about the HDB guidelines on doors and gates here.

Getting ready to renovate your flat? Read our guides to find out how you can better plan for your renovation works, what the renovation process entails and the type of renovation permits required. More design ideas can also be found here.