September 18, 2024
Price estimates for a basic 3-/4-room BTO flat makeover.
After you’ve gotten the keys to your new BTO flat, it’s only natural to start thinking about making it move-in ready. How about outfitting your living room with wood-look vinyl flooring to create a cosy communal area? Or fabricating a set of cabinets to store all your utensils and cooking equipment neatly in your brand-new kitchen?
But regardless of what ideas or considerations you have in mind, all of them boil down to one single question – how much?
To give you an idea, we reached out to two interior designers – Ryan from InTheory Design and Jackson from Concrid Interior – and put together a list of basic renovation and furnishing costs for a 3- /4-room BTO flat’s communal areas, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom.
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Before you continue scrolling, here’s a disclaimer up front: the costs presented in this piece are rough estimates. In fact, very rough ones. The reason being that there are many property- and design-related factors that’ll affect the final figures you see on a quotation.
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These variables include:
For the purposes of this article, we’ll explore the estimated costs of a basic renovation for a ‘standard’ 3-/4-room BTO flat – so do take note of the line items each figure includes (and which items they do not). Also, if you’re renovating a HDB flat of a different size and/or if it’s a resale flat, we’d highly recommend getting in touch with an interior design firm, as the costs of which can vary quite significantly.
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Most renovation firms in Singapore provide a single quote for both the living and dining spaces of a BTO flat. According to an interior designer we spoke to, this is because “these spaces are quite close to each other in new BTO flats” and are “in a way, part of each other”.
So, with that in mind, you can expect the average price for renovating a BTO flat’s living and dining room to be approximately $12,000 to $27,000, inclusive of furnishings and appliances. Most of the variance stems from the extent and complexity of the built-ins (e.g. your TV console and shoe cabinet) as well as the difference between overlaying the existing floor with vinyl and installing brand-new tile flooring.
| Cost of renovation works (basic) | Cost of renovation works (extensive) | Appliances, fittings, fixtures, furniture | |
| Cost | $5,000 to $10,000 | $12,000 to $16,000 | $7,000 to $11,000 |
| Consists of | Simple carpentry works, paint jobs, feature wall and electrical works. | Involves tile overlays and more complex carpentry works (e.g. a full-length TV console that also has bookshelves, a shoe cabinet that conceals the bomb shelter etc.) | Television (55- to 60-inch), store bought TV console, 3-seater fabric sofa, coffee table, dining set, lights and fans. |
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Considering the amount of carpentry and number of bulky appliances included in a kitchen upgrade, it’s no surprise that kitchens have a higher estimated total renovation cost than most other home spaces.
Based on the items listed in the table below, the estimated average cost for a basic BTO flat kitchen renovation is about $11,500 to $28,000.
| Cost of renovation works (basic) | Cost of renovation works (extensive) | Appliances, fittings, fixtures | |
| Cost | $5,000 to $10,000 | $12,000 to $18,000 | $6,500 to $10,000 |
| Consists of | Structural works such as floor tiling, plumbing, electrical works, countertop, and carpentry with plain fronts. | Involves the use of more premium materials (e.g. sintered stone) and the creation of additional features like a kitchen island. | Cabinet handles, hob, hood, oven, fridge, sink, mixer tap and water dispenser; estimates are based on popular brands from local major retailers. |
Once again, note that the final cost will likely differ based on your kitchen design requirements. In fact, Jackson advises those who don’t cook often to keep carpentry works light – for example, by foregoing top-hung cabinets.
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If you’re moving into a BTO flat that’s brand new, renovating a bathroom is going to be slightly cheaper because you won’t be able to remove the existing wall/floor tiles as well as their waterproofing layer within the first 3 years of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) date.
With that in mind, the estimated average price of renovating a new BTO flat’s bathroom is about $5,000 to $12,000.
| Cost of renovation works (basic) | Cost of renovation works (extensive) | Appliances, fittings, fixtures | |
| Cost | $3,000 to $5,000 | $6,000 to $9,000 | $2000 to $3,000 |
| Consists of | Basic carpentry work and fittings installation. Flooring is left untouched. | Involves tile overlays and custom changes (e.g. creating shower niches) | Basic shower screen, water heater, basin and faucet, toilet bowl, shower set and ceiling light. |
Also, take note, if you live in a BTO flat with more than one bathroom (i.e., a 3-room or larger unit), you’ll need to multiply the estimated cost by at least two!
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Based on the rough figures given to us, you can expect** the estimated average cost of renovating a single master bedroom in an BTO flat to be from $8,000 to $18,000**, including appliances, fittings, fixtures, and furniture.
| Cost of renovation works (basic) | Cost of renovation works (extensive) | Appliances, fittings, fixtures, furniture | |
| Cost | $4,000 to $6,000 | $8,000 to $10,000 | $4,000 to $8,000 |
| Consists of | Simple carpentry work (e.g. a basic wardrobe with plain fronts), paint jobs, electrical works and flooring. | Involves more extensive carpentry works (e.g. a custom headboard, platforms, a full-length wardrobe that conceals the bathroom door, etc.) | Bed frame, mattress, curtains/blinds and overhead lamp with fan. |
But like with other home spaces, you can choose to save (or spend more) on certain features for your bedroom renovation.
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For instance, opting for a completely new tiled floor will cost you between $2,000 to $3,000, but if you were to choose a more budget-friendly option of overlaying an existing tile finish with vinyl material, you’ll only have to fork out between $800 to $1,000.
Although we’ve said it at the start, it bears mentioning again that all costs mentioned in this piece are rough estimates, and are quoted based on the dimensions and basic requirements of a 3-/4-room BTO flat.
So, if you’re looking for a little more pizzazz, or renovating a home that’s of a different property type, it’s best to get in touch with a renovation professional who will be able to give you an (even more) accurate idea of what your home makeover will cost!
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