2-Room BTO is a Cosy Haven that Proves Compact Living Can Be Practical

Small home, big ideas.

Homes in Singapore are often labelled as boring or cookie-cutter, but that was the opposite of what we thought upon stepping into Melissa’s home.

Instead of the usual bare walls, almost every wall (and ceiling) in her home is covered with wood-like wallpaper. And the visual effect is striking: not only did it make the space look more seamless, it also made her tiny 47 sqm 2-room BTO flat look way larger than it is.

“The standard of HDB homes is white walls and cookie-cutter layouts, but I wanted something different,” she said. “I never liked ‘standard’ things – even when I was young, I didn't like to have things that many other people have (laughs).”

“So, I definitely didn’t want my home to look like a typical HDB flat. And since a home is such a big purchase, I figured that I might as well go all out for the renovation.”

About the homeowner and the home

“I’ve always been an independent person,” Melissa said. “It’s not that I don’t get along with my parents – it’s just that I’m the kind of person that needs their own space. From the time I was in my late 20s, I knew that when I turned 35, I’ll be applying for my own BTO flat.”

“I chose to buy a 2-room BTO over a resale flat because I don’t like the idea of someone living in the home before me (laughs). Besides, I don’t need a lot of space for my things – and I feel like if you have a bigger house, you’ll be tempted to buy more things, so I think this choice is the best.”

“For the design, I tend to like Japanese interior design. The houses just seem very simple, cosy, but still functional. I actually watched a lot of Japanese YouTubers that feature their homes, or YouTube channels that feature a lot of Japanese homes for inspiration.”

“Also, I'm not a fan of bare white walls or ceilings. I think, to me, it just seems very boring – and a lot of HDB homes tend to have that, so as I said earlier, I wanted a unique look – which is why I chose to cover the walls and ceiling with light wood wallpaper.”

About finding an interior designer to renovate her home

“I think I met about 10 interior designers,” Melissa said, and laughed at our incredulous faces. “Yeah, I know – I just wanted to make sure I found the right one.”

“The Interior Lab was actually the 10th firm I met. I think from the get-go, the vibe was good, and I was sure that Vin Shin, my ID, will do a good job.”

“Most of the design was what I came up with, but he was the one who helped advise on the technical side of things, like the plumbing and electrical wiring – the chemistry was great, and I think he was the right person for the job.”

About renovating the living room

“A lot of the features you see in my home are things I’ve wanted for a long time,” Melissa said. “Because I’m in the advertising/design industry, I’ve had opportunities to see a lot of things over the years, and that gave me a few ideas when it came to my home renovation.”

“One of those things is the bay window area. I've always liked the idea of sitting by the window to chill and drink tea – the thought of it just makes me happy.”

“They also function as storage, by the way,” she added, and pulls it open to show us the things inside. “And because I like figurines, I asked Vin Shin to create a shelf for me so that I have space to display them.”

“The bench seating was also part of my design. I know I could have just used chairs, but I think having too many would just clutter the look. This way, the design looks more ‘together’.”

“And because it’s against the wall, it can blend in very nicely. And anyway, it’s good for storage.”

“That curved platform next to the bench was also my idea – if it’s not there, the separation between the bench and the TV area will look very odd.”

“This platform also acts as a nice transition into this storage area,” she said. To our amazement, she pulls the panelled door below the TV open – which we thought was a purely aesthetic feature – to reveal her TV box. “I don’t like to see wires, so I got Vin Shin to create this to keep everything concealed.”

About the bedroom

“To make the space feel bigger, I broke down the wall between the bedroom and living room,” Melissa said. “But I still needed some demarcation between the two spaces, so I thought of creating this platform to act as that separation, and then simply having my mattress on the floor instead of using a regular bed frame.”

“It’s also very similar to what Japanese homeowners do, with the tatami mats and all, so it felt like a good decision.”

“I didn't want the house to be too bright. I prefer the space to be dimmer because it feels cosier – so even though I have the usual bright ceiling lights, I rarely use them.”

“Instead, I prefer using indirect lighting. If you realise, there’s a lot of them – behind the headboard of the bed, along the bench seating, below the curved platform at the TV, and so on. It just feels so much cosier this way.”

“A lot of people choose either sliding or swing doors for their wardrobe, but you can't see everything at one glance – especially if your wardrobe is as long as this.”

“That’s why I opted for these accordion-style folding doors instead – with just one pull, the whole wardrobe opens up and you can see the whole thing at once. This is a very typical Japanese-style wardrobe as well.”

About the kitchen renovation

“Initially, the kitchen didn’t have a door, but I had one installed so that it can contain the cooking smell,” Melissa said. “I feel that this is necessary considering the house is so small – one time I forgot to close the door, and the whole house smelled like my food! It was so strong – I used so much room spray that day (laughs).”

“The kitchen initially had a laundry rack, but I had it removed. Unlike 3- or 4-room flats, 2-room BTOs don’t have a service yard – and with the kitchen so small, I don’t see how you can walk around the space without being bothered by the clothes – especially if you’re hanging long pieces like dresses.”

“So, from the start, I already knew I was going to use a washer and dryer.”

About the bathroom renovation

“There weren't any major changes to the toilet,” Melissa said. “I guess the only thing is this angled partition – there initially wasn’t a partition at all, which is quite strange as it means that there will be no separation between the wet and dry area.”

“And given the space constraints, having the usual rectangular cubicle wouldn’t make sense – the door will be blocked by the vanity and the toilet bowl. So, I felt like this angled shape makes the most sense space-wise.”

To sum up

When asked how her 8 months of living here has been, Melissa said this, to all our amusement: “I’m so happy with this space. I’m in love with it – I don’t know how I can be in love with an inanimate object, but I am!”

“I think I’m enjoying this independent life – I’ve wanted to have my own place since I was in my 20s, and now that I have it, it's everything I’ve wanted and more.”

“So, yes, I’m proud of this. I’m proud of myself for getting here, and for creating this home that I’ve always wanted. Every time I’m outside, I make it a point to come home ASAP, because this is my sanctuary and I really love it so much!”

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