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.

To create a brighter and airier communal area, an increasing number of home owners have adopted the open layout concept. Whether it’s removing partitions or using multifunctional furniture, here are some living room design ideas to transform your home into a flexible living space.

1. Multifunctional Spaces

By removing the walls and opening up the interiors, the owners of this 2-room Flexi flat have transformed their home into a studio-like apartment. Instead of a conventional sofa, a sofa bed allows the common living area to be transformed into the bedroom come night time.

2. Indoor-Outdoor Vibes

If you’re a fan of Selling Sunset or an interior enthusiast in general, the term ‘indoor-outdoor’ would be a familiar concept and one of the living room design ideas that you can adopt for your home.

Take for instance this HDB flat in Bukit Panjang, where regular sliding doors have been replaced with foldable glass ones that open up to a balcony garden. Straddling between the living room and balcony is also a cafe-style setup for enjoying a nice cuppa. This helps to maximise every inch of the in-between space while allowing its home owners to soak in the outdoor vibes while remaining in the shade.

To make a visual statement, consider framing the balcony with an arched wall. The raised platform of the balcony also helps to demarcate the outdoor space without the use of partitions.

In a similar setup but one with retro vibes, this home opted for rotating wood-framed rattan doors and an emerald-tiled coffee counter for the balcony. Besides adding onto the aesthetics, these doors also allow for more natural ventilation while providing privacy.

4. Extended Common Living Area

You can expand the common living area by combining the adjacent room. When needed, the L-shaped partition of this home can be opened up completely as a single, continuous space. To create the illusion of an even bigger space, add floor-to-ceiling mirrors!

Another popular living room design idea is to extend the communal area by incorporating the balcony like the home pictured above. It’s something to consider, especially if you host often. Tip: opting for the same flooring offers a seamless transition.

5. A Semi-Private Entertainment Space

Create a semi-private entertainment area by removing an L-shaped section of the bedroom walls. The result is a cosy demarcated space that affords sufficient privacy whilst being able to transition seamlessly into the larger communal space.

This entertainment space is not only outfitted for gaming and television, it also doubles up as a space for guests to mingle before or after meals.

8. Totally Open Living Concept

Take open concept living up a notch by merging the living room, bedroom and kitchen into a single space! For home owners who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, opt for sliding or bi-fold doors to contain the fumes when you showcase your culinary skills.

In addition to transforming the communal area into flexible living spaces, these living room design ideas also help with space maximisation – something handy to think about as you embark on your home renovation!

The article was adapted from a version first published by Qanvast.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

With so many shapes and sizes of dining tables, how do you pick the one that is just right for you and your home?

It is not all that complicated actually. Apart from choosing one that looks good, make sure that your dream dining table fits your space and gives enough seating and walking room. With these basic pointers in mind, here are the different dining table types you can consider. ?

The Regular

Rectangle-shaped tables are universally loved, both for its form and functionality. It works really well in a long and narrow room where more corridor space is needed for walking. They can be fitted into small spaces, even at corners, without dominating the room. A great way to save space!

(Photo courtesy of Li Shumei)

The Square

In contrast, square-shaped tables take up more space than you think it would. However, it can create a unique modern look, and enhances a pleasant intimacy between people, as everyone is seated side by side without a ‘head’ – democracy at work at the dining table!

The Round

Great for encouraging closeness and conversation among people, round-shaped tables are one of the best choices for dining as shared dishes are easy to reach. They also have no sharp corners to bump into! ?

Round tables are especially suitable for tight spaces. It can also fit in more people around it. Pedestal tables are even better, as they offer more legroom.

(Photo courtesy of Gary Kwong)

The Egg

A more traditional style of dining, oval-shaped tables can add a sense of homeliness to any meal, which creates a more relaxed atmosphere. People can also move freely, not having to worry about the sharp corners too!

The Seats

Once you have chosen your desired dining table, you can now decide on the chairs! Today, there are so many options when it comes to choosing your chairs. You do not have to buy a matching set. You can match the chair colours to other designs in your room, or bring a contrast in pattern and style that creates an elegance or element of fun in the room.

(Photo courtesy of Wong Seow Keong)

If you are looking for chairs that will eliminate the visual disturbance of multiple chair backs, or to free up some room space, do consider bench seating too, or acrylic chairs to lend visual lightness. Bench seats are also handy when you need to pack a couple of extra people around the dining table for special occasions! ?

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Since the invention of the light bulb, sleep has never been the same. We no longer go to sleep according to our circadian rhythms – we can turn night into day at the flick of a switch. Research has shown that exposure to light at the time when we are supposed to sleep can cause our internal clock to reset and eventually go haywire!

But there is help, yet.Apart from going to bed at the right time, you can literally change the mood of your bedroom by playing with the amount of light. We share 3 tips to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary.

Softly illuminating

Track lighting is the quintessential feature of a modern home. It refers to light fixtures attached to a track that conceals the electrical conductors underneath. Often used to highlight unique features in a room – paintings or display shelves – these lights are highly functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Adding track lights seems counter-intuitive if you are going for the cosy feel, but the trick is to angle it properly. Rather than shining it straight on your bed, redirect the light fixture towards the wall instead. The effect you will get is soft light illuminating your bedroom.

To achieve the same lighting effect, another option is to install dimmers! These handy additions allow you to control the brightness of your light output by simply adjusting a switch. Besides being able to mimic soft accent lighting, dimmers can also reduce energy usage – ‘fading down’ the lights by 50% reduces the associated energy use by the same percentage. If you do decide to install them, do ensure that the dimmer switches are rated for the total wattage of the lights it controls.

Playing with blinds

Nothing brightens up a room like natural light. Sometimes, however, you want less of it and roller blinds are your answer to regulate the amount of light entering your bedroom.

The greatest thing about roller blinds is its versatility. Just by changing the material, you can achieve drastically different lighting effects.

If you enjoy sleeping in on the weekends, blackout blinds are perfect for you. Usually made out of thick material such as suede, these blinds can completely block off light to let you snooze in peace.

Alternatively, you can opt for zebra blinds. These have horizontal slates like venetian blinds, but made out of solid and sheer fabric that are alternated, thus giving it the striped look. The sheer parts dim the incoming light, creating that relaxing ambience in your bedroom.

Layered lights

If there is minimal natural light entering your bedroom, consider switching harsh ceiling lights with soft task and ambient lighting. ‘Soft’ lighting is basically interior designer talk for warm, yellow light. The secret is to layer your light sources, rather than just relying on overhead lights. Lamps, both standing and table lamps, are good supplementary light sources.

Another little tip is to use LED Edison bulbs – the upgraded, energy efficient version of the original Edison incandescent ones. These bare bulbs effortlessly evoke a vintage feel, thus are staples at our favourite, hole in the wall hipster cafes. But now, you too can replicate that cosiness in your own bedroom!

Lighting is a tricky and often overlooked detail in the design of bedrooms! So the next time you are thinking of revamping yours, make a mental note to consider these tips.

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg

Studies show that looking at greenery helps with productivity and prevents fatigue. If you don’t have a window view, there is always the option of displaying some green plants on or around your desk for a green ‘micro-break’.

When selecting a plant for your workspace, choose options that are easy-to-care for and don’t take up too much space. Listed below are some plants you can consider incorporating for your HDB home office.

1. Indoor Succulents

Succulents that tolerate indoor conditions are a good way to liven up the surroundings without extensive maintenance. However, not all succulents are a good fit for indoor growing conditions. Many brightly colored varieties require more sun and can fade or stretch if kept indoors. So, choose the green varieties that tend to do well with the lowest light levels, especially if your home office lacks natural light.

2. Snake Plant

Sansevieria trifasciata (also known as the Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law’s Tongue) is one of the most popular and hardy species of houseplants. They are easy to grow and nearly indestructible – they can thrive in very bright light and almost dark corners of the house. Sansevieria can remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air, and help purify the air.

3. Dracaena

If you prefer a leafier plant, the Dracaena is a good choice. The sturdy plant comes in different variants, but they mostly feature dark green leaves which are soothing to look at. Its relentless root system makes it difficult to wilt, and the plant can also survive in drought-like conditions, making it the perfect starter plant for indoor gardens.

4. African Violets

With their wide variety of colours, the African Violet livens up any workspace. Their low-maintenance levels and ability to grow well in moderate temperature, make them popular houseplants. However, as these plants do not do too well in high humidity, be sure to water them from the bottom, to avoid excess water on leaves that may result in leaf rot.

5. Cactus

When all else fails, there is the trusty cactus. Just be sure to keep the prickly plants where no one is likely to be reaching across your desk. The cacti plant actually thrives on neglect. It can contain a huge amount of water, enabling the plant to withstand even the most forgetful worker. Cacti prefer higher light levels, so if you are lucky enough to have a window desk, they will thrive.

When selecting any greenery for your workspace, review the care requirements carefully before making that decision. Enjoy your fresh looking workspace!

Source: mynicehome.gov.sg