3-Room Resale HDB Flat Renovations: From $35K to $120K

Inspiration for your own 3-room resale flat renovation.

It’s a well-known fact that a resale flat renovation generally costs more than that of a BTO flat. And since that’s the case, planning your budget beforehand is extremely important – especially considering that the renovation cost for a 3-room resale flat in 2026 is expected to average between $55,000 to $68,300.

Of course, if the average range is too steep for you, it’s definitely possible to carry out your renovations for less. Here, we’ve compiled a list of 10 beautiful 3-room resale HDB flat renovations costing $35,000 to $120,000!

1. 3-room resale flat in Clementi | Renovation cost: $35,000

3-room flats can be small, so we understand the need to utilise built-ins to maximise storage space. But if you’re looking to keep costs low, try minimising the amount of carpentry in favour of loose furniture.

For instance, the homeowners of this 3-room resale flat in Clementi chose to only use simple built-ins in the necessary spaces (i.e. the kitchen, living room, and bedroom), with loose furniture filling up the rest of the spaces.

Aside from that, they’ve also kept other renovation works to a minimum, with little hacking work done.

Contact Elique.Co

2. 3-room resale flat at Kallang Bahru | Renovation cost: $38,000

Likewise, the owners of this industrial-themed flat at Kallang Bahru prioritised works like hacking, flooring and electrical wiring when it came to their renovation budget. Apart from kitchen cabinets, most of their furnishings were store bought as opposed to built in.

What’s impressive, though, is how Ultra Space Concepts completely reimagined this 50-year-old property with just $38,000, by turning it into a modern open-concept ‘studio’.

A key factor? The main bedroom’s walls were replaced with foldable glass doors to make the space appear much larger than it actually is. Talk about the difference space planning can make!

Contact Ultra Space Concepts

3. 3-room resale flat at Eunos (Renovation cost: $50,000)

Being on a tight renovation budget doesn’t necessarily mean your home has to look nondescript (AKA meh). Once you’ve covered the foundational works, a strategy you can adopt is to pick key areas or standout features to splurge on, and focus your ‘beautification budget’ on them.

In this retro-themed resale flat’s makeover, the area chosen was the kitchen. Wall lights highlight a floating shelf of the owners’ liquor collection and ombre-patterned subway tile backsplash, all while lending a soft warm glow when seen from the other side of the glass block partition. Meanwhile, the cabinets sport warm wood laminates and brass handles that complement the retro dining setup just outside.

By contrast, the living area and bedrooms were kept simple with only the essential renovation works carried out.

Contact Kinjo Studios

4. 3-room resale flat in Toa Payoh (Renovation cost: $55,000)

We’ve seen a fair share of unique layouts at Qanvast, but few like this one with a walk-through kitchen right smack in the middle of the unit (likely reconfigured by the previous owners).

And this kitchen serves as the heart of the home, where the current owners decided to spend a sizeable portion of their renovation budget to make it stand out. Think floor-to-ceiling carpentry, sintered stone surfaces, accent lighting, and more.

Then, to stay within an overall renovation budget of $55,000, furnishings in areas like the study and bathroom (including the vanity!) were primarily store-bought pieces rather than built in.

Contact Comuna Interiors

5. 3-room resale flat in Serangoon | Renovation cost: $63,000

Wabi sabi interiors are all about finding beauty in imperfection, and this resale flat at Lorong Lew Lian balances the concept well with clean lines for a modern look that doesn’t feel too raw.

For example, organically shaped cement-look pendant lights juxtapose the angular kitchen cabinetry, in the same way that limewash paint adds visual texture and grounded earthiness — as a counterpoint to the glossy appliances found in the home.

The same theme continues in the bedroom, where limewash-look laminates are applied to the wardrobe, and coloured beddings add a pop of colour to the otherwise neutral-toned space.

Contact H Design

6. 3-room resale flat in Whampoa (Renovation cost: $70,000)

A $70,000 budget for a 3-room resale HDB flat renovation will give you wiggle room when it comes to changing your unit’s layout.

In this instance, the spare room was opened up and split into two. The first half was merged with the communal area so there’s plenty of space for both the dining and TV area, while the second half is now a study nook within the master bedroom.

In particular, we love how the use of fluted glass panels maintains privacy while letting light pass through, as well as the farmhouse aesthetic replete with panelling details, wood tones, whites and blues.

Interestingly, the owners decided to place the washer and dryer in the bathroom instead of the kitchen!

Contact Thom Stignature Design

7. 3-room resale flat at Tampines | Renovation cost: $75,000

Alternatively, if you don’t require major layout changes but have the cash to spare, consider going all out with your carpentry.

In this Tampines flat, the owner went with a massive full-height TV feature that stretches the entire length of the living room.

The spare bedroom was then opened up to form a study behind the sofa, along with more floor-to-ceiling cabinets for extra storage (since, like many older flats, this one doesn’t have a store room nor household shelter).

And as you would have noticed by now, the same design language is used throughout the home. Dark wood tones are consistently paired with greys and black for a bold, contemporary look aesthetic, while curves help to soften the look and imbue a quiet sense of calm.

Contact Jialux Interior

8. 3-room resale HDB flat in Serangoon | Renovation cost: $80,000

This next makeover may be a little too avant garde for some, but it’s definitely a masterclass in all-black interiors.

Likely belonging to a bachelor(ette), the bedrooms were merged to form a spacious master suite with an uber-sleek walk-in wardrobe. Then, grey and white accents as well as a mix of different textures add visual interest, preventing the space from looking too flat.

All in all, we’d rate its chic factor 10/10.

Contact Spacie

9. 3-room resale flat in Hougang | Renovation cost: $97,000

If you were surprised that this is a 3-room flat, trust us – we were too. But then again, with a renovation budget 1.5 times the average, it should not look like a typical 3-room flat.

Aside from redoing everything from flooring to plumbing and electrical wiring (which are costly, but often necessary when moving into older resale units), its renovation also involved a layout reconfiguration. For example, by opening up the spare bedroom, the communal area is now significantly larger, and even has a settee to accommodate bigger groups when hosting.

One particular detail we appreciate is that this settee continues all the way toward the dining area as bench seating, and wraps around a structural column rather inconspicuously — turning what would have been an eyesore into a practical feature with a backrest.

Likewise, the master bedroom was also enlarged to accommodate an L-shaped wardrobe. However, we’d only recommend doing this if you don’t intend to have kids or don’t foresee the need for a secondary bedroom.

Contact IDesignerLab

10. 3-room resale flat along Marine Drive | Renovation cost: $120,000

Lastly, costing a whopping $120,000, no expense was spared in giving this 3-room flat a new look.

Following a gut renovation, everywhere you turn now has a feature — some purely decorative, others serving a practical purpose — that stands out, highlighted by a lavish use of accent lighting.

Premium materials like stone slabs and choice tiles elevate the look, while tiny details reflect just how well thought out these features are. Our favourites include the shoe cabinet door handles that extend out to form a ledge by the door, as well as the ensuite bathroom’s fluted glass cutouts that add to its hotel-feel.

What caught your eye the most?

Contact Zemu Design

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(This article was originally published on 7 December 2021 and last updated on 5 June 2026.)