10 Quirky Homes We Love That Don’t Follow the Usual Design Playbook

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Not every home needs to fit neatly into a trend. While styles like Japandi and Scandinavian continue to dominate renovation mood boards, there’s a growing number of homeowners who are choosing to design spaces that feel more personal — even if that means going against convention.

This list brings together 10 quirky homes that feel distinctly personal. They’re not designed to fit a style label, but work so well. It’s a reminder that there’s no single “right” way to design a home.

1. This show-stopping pink-and-green 3-room BTO with stories to tell

Most homeowners today gravitate towards a ‘clean’, contemporary look, but the owners of this 3-room BTO in Kallang turned instead to 70s interior design for inspiration.

Anchored by a pink-and-green base, the home plays with different textures, prints and patterns — so much so that even their fridge is wrapped in floral wallpaper — yet still feels remarkably cohesive.

Plus, there’s a story to tell at every turn. In a bid to reduce material wastage, many of its loose furnishings are secondhand pieces from Carousell and Facebook Marketplace. Walk towards the kitchen, and you’ll be greeted by a gallery of posters and prints from the couple’s travels. And that ‘built-in’ bathroom vanity above? It’s actually an upcycled vintage cabinet!

2. A 3-room resale HDB flat that pays homage to the property's history

To honour the history of the Tiong Bahru conservation area where it is located, the owners of this walk-up apartment and Happe Design Atelier intentionally chose to go with old-school features like mosaic tiles, as well as carefully curated pieces inspired by the mid-century period.

A neutral base palette ties everything together so the space doesn’t feel the least bit messy nor out of place in 2026, despite callbacks to the pre-war era and an ensemble of different colours and shapes.

For example, notice how sleek contemporary features like the swivel TV and white kitchen cabinets blend into the background, while the colourful vintage (or vintage-inspired) pieces serve as accents that take centrestage.

Additionally, most of the loose furniture comes with tapered legs, which help to keep the space visually light.

3. This 4-room BTO with a deliberately odd layout and a porthole window feature

At first glance, this 4-room BTO looks like a regular white-and-wood look home, but closer inspection reveals a few interesting features.

For one, the owners intentionally turned the squarish floor plan into an irregularly shaped one so that they could have a slightly larger communal area.

For another, the resulting slanted wall has an indoor window that resembles a ship’s porthole. This opens into the study/guest room, adding a sense of continuity despite being distinctly separate from the communal area.

4. This fun and colourful apartment at Canberra with pieces that feel charmingly nostalgic

Whether you’re a kid or adult, you can’t help but be in a better mood when you step into this resale flat.

In every room, vibrant blocks of colour grab your attention, yet they don’t feel over the top because of how well-curated the furnishings are.

From what seems like a repurposed public bench from the 90s, to a 60s-style shophouse gate for an entrance, the loose furnishings tie in so well with the built-ins and fittings, testament to the owners and ID’s coordination, planning, and eye for design.

5. A 4-room resale flat that takes you back in time (and into space)

Yupp, you read that right. On one hand, the communal area of this resale flat takes you back in time to Old Nanyang with its (faux) breeze blocks, pattern tiles and wall panelling. Here, the owners also went above and beyond to display their collectibles — from swords to figurines, putting a personal stamp on their home.

On the other hand, stepping into the master bedroom and bathroom transport you into outer space with galaxy-theme decor on the walls and ceiling, along with backlights to complete the vibe.

Such an interior may not be for everyone, but we definitely give it props for committing fully to its themes.

6. A Tengah BTO that looks like a hotel built within a cave

The cave look has been gaining traction in recent years, but few homes achieve the same immersive feel as this 5-room BTO in Tengah does.

With ceiling beams and 3D plastering in the living room, it brings to mind Mandai Wildlife Reserve’s new Cavern Restaurant that’s been trending on TikTok.

Additionally, the entryway has a faux skylight to mimic what it’s like to look up/out from a cave, while the master bedroom feels like an urban version of cave hotels in Italy or Turkey.

7. This resale flat frames the windows with shapes for visual interest

If the previous example feels a little too rugged but encapsulates the vibe you’re going for, this next one might be more to your liking.

While it does hop on the wabi-sabi bandwagon, there are a couple of things that set it apart. Firstly, the flooring has a similar look to the limewash that’s used on the walls all the way to the ceiling, resulting in a cocooning effect/relaxing spa vibe.

What makes this house ‘quirky’, though, is its unapologetic use of different organic shapes, like for the sofa, window ‘frame’ and recessed shelves.

The most extreme example? A raw-edged kitchen partition that exemplifies the wabi-sabi principle of finding beauty in imperfection — and makes for a strong focal point.

8. An eclectic 4-room BTO with thoughtfully curated furniture and decor

As a callback to 50s and 60s interior design, this BTO at Woodlands embraces a mix of bold colours (which, back then, reflected optimism in the post-war era), gingham fabrics, and plush seating.

And while there are multiple vignettes that stand out in their own right, the recurring use of pastel colours alternate with bright block colours help to unify the entire space. For example, the bouldering wall’s holds match the block colours elsewhere, while the salmon pink tiles in the bathroom are of a similar shade to the kitchen’s overhead cabinets.

With an end result like that, the level of attention to detail was definitely worth it.

9. This HDB maisonette inspired by 90s video games, with a rock climbing wall and loft net

If we were to guess, “Pac-Man, but make it pastel” probably came up in this homeowner’s brief to the ID.

And as if that in itself wasn’t unique enough, this maisonette also has a loft net and rock climbing wall that extends all the way up to the second floor for added fun and maximisation of vertical space.

It’s pretty much what we would have imagined as a dream house growing up, and our inner child is healing just by seeing this.

10. A 1-bedroom condo with a small footprint but big personality

Despite being under 500 sqft, this last home on the list has everything its owners need. Set against the backdrop of whites, blacks and terracotta fittings/laminates that make a bold statement, you’ll find small pops of colour all around that help to lighten the mood.

Avant garde but fun, it really goes to show that small homes can be big in character too.