3-Room Resale HDB Flat Renovations: From $40K to $94K

Inspiration for your own 3-room resale flat renovation.

It’s a well-known fact that renovations for a resale HDB flat generally cost more than that of a BTO flat. And since that’s the case, planning your budget beforehand is extremely important – especially considering that the expected renovation cost for a 3-room resale flat in 2023 is expected to range from $62,700 to $71,800.

So, to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of 8 beautiful 3-room resale HDB flat renovations to give you an idea on what your own budget can get you!

1. 3-room resale flat in Margaret Drive (Renovation cost: $40,000)

3-room flats can be small, so we understand the need to utilise built-ins to maximise storage space. But if you’re looking to keep costs low, try minimising the amount of carpentry used, like how it’s done in this 3-room resale flat.

Opting for simple built-ins, the homeowners chose to keep their carpentry in areas where storage was necessary i.e. their living room, kitchen, and bedrooms.

But rather than look plain or boring, this home is still very much aesthetically pleasing, with quirky colour choices and textures (metallic laminates!) that imbue the space with tons of personality.

CONTACT THE ALCHEMISTS DESIGN

2. 3-room resale flat in Ang Mo Kio (Renovation cost: $50,000)

This 3-room flat in Ang Mo Kio has all the hallmarks of an 80s-themed home. Shaker style cabinets? Check. Teak furniture? Check. Even more organic elements like plants and rattan? Check, check, and check.

But to recreate this yesteryear look, a fair bit of renovation was involved. The original flooring was replaced by wood-look vinyl, and a false ceiling was installed to allow the use of old-school lighting fixtures. Even the bathrooms were redone, with retro-style floor tiles helping the area match the rest of the home’s aesthetic.

CONTACT AUTHORS

3. 3-room resale flat in Geylang Bahru (Renovation cost: $58,000)

Looking at this 3-room flat, it’s clear that there is a fair amount of carpentry work done, especially along the kitchen and bedroom walls. But since carpentry works usually take up the bulk of renovation prices, how did the homeowners keep renovation costs relatively low at just $58,000?

For one, they mainly used loose furniture to fill up the space. For another, they opted for vinyl flooring and plain backsplashes over tiles – the latter of which is a much more labour-intensive choice that is often more expensive than homeowners expect.

CONTACT R INTERIOR

4. 3-room resale flat in Serangoon (Renovation cost: $60,000)

Compared to the previous home, this particular 3-room resale flat possesses fewer built-ins. What does make this project a tad more expensive, though, is the choice of tiles used, as well as the fittings that had to be custom-made to fit into the home’s numerous awkward recessed areas and niches.

Take for instance the shelves built into the recessed wall created by the structural wall in the living room. There’s also the concrete sink, which had to be constructed manually as there wasn’t enough room in the tiny bathroom for a regular-sized sink.

CONTACT INSIGHT.OUT STUDIO

5. 3-room resale flat in Aljunied (Renovation cost: $65,000)

While the previous homes on this list largely retained their original layout, this particular one didn’t. Instead, the homeowners decided to use their junior bedroom as the living room, and merged it together with their dining room (previously the living room) to create a bigger communal area.

Another interesting feature is the custom-made bedroom wardrobe. Most built-in wardrobes tend to be placed flushed against the wall – but due to space constraints, the wardrobe here was built in place of the original bedroom wall, which had previously been torn down.

This way, the bedroom not only looks sleek and seamless, but also grants the homeowners more walking space.

CONTACT EAMES & SCALES

6. 3-room resale flat in Ang Mo Kio (Renovation cost: $75,000)

This contemporary 3-room resale flat may look simple, but the renovation was anything but.

To create additional visual interest against the largely-white interior, the homeowners went with custom paint jobs, a brick-look feature wall, and recessed niches in the bedroom and ensuite.

For an even more seamless look, they also opted for hidden doors instead of the regular ones, where they disguised their bedroom door as part of the kitchen wall, and their ensuite entrance as a bedroom wardrobe.

CONTACT URBAN HOME DESIGN

7. 3-room flat in Serangoon (Renovation cost: $82,000)

With its long and rectangular layout, it’s hard to believe that this pastel 3-room flat is just 69 sqm.

But to create this spacious look, lots of layout changes were involved. More specifically, that included merging the junior bedroom and living room, as well as combining and reconfiguring the existing bathrooms to fit in a large vanity.

CONTACT FREE SPACE INTENT

8. 3-room resale flat in Tampines (Renovation cost: $94,000)

One look at the amount of built-ins and cladded ceilings, and you can tell why this Japanese-themed 3-room flat’s transformation cost a whopping $94,000.

But if you can believe it, that’s not the standout feature of the home. Peep into the junior bedroom, and you’ll find that it has been transformed into a traditional Japanese tea room, complete with storage, tatami mats, and even a kotatsu table!

CONTACT MU DESIGN STUDIO

We're on Instagram, Telegram and TikTok! Follow us there to keep up with the latest design trends 🙌

Renovate with assurance, only on Qanvast. Find and meet interior designers verified by homeowners, with no hidden costs and no commissions involved. Find an ID