Ten homes, ten renovation budgets, all 4-room BTO flats!
In more ways than one, renovating a 4-room BTO flat (or just about any HDB flat, for the matter) can feel challenging. First, you’ll have to decide on a reasonable renovation budget – expected to average between $52,500 to $66,000 for a 4-room flat – and next, find design ideas that best align with your idea of a dream home.
To help you out with both of these tasks, we’ve put together a list of ten inspiring 4-room projects completed in the last two years that cost between $28,000 to $110,000 to renovate; just note that with increased material and labour costs, you would have to fork out more for the same works in 2025.
With that in mind, read on and discover a look for your BTO flat that’s also within reach!
1. 4-room BTO flat at Tampines GreenGlen | Renovation cost: $28,000
On a tight budget, there is a limit to the works you can get done… but planned right, you can get a simple but timeless result like in this 4-room flat at Tampines GreenGlen.
Considering that carpentry takes up a big chunk of renovation costs, the built-ins were kept to the essentials: the kitchen cabinets that extend into a peninsula for extra countertop space, the bedroom wardrobe and the floating vanity in the ensuite bathroom.
With its recessed outer edge, the counter can double as a breakfast counter.
It’s also worth noting that the two junior bedrooms were left largely untouched for future use.
Contact Yang's Inspiration Design
2. 4-room BTO flat at Plantation Village | Renovation cost: $39,000
The pared back Scandinavian style meets warm, earthy tones for a Japandi-style look in this 4-room BTO flat. Compared to the previous home, there were more works done here, like flooring and tiling.
A sizable portion of the carpentry budget was also set aside for the custom tiered peninsula with a ‘hidden’ tier in the open-concept kitchen.
It’s actually a pull-out dining table – a brilliant space-saving idea.
As for the carpentry in the bedrooms, it was kept to a minimum with a simple L-shaped wardrobe in the master bedroom while the junior bedrooms were left untouched.
Contact Starry Homestead
3. 4-room BTO flat at Rivervale Shores | Renovation cost: $47,500
A striking departure from the ever-popular white and bright look, this home goes bold and dark – but has curves and incorporates textures to soften the look.
In the living room, the floor-to-ceiling cabinets and textured paint that stretches across the wall and the ceiling create the illusion of height.
There’s also a balcony with a waterfront view (a rare and sought-after feature in BTOs) and the light streaming in through the glass doors keeps the space well-lit in the day.
The highlight of the home is no doubt the moon gate that replaces the wall to the study, almost like a traditional counterbalance to the otherwise uber-contemporary theme.
When it comes to half-wall or partial wall structures like so, the cost tends to be about the same as hacking a whole wall, owing to the labour and materials necessary since the whole original wall has to be demolished first. Do make sure to allocate your budget accordingly if you’re planning such a feature.
Contact MSR Interior Design
4. 4-Room BTO flat at Rivervale Shores | Renovation cost: $53,000
While this home bears the hallmarks of Scandinavian design, like muted colours and wood accents, it experiments with pops of colour that aren’t over-the-top and work to unify the look of the home.
Besides painting, the $53,000 budget also went into other costly works like carpentry, hacking, plumbing and lighting.
The various carpentry works include the breakfast counter which has a rounded edge with storage and the fluted panels that inconspicuously cover the household shelter.
To complete the cosy touch to the home, the owners chose warm lighting, like the pendant lights hanging over the peninsula and the acrylic panel lighting in the bathrooms.
Contact U-Home Interior Design
5. 4-room BTO flat at Tampines GreenGlen | Renovation cost: $56,000
Putting their $56,000 budget to work, the owners of this home went with a clean, streamlined look and equipped it with space maximising features.
The kitchen sports a peninsula that doubles as a counter for food prep and a dining space for the owners while the bedroom vanity functions as a bedside table and divider all at once.
Don’t miss the small details in this home either: for example, the under-counter lights for the peninsula (commonly used in hotels), which add a classy touch while highlighting the marble countertop, and the duo-toned wardrobe laminates add visual interest.
When it comes to a renovation, it’s not just the big picture: such details can go a long way in elevating the look of your home.
Contact Renologist
6. 4-Room BTO flat at Tampines GreenSpring | Renovation cost: $66,000
Another dark home on the list, this 4-room BTO in Tampines looks enviably spacious thanks to the semi-open spaces.
These offer the flexibility to keep the space open/close as necessary and let light through the different areas, dissipating the heavy atmosphere that dark interiors might create.
The walls of the junior bedroom adjacent to the living room, for instance, were hacked and replaced with folding glass doors to serve as a mixed use space with no built-ins.
The area connects seamlessly with the living area proper, which has a faux bay window that serves as storage – and a neat spot to chill out.
Even the kitchen has foldable doors/windows that can be closed when cooking to keep the cooking fumes in.
For those of you who love walk-in wardrobes but can’t afford to give up a whole room to build it, consider one like this that involves no hacking, with the wardrobe doubling as a divider that separates the sleeping area from the dressing area.
Contact Jialux Interior
7. 4-room BTO Flat at Clementi NorthArc | Renovation cost: $70,000
Dressed in soft neutrals, this home is a timeless classic. We especially love how the different elements come together, from the off-white walls with wainscoting and solid wood furnishings to the colonial blinds in the living room.
In the kitchen, the shaker-style cabinets and stone countertop similarly add an old-school charm to the space.
There’s plenty of storage built in as well, including a lovely kid-friendly library built into recessed shelves along the corridor and some display ledges in an awkward corner of a bedroom.
Considering that such carpentry takes up so much of the renovation budget, be sure to bounce off ideas with your designer or contractor and think things through based on your lifestyle needs.
Contact Studio Kabi
8. 4-room BTO Flat at Waterway Sunrise II | Renovation cost: $80,000
“Elegant” and “rugged” can’t seem to coexist – but that’s exactly what this 4-room BTO pulls off with a generous $80,000 budget.
Peek into the bedroom and you’ll find a dark hotel aesthetic complete with cove lights and wall sconces in the bedroom – accompanied by stone (and stone-looking) textures even in the en suite bathroom.
Just look at the eye-catching stone wall cladding: it’s no wonder this home was one of our most popular home tours on Instagram in 2024.
And not to forget the home’s most prominent feature: the glass block peninsula that is not only gorgeous but also a clever way to let light through the already-dark dry kitchen space.
Contact The Interior Maison
9. 4-room BTO flat at Ubi Grove | Renovation cost: $88,000
Another 4-room BTO that can be transported to any era and still look like it belongs, this home is all about tasteful combinations and luxe materials – a combination that usually requires a higher budget, especially if it involves concealing unsightly features.
In the kitchen, stone surfaces with bold yet warm-hued veining pairs perfectly with the royal blue laminates.
Interestingly, the induction stove is located at the island and not flushed against the wall at the regular countertops. Such a design encourages conversation (handy if you enjoy hosting), and has the added benefit of helping you keep an eye on things if you have young kids.
As for the master bedroom, you’ll find a simple wardrobe framing the entrance to the bathroom, and an accessory island centered in the space.
Contact Anhans Interior Design
10. 4-room BTO flat at Kallang Breeze | Renovation cost: $110,000
Given the extensive works done in this 4-room BTO, which includes hacking, electrical rewiring and extending the space, it’s no wonder that the renovation racked up a $110,000 cost – the most expensive on this list.
Adopting a mix of Japandi and Scandinavian design elements, the living area is cosy and welcoming – and made even more so thanks to merging the living room with the adjacent junior bedroom for a spacious communal area.
Add the oversized mirror to the combination and you’ve got a space that looks even bigger.
Practical design didn’t go overlooked, with the shoe cabinet doubling as a partition for privacy.
The private spaces – that is, the bedrooms – are demarcated by an arched entryway; there you’ll find the master bedroom was extended towards the corridor for more wardrobe space.
The floor-to-ceiling fluted panels conceal the stretch of wardrobes along the wall, including the bathroom door, for a seamless look that also tricks the eye into thinking the space is bigger than it actually is.
We can already see ourselves reclining here after a hard day’s work!
Contact SG Interior Design
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This article was originally published on 29 July 2021 and last updated on 16 December 2024.
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