5-Room Resale HDB Flat Renovations: From $42K to $150K

Great looks you can dress your home in, for a whole range of budgets.

Barring XL-sized units like 3Gen flats or maisonettes, 5-room resale flats are often one of the largest HDB properties available in Singapore’s housing market. With floor sizes ranging from 107 sqm to 123 sqm, these units have plenty of room on the inside, making them suitable for larger households.

However, due to their size and the amount of work required to restore them to tip-top shape, the cost of renovating a 5-room resale HDB flat is often fairly steep. Based on 2025 renovation cost estimates, you can reasonably expect to fork out between $84,300 to $97,000 to get one of these spacious homes fully revamped.

Still, there are 5-room resale HDB flats that have been overhauled for less – so we’ve put together a list starting with homes that cost less than the expected renovation cost… and close off with those that cost much more!

1. 5-room resale HDB flat along Compassvale Walk | Renovation cost: $42,000

Adopting a classic white-and-wood look, the owners of this 5-room resale HDB flat in Sengkang went with a simple but timeless makeover.

Notably, its open concept encourages family interaction and allows the owners to keep an eye on their young kids in the living room – whether they are cooking in the kitchen or working in the semi-open study.

To keep renovation costs low, only essential built-ins with practical purposes were included in this makeover (even the TV feature wall doubles as storage!), and minimal works were carried out in the bedrooms.

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2. 5-room resale HDB flat at Punggol Residences | Renovation cost: $60,000

Taking on a different approach, the owners of this next example at Punggol kept all their rooms enclosed, including a half-walled home office that’s conducive for meetings while allowing light to pass through.

Apart from a chic and functional island-dining table combo, key features include a concealed corridor entrance that separates the communal and private spaces, and a curved entryway ‘lobby’ that really adds to the Japandi vibe going on.

Given the fact that this unit was built only in 2014, we’d hazard a guess that things like electrical wiring and plumbing didn’t require any work done. Coupled with minimal structural changes, this likely helped to keep renovation costs low.

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3. 5-room resale HDB flat at Toa Payoh Court | Renovation cost: $72,000

If you told us this is a photo of an Airbnb in Australia or New Zealand, we’d totally believe you.

As opposed to a television, a massive open-concept kitchen is the heart of the home as it seamlessly extends into the living area, making it an ideal setup for hosting.

Props for how the designer wrapped the island around the structural pillar, turning what would have otherwise been a visual eyesore into a practical centrepiece.

Interestingly, both its bathrooms are starkly different, with one bearing a cafe bathroom aesthetic and the other looks like it belongs in a resort.

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4. 5-room resale HDB flat at Punggol Field | Renovation cost: $80,000

With the amount of floor-to-ceiling carpentry this 5-room unit has, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it cost $8,000 more than the previous example to renovate.

For one, the household shelter’s entrance was concealed so that the cabinets surrounding it have a seamless look.

For another, the kitchen is divided into wet and dry sections, with the latter having a peninsula as extra space for food prep and light meals.

And because 2 of the owners’ 3 kids share a bedroom, the walkway between their beds doubles as a storage platform, eliminating the need for a conventional wardrobe.

As a result, both kids now have room for their own study table/gaming area. Talk about space maximisation!

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5. 5-room resale HDB flat along Pasir Ris Drive 4 | Renovation cost: $80,000

With a massive curved sofa and a generous amount of negative space in the living/dining area, this next 5-room flat in Pasir Ris looks much larger than it actually is.

On one end, there’s a settee for a cosy reading nook. On another, the balcony has a bar counter for a morning cuppa or light work with a view, and its bifold doors can be opened up fully to ‘expand’ the communal area.

The kitchen, however, remains enclosed to keep the fumes in when heavy cooking is in place. But as an older (larger) resale unit, it still has more than enough space to fit an island. Imagine trying to do the same in an enclosed BTO kitchen – impossible!

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6. 5-room resale HDB flat at Compassvale Bow | Renovation cost: $85,000

Minimalist interiors have been growing in popularity because they’re sleek and timeless, and this 5-room flat is a prime example.

Here, day curtains are used to reduce glare while still allowing natural light to enter and reflect off the white walls for a bright and airy feel. Meanwhile, a mix of wood and grey tones add visual contrast and prevent the space from looking flat.

Like most minimalist homes, it’s also got a ton of storage space to keep clutter out of sight. Think floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets and bedroom wardrobes, which contributed to a sizeable portion of the renovation cost.

Pro-tip: For a seamless look and illusion of height, extend your curtains all the way up past the structural beams.

Plus, in this instance, the full-height wardrobe next to the curtains further emphasises this effect for extra oomph!

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7. 5-room resale HDB flat at Boon Tiong Road | Renovation cost: $85,000

While this next 5-room resale HDB flat also cost $85,000 to renovate, the main difference is that it plays around with many different materials (while the previous example had lots of full-height carpentry).

For example, patterned tiles adorn the balcony floor while its single wall is painted a honey yellow. Coupled with the decor, the space has a retro feel.

Thanks to the glass between the balcony and the adjacent junior bedroom, the owners can enjoy a direct view of the study with its custom full-height bookshelf.

The colourful palette is pared back in the kitchen for lighter, calming tones. On the practical side of things, the full height of the kitchen is utilised to get the maximum storage space.

While there were few built-ins in the living room, you’ll find more in the bedrooms – like this wardrobe which doubles as a partition for a walk-in wardrobe set-up.

This way, you can enjoy privacy (if your windows are close to other buildings/the ground floor), and avoid disturbing your partner while getting ready.

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8. 5-Room Resale HDB Flat at Macpherson | Renovation Cost: $90,000

Featuring a concrete-look island and rattan high chairs, this dry kitchen is reminiscent of a beach bar – but it’s not the only thing that brings resort vibes to this resale flat in Macpherson. The living area also comes with a plush dining nook and daybed, similar to those you’d find on vacation.

Further in, the laid-back atmosphere continues in the bedrooms and bathrooms with similar rattan, wood and concrete textures. The result: a calming sanctuary to unwind until the owners’ next vacation.

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9. 5-room resale HDB flat at Anchorvale Link | Renovation cost: $90,000

Sporting a different look, this next ryokan-inspired home brings Japan to Singapore.

Considering that the transformation involved extensive renovation works from hacking and carpentry to tiling and electrical rewiring, it’s no wonder it added up to $90,000.

All around the home, you’ll find a serene palette of earthy tones and materials that mimic natural elements, like the ‘raw’ limewash feature wall and the stone-textured tiles at the entryway.

Even at the suggested study area, the settee resembles the traditional tatami flooring found in traditional Japanese inns, and serves as a nook for the homeowners to lounge and relax.

In the bathroom, you’ll find a mix of stone-like elements for both the flooring/walls and the vanity, which has a stone basin.

One more feature we love: the finger mosaic tiles backing the mirror, which add even more character to the space.

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10. 5-room resale HDB flat at Jurong West | Renovation cost: $98,000

As paradoxical as it may sound, this next home doesn’t look out of place in 2025 despite its vintage-inspired elements.

Deep wood tones, arches, shaker-style cabinets and patterned tiles are callbacks to interior features popular in eras gone by. In fact, even details down to the brass drawer knobs pay homage to them!

Inside, the walk-in wardrobe is fitted with rosewood-look cabinets and dark herringbone flooring that bring to mind English movies set in the early 1900s.

Meanwhile, the master ensuite has the same effect as the rest of the flat’s interior, sporting vintage references yet looking like it could belong in any era.

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11. 5-room resale HDB flat at Senja Road | Renovation cost: $110,000

Another home full of character, this 5-room resale in Bukit Panjang has an unconventional open-concept layout that connects the kitchen, living/dining rooms and the balcony.

The dining island is angled towards the kitchen, creating a visual distinction from the living area, and done up with breeze blocks for an old-school feeling.

The cooking space is also separated from the service yard with glass blocks, complementing the retro floor tiles used there.

The stone bench and partial brick partition connecting to the balcony amp up the organic feel of the spaces; with the use of the sliding glass windows and doors, it can also be closed off when necessary while letting the light through.

Walk into the master bedroom and you’ll find a clever set-up with a wardrobe that’s a literal walk in from the door.

If you need ideas on making an angular layout work, get tips from this home

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Explore: Awkward Layout/Niches at Home? Here Are Practical Design Solutions

12. 5-room resale HDB flat along Yishun Ring Road | Renovation cost: $150,000

After taking an entire year to plan his own renovation, ID Yang Horng spared no expense in creating a spacious, open-concept home to bond with his family even when he has to work from home.

But in order to achieve this, a gut reno was needed. Every non-structural wall was hacked to give him a blank canvas that he could completely reconfigure to suit his family’s needs.

The results were well worth it though. It’s now a perfect case study for ultra-seamless minimalist interiors – one filled with floor-to-ceiling carpentry that conceals many a ‘secret’ cabinet and doorway.

Apart from playing with different tones to prevent the space from looking flat, different textures were also employed. Our favourite? The cave-like headboard in the master bedroom that’s at once rugged yet somehow oh-so-refined.

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This article was originally published on 22 March 2022 and last updated on 15 May 2025.

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