4-Room Resale HDB Flat Renovations: From $33K to $180K

A look at 4-room HDB resale flat renovation ideas for every budget!

Unlike a BTO flat where you’re starting on a clean slate, the cost of a resale HDB flat renovation can vary significantly. How much you end up spending will depend on factors like the state of the flat when purchased, its size, and how much of the layout and furnishings you wish to change/retain.

Nonetheless, data and interior designers suggest that a 4-room resale HDB flat renovation in 2026 is likely to average between $70,000 and $81,600.

To give you a better idea of what your renovation budget can get you, we’ve compiled a list of 10 such renovation projects, across different interior styles, that range from $33,000 to $180,000.

1. 4-room resale flat at Sengkang East | Renovation cost: $33,000

True to the principles of Scandinavian interior design, every feature in this flat is functional rather than ornate in nature.

In the communal area, the semi-open kitchen’s bar counter takes centre stage. This setup gives its owners the flexibility of closing the windows when doing heavy cooking, and opening them up to interact with guests/family members in the living room at other times. Plus, it’s also reminiscent of hole-in-the-wall cafes, which adds character to an otherwise simple home.

Given that the unit was in a relatively good condition, only basic works like painting and vinyl overlays were carried out to give the bedrooms a fresh look while keeping renovation costs low.

Likewise, the bathrooms were given a clean, contemporary overhaul with nothing too ostentatious.

Contact H Design

2. 4-room resale flat at Upper Serangoon | Renovation cost: $42,000

This next home leans towards a Japandi aesthetic in the living room with soothing earth tones and low-profile furniture, but adopts a Scandinavian look in its other rooms.

Interestingly, the living room was furnished entirely with store-bought pieces. Our guess as to why? Cost savings from purchasing them at discounted prices during e-commerce or seasonal sales, as well as the option of switching things up whenever the owners wish to.

Built-in carpentry, on the other hand, was limited to key pieces such as kitchen cabinets, a wardrobe in the master bedroom, and bathroom vanities.

It should also be noted that minimal works were done to the common bedrooms — an increasingly popular method of keeping renovation costs low.

In this school of thought, aesthetic features and built-ins can be added down the line when you’ve had more time to save up, and have a better understanding of how you actually utilise the space.

Contact Yang’s Inspiration

3. 4-room resale flat at Northshore Drive | Renovation cost: $55,000

This bold, retro-futuristic home may not be everyone’s cup of tea — but for the homeowners, it’s a perfect match. From moody lighting to colour-shifting LED clouds and custom statement carpentry, every design decision was made with their lifestyle and aesthetic preferences in mind.

The kitchen is where it all comes together: sleek black cabinetry, mirrored finishes, and ambient lighting set a dramatic tone — but it’s the multifunctional centre island that really steals the spotlight. Housing a retractable dining table, hidden storage drawers, and even a built-in mahjong table, it’s a space-saving powerhouse that adapts seamlessly to cooking, dining, and entertaining.

Instead of conventional overhead cabinets, a suspended open shelf above the island serves as a home bar and display for the couple’s bottle collection — adding personality without crowding the visual space.

This home is a reminder that good design isn’t about trends — it’s about creating a space that truly reflects how you want to live.

Contact Jesigns Interior Design

4. 4-room resale flat at Punggol Drive | Renovation cost: $66,000

Conversely, this next resale flat takes on a minimalist approach.

Banquette seating and an extendable dining table help to maximise space, while clean lines and a palette of light neutrals and wood tones give the communal area a bright and airy feel.

But its highlight has to be its moodier, MUJI-esque master bedroom. Here, wood-look laminates extend from the bed’s headboard all the way to the curved false ceiling fitted with cove mood lighting. The result is a cocooning effect that instantly calms you down — something you’d definitely want in a place of rest.

While this likely cost more than a typical bedroom makeover, the overall renovation cost wasn’t exorbitant since such statement-making features were confined to just one room.

Then, in the en suite bathroom, bold black fittings serve as accents against the backdrop of a similar palette, lending visual interest while maintaining the same design language throughout.

Contact Kanso Haus Studio

5. 4-room resale flat at Aljunied | Renovation cost: $73,000

Playing with different textures and natural materials like brick, terracotta, wicker and rattan, this next resale flat is anything but cookie-cutter. Top it off with a few well-placed houseplants, and stepping in almost feels like you’re at the bar/reception area of a tropical resort.

With a decent renovation budget of $73,000, the designer was also able to throw in aesthetic features like overhead beams, curved edges, as well as limewash paint to really complete the look.

Honestly, we’d be taking way fewer vacation days if we woke up to this every day.

Contact Intheory Design

6. 4-room resale flat at Anchorvale | Renovation cost: $75,000

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When HDB gives you an awkward layout, find an ID who can turn it into a feature.

In this resale flat, a curved minimalist TV feature wall, warm wood tones, and restrained pops of colour come together to make the living room’s design feel deliberate, as opposed to a workaround or compromise.

Further in, a reconfigured master suite sports a laid-back, mid-century modern look with its walls and ceiling in burnt orange.

Notably, the original master bedroom was merged with an adjacent bedroom — the former turned into a walk-in wardrobe and the latter a rest area. In turn, the two are elegantly separated by double-leaf French doors that introduce a touch of classical luxury into the space.

Contact Darwin Interior

7. 4-room resale flat at Tampines | Renovation cost: $80,000

This next home may be classified as a 4-room flat, but at 105sqm, its size is equivalent to that of a 5-room BTO, giving it space for both a breakfast counter and a formal dining area.

The downside of a larger space, though, is that the owners had to set a sizeable amount aside just to redo the entire unit’s flooring — hence the $80,000 renovation cost despite a relatively restrained design.

That said, the master bedroom adopts an elevated look, with the vanity shifted out of the bathroom and partitioned with a fluted glass panel — and we can’t help but notice a resemblance to contemporary boutique hotels like Lloyd’s Inn and The Warehouse Hotel.

Contact Black & Butter

8. 4-room resale flat at Toa Payoh | Renovation cost: $95,000

Singaporeans are known for their love of Japan, but the owners of this resale flat took this to a whole new level.

From shoji-style doors to a platform with a moongate and tatami seating for tea, the owners pulled out all the stops in bringing traditional Japanese influences to their home in Toa Payoh. Add this to the cost of works like flooring and a false ceiling for the entire unit, and it’s no surprise that the renovation totalled $95,000.

Functional features aside, there are even purely aesthetic ones like a faux mushiko-mado window for artwork by the kitchen entrance!

Meanwhile, the master bedroom takes on a contemporary look with an open-concept wardrobe that doubles as a privacy partition, and a sakura painting above the headboard ties it in with the rest of the home’s Japanese theme.

Contact Dailyceed Design Studio

9. 4-room resale flat at Serangoon | Renovation cost: $120,000

Following layout changes and a mid-century modern meets retro makeover, this resale flat at Serangoon has been thoroughly transformed.

One of the common bedroom’s walls were replaced with glass doors, while the master bedroom was merged with an adjacent bedroom and is now a walk-in wardrobe.

Looks-wise, the entire unit is now filled with warm wood tones, antique-style pendant lights, and accent features at every turn. Take for instance the botanical feature wall in the master bedroom…

… or the red- and green-themed bathrooms clad in mosaic tiles. Cumulatively, the layout changes, quality materials used, and the skilled labour required for these features led to a whopping 6-figure sum.

But looking at how stunning it is, we’d say it was worth it.

Contact The Local INN.terior 新家室

10. 4-room resale flat at Compassvale | Renovation cost: $180,000

Every vignette of the final 4-room flat in this list looks straight out of a design magazine.

From limewash to cabinet panelling, an abundance of curves to a recessed ‘UFO’ light at the entryway, no expense was spared in the details that take it from mere chic to quiet luxury.

In terms of layout, the study was downsized to make room for a larger communal area, while the other common room was merged with the master bedroom to serve as a walk-in wardrobe.

And despite costing more than twice the average 4-room resale flat renovation, nothing in the space screams for attention. Instead, a sense of effortless refinement comes through in the consistent use of quality materials and subtleties that speak to the thoughtful design work by Kinjo Studios.

Contact Kinjo Studios

Looking to renovate your 4-room resale HDB?

At Qanvast, we can shortlist designers who can help you design your dream home. Tell us your renovation requirements and you’ll get personalised renovation quotes from interior design firms – completely free!

Engaging an interior designer firm through our recommendation service has its perks, as you can opt in for the Qanvast Guarantee that safeguards up to $50,000 of your renovation deposits.

This article was originally published on 14 October 2021 and last updated on 6 May 2026.