4-Room Resale HDB Flat Renovations: From $32K to $135K

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

One of the hardest things about renovations is finding a balance between designing your dream home and keeping to your budget.

That’s especially true if you’re purchasing a resale unit: 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.

According to data and interior designers we spoke to, the average 4-room resale HDB flat renovation in 2024 could cost anywhere between $58,000 and $72,200.

To give you a better idea of what your renovation budget could possibly get you, we’ve compiled a list of ten beautiful 4-room resale flat renovation projects in Singapore that range from $32k to $135k.

1. 4-room resale flat at Compassvale Drive | Renovation cost: $32,000

Unlike BTO flats that come in spanking new condition, the deal with most resale HDB flats is they need refurbishing before you can start the renovation proper.

That’s why this $32,000 renovation included a range of works from hacking and tiling to electrical rewiring to achieve a homey white-and-wood look.

Sticking with loose furniture in the living room freed up the owners’ budget for a semi-open kitchen concept with a peninsula to keep the space breezy, yet flexible to close off when cooking.

Instead of plain flat-fronted kitchen cabinets, they also went with shaker cabinets that add interest to the space.

This kind of profiling can be found even in the bedroom, with shiplap doors used for the built-in wardrobe.

Fitted with light brown tiles, the bathroom takes on a slightly darker tone than the rest of the home.

It’s worth noting that this home’s renovation was completed in 2022, so the cost doesn’t account for inflation over the past two years.

View Zoro Interior's Portfolio

2. 4-room resale flat at Sumang Lane | Renovation cost: $45,000

The obsession with Japandi interiors – a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian interior elements – doesn’t look like it’ll fade any time soon.

Looking at this warm and inviting home, it’s easy to understand why.

The owners hit the sweet spot with custom carpentry and loose furnishing to manage their relatively tight budget of $45,000.

In the living room, the only carpentry is the extended wooden ledge used to support the Japanese bamboo stilts for a one-of-a-kind feature.

For the kitchen and dining, the owners spent more on carpentry – like the sleek dining island with a fluted panel leg and kitchen cabinets that make the most of the available space.

Textured surfaces are all the rage these days for their raw, organic feel, but they come at a higher cost too.

You don’t have to settle for plain walls though: the owners of this 4-room resale flat experimented with paint to add visual interest to their bedroom.

View Ace Interior's Portfolio

3. 4-room resale flat in Ang Mo Kio | Renovation cost: $55,000

With a budget slightly lower than the average renovation cost for a 4-room resale flat, the owners have turned this house into any Scandi lover’s dream.

You’ll find soft colours, clean lines and cosy furnishings at every turn of this home. It’s real bright too, thanks to the unobstructed connection between the living area and kitchen.

What we really love about this home, though, is found in the bedroom.

Opposite the vanity/desk set up by the window, there’s a ‘cabana’ for a closet with curtains to cover it: the perfect solution to save on carpentry costs while also reclaiming some square footage from swing space.

View Ethan Interiors' Portfolio

4. 4-room resale flat at Woodlands Street 83 | Renovation cost: $65,000

This resale flat might remind you of Victorian interiors (and the upcoming new season of Bridgerton).

After undergoing extensive renovation works ranging from hacking and electrical rewiring to carpentry and tiling, the 4-room HDB flat looks elegant and sophisticated.

Clean lines and rich textures aside, the small details like the wainscoting, quilted furniture and gold hardware play an important part too.

In the kitchen, the owners ensured a seamless finish by ‘hiding’ the laundry corner within full-height cabinets that have ample shelves for storing detergent and other items.

Even in the bedroom, the owners have made complete use of the vertical height for vanity shelving. And if you want to create the illusion of even more space?

Try a full-length mirror like so to trick the eye!

View Massing Design's Portfolio

5. 4-room resale flat at Waterway Ridges | Renovation cost: $67,000

With a $67,000 budget, the owners of this home set out to turn it into a tranquil retreat.

In the minimalist living space, natural light filters in and the soft colours and textures create a sense of ‘hygge’, a Danish term that roughly translates to cosiness and contentment.

Since the TV is freestanding, there’s no traditional TV feature wall, but you’ll find a curved wall with a niche for displaying the owners’ decor and memorabilia.

As you might already know, curves are ever-popular for how they soften a space and make it more inviting.

The curves feature everywhere around the home, including the curved archway leading to one of the junior bedrooms which was converted to a walk-in wardrobe.

This layout is definitely worth considering if you have a lot of clothes – and have a bedroom’s worth of space to convert into a wardrobe.

And in the bathroom, you’ll find more curves (unsurprisingly), and a vanity that stretches the length of the wall for both more countertop and storage space.

View Key Concept's Portfolio

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

If you think light and bright homes are overrated, this 4-room resale flat in Punggol might catch your fancy.

Dipped in rich, dark hues, the home might remind you of a sophisticated hotel suite right from the entrance.

The flooring is done up with glossy, veined tiles for a luxurious finish – and this continues to the kitchen.

Here, you’ll spot a wine cooler slotted in among the lower cabinets and a display shelf for liquor – an idea to consider if you love to have a drink every now and then.

If you’re strapped for space in the bathroom, you can consider using mirrored doors for upper cabinets instead of setting aside a dedicated spot for a mirror.

While most would use a single tile for the walls, the owners of this home did up a feature wall of sorts, with two distinct types of wood-like tiles backing the vanity and the toilet bowl.

View Intheory Design's Portfolio

7. 4-room resale flat at Pinnacle @ Duxton | Renovation cost: $87,500

Inspired by wabi-sabi – the Japanese philosophy of appreciating the beauty found in imperfection – this home features warm, earthy tones and textures, like the limewash paint used for the living room walls.

Most striking, of course, is the curved arch which might have you thinking this is anything but an HDB flat.

Considering it’s a unit at Pinnacle @ Duxton, which is known for its unique and creative exterior design, we think this home fits right in.

In the kitchen, you’ll realise that the stove is actually at the island to maximise the available space for the countertops and storage cabinets.

Head over to the bedroom and you’ll discover an aesthetic layering of textures, warm lights and earthy tones that culminate in a soft look.

There’s a customised study desk that extends from the built-in wardrobe at the side of the room too.

If we had such a cosy work space, we might actually look forward to the daily hustle.

View The Local INN.terior 新家室's Portfolio

Explore: 6 Interior Firms Experienced in Designing Wabi-Sabi Homes in SG

8. 4-room resale flat at Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 | Renovation cost: $90,000

Home is home because it’s a reflection of what you like – and for the owner of this 4-room resale flat, they wanted a contemporary home with a rather unconventional finish.

The cement screed flooring emphasises the sheer space in the communal area while giving it a raw look and feel.

To get this look, works like hacking, carpentry and flooring were all part of the renovation process.

Right behind the dining area, which is separated from the kitchen by a structural column (spruced up with blue tiles), you’ll realise that there’s a sliding door leading to the master bedroom.

In another creative twist, the study and changing area is separated from the resting area by a partition, with the divider doubling as a suspended table top.

With all these custom carpentry and more pricey materials like microcement, it’s no wonder the renovation cost adds up to $90,000 – though we can safely say it is a $90,000 well-spent.

View Authors • Interior & Styling's Portfolio

9. 4-room resale flat at Bedok Reservoir Road | Renovation cost: $100,000

Homes that embody wabi-sabi have become Singapore’s new favourite next to a good cup of tea/coffee, so it’s no surprise that the owners of this home went all out with a generous renovation budget of $100,000 to get such a look.

Peek in and you’ll find limewash paint on nearly every wall/floor surface and earthy tones used for the furniture and carpentry (which gets pricey), giving the home an organic look and feel.

By virtue of being a resale flat, this unit has at least a good 10sqm more than a regular 4-room BTO, which gave the owners room for a separate ‘balcony’ with a bar counter by the window.

The kitchen, while closed off, has a half-glass wall, which lets light through and keeps the space feeling open.

And, if you didn’t know, some resale homes come with rather awkward corners.

As you can see, the owners got creative by setting up the dining area here backed by a breeze block-inspired partition and an interesting display niche.

We think it looks rather like a lovely garden courtyard (or ‘riad’, if you’d rather the fancy term).

View Insight.Out Studio's Portfolio

10. 4-room resale flat at Tampines Street 22 | Renovation cost: $112,000

The owners of this 4-room resale flat in Tampines didn’t skimp on quality or design, transforming the space into a minimalist haven with clean lines, uncluttered rooms and a spacious living/dining area.

The whitewashed walls/ceiling and the large-format tiles help to make the communal area look like an even bigger space, emphasised by the black accents.

The kitchen, while simple, is designed to make the most of the space, with a sink at the laundry corner for added convenience.

In the bedroom, you’ll find a solution for space-strapped individuals: a walk-in wardrobe that doesn’t require hacking, with the wardrobe dividing the changing and resting areas.

View Place to Relax's Portfolio

11. 4-room resale flat at Bukit Purmei | Renovation cost: $135,500

With deep pockets, there’s no limit to how much you can splurge on your renovation; for the owners of this resale flat, that amounted to $135,000 – though it’s important to note that a significant amount went to completely overhauling the existing fixtures.

The entryway/corridor into the home was separated by columns and fluted glass, leading into a wide living area with a bold TV feature wall.

You might be wondering where the kitchen is; in fact, the door leading there is part of the wooden feature ‘wall’.

The kitchen has a distinctly cooler tone from the communal spaces, and the L-shaped counters separate the cooking area from the laundry corner next to it.

Head into the bedroom and you might wonder if this really is a 4-room flat.

This is thanks to the owners hacking the adjacent room to build the wardrobes in a recessed style, leaving plenty of walking room leading down to the washroom.

View Space Atelier's Portfolio

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 15 May 2024.

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