7 Budget-Savvy 5-Room BTO Renovations Under $50,000

For those on a tighter budget.

With 5-room BTO renovations averaging between $67,000 to $82,400 in 2025, can you realistically achieve what you want in your home for under $50,000?

While a tighter budget does mean being more selective with your choices, it doesn’t stop you from achieving a well-designed home. Here are some 5-room BTO renovations completed within a $50,000 budget to draw inspiration from:

1. A minimalist 5-room BTO in Sengkang with a concealed corridor | Renovation cost: $47,000

Soft neutrals and herringbone vinyl flooring set the tone in this 5-room BTO, giving the living area a polished feel without pushing the budget.

Zoning was a key consideration from the entrance. A foyer partition doubles as a shoe cabinet and storage, subtly screening off the living area while keeping daily essentials (like wallets and keys) within easy reach.

Beyond that, the corridor leading to the bedrooms is concealed, allowing the communal spaces to read as one uninterrupted zone. This keeps the private areas completely out of sight, which is ideal for homeowners who host a lot.

The kitchen follows the same practical thinking. Designed as a double galley, it maximises efficiency with built-in storage, pull-out baskets, and neatly integrated appliances.

On that note, only essential works like carpentry and electrical wiring were carried out in the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms, which helped to keep costs below $50,000.

Contact Mu Collective

2. A modern 5-room BTO in Tampines with light wood accents and a semi-open kitchen | Renovation cost: $46,000

A consistent palette does a lot of heavy lifting in this 5-room BTO. Light wood tones run through the carpentry across different parts of the home, creating a calm look that feels considered rather than bare.

In the living room, a frame TV blends seamlessly into the feature wall, doubling up as décor when not in use. Paired with curved carpentry and soft finishes, it keeps the focus on the overall ambience instead of a single focal point.

The semi-open kitchen, on the other hand, strikes a smart balance between openness and practicality. A movable island sits at the centre of the space, making day-to-day meal prep easier while staying flexible — it can be shifted aside when more room is needed inside the kitchen.

Just outside, a dry kitchen countertop next to the fridge adds another functional surface, an ideal spot for installing a water purifier or coffee machine without crowding the main cooking zone.

Although the carpentry works in this home look quite extensive, it does look like the homeowners opted into HDB's Optional Component Scheme (OCS) for their flooring, which would help them save on upfront renovation costs.

Contact U-Home Interior Design

3. This dreamy 5-room BTO in Tengah with a custom false ceiling design | Renovation cost: $45,000

What immediately draws the eye in this 5-room BTO is the custom false ceiling, which flows gently across the living and dining areas like a soft ribbon of light.

Rather than relying on standard downlights, the designers shaped the ceiling to become part of the architecture itself — subtly defining zones while setting a moody, atmospheric tone throughout the space.

That same language of curves continues at the dining area, where a built-in curved bench hugs the wall. Beyond its sculptural presence, the bench conceals storage beneath the seat, keeping the dining zone uncluttered and fuss-free without sacrificing practicality.

The kitchen layout follows a similarly fluid approach. A dry kitchen counter wraps around the curved foyer partition, acting as a visual bridge into the main kitchen beyond. This creates a natural pause between spaces — useful as a prep counter or serving ledge — while maintaining a sense of continuity across the home.

If there’s anything to take away from this home, it’s that lighting plays an important role in establishing the look and ambience of a space.

It’s a good example of how thoughtful forms, curated furniture, and well-planned lighting can elevate a home — even within a modest renovation budget.

Contact Le Interior Affairs

4. This 5-room BTO in Punggol with a modern farmhouse look | Renovation cost: $44,000

Instead of spreading the budget thin across the entire home, the homeowners take a more restrained approach by keeping the living room largely free of heavy carpentry.

The result is a brighter, more flexible communal space that feels relaxed rather than over-designed, allowing their loose furniture to do most of the visual work.

The bulk of the carpentry investment is channelled into the open-concept kitchen, where consistent tones and finishes create a cohesive, farmhouse-inspired look.

Soft, muted cabinetry is paired with faux-rattan high chairs at the island, subtly introducing texture and warmth without leaning too heavily into rustic territory.

It’s a practical setup that works just as well for light meals as it does for hosting.

In the master bedroom, the renovation is kept relatively simple, with the flooring likely pre-installed by opting into HDB’s OCS.

On the other hand, the homeowners opted for tiled finishes that are durable, easy to maintain, and cost-efficient in the bathrooms—proof that smart material choices can make your home look refined while keeping the overall renovation comfortably under budget.

Contact Charlotte's Carpentry

5. This 5-room BTO at Tengah with warm wood tones and a full-height wall mural | Renovation cost: $45,000

This home makes a strong first impression with a full-height wall mural anchoring the living area. The artwork adds depth and visual drama, instantly elevating the space without the need for excessive built-ins or decorative clutter.

The TV feature wall is framed by see-through display cabinets, offering storage while keeping the living area visually light.

The kitchen is fully enclosed and planned as a practical double galley layout, giving the homeowners generous counter space for cooking and prep while keeping any mess out of sight.

Beyond that, the service yard is fitted with an additional sink to handle laundry tasks more efficiently—one of those small, functional upgrades that quietly improves daily living without blowing the budget.

Contact Paddry Interior

6. A 5-room BTO at Tengah with a hotel-like aesthetic and bar counter | Renovation cost: $49,000

If you’re leaning towards a hotel-like aesthetic for your 5-room BTO renovation, you may want to take a leaf out of this home’s book.

The space is defined by layered textures and a soft, neutral palette, with wood finishes and subtle lighting doing most of the visual work.

Instead of sticking to standard silhouettes, the homeowners introduced sculptural touches like an organically shaped coffee table and a boucle lounge chair, which add interest without overwhelming the space — much like what you’d expect in a thoughtfully designed hotel lounge.

One of the standout features is the bar counter positioned next to the dining area and kitchen. It works as a casual spot for morning coffees or an extension of the dining area, while subtly zoning the space without closing it off.

Paired with concealed storage and warm underlighting, it reinforces that boutique-hotel vibe the homeowners were after.

In the master bedroom, the bathroom entrance is seamlessly flushed with the wardrobe carpentry, creating a clean facade that makes the room look more spacious at the same time.

Like some of the previous examples, the homeowners opted into HDB’s OCS which means that the flat came pre-installed with porcelain tiles in the living room and vinyl flooring in the bedrooms, helping them save on upfront renovation costs.

Contact The Interior Place

7. An open-concept 5-room BTO in Punggol with only the essentials | Renovation cost: $35,000

This 5-room BTO keeps things deliberately pared back, with only essential carpentry introduced where it matters most.

In the living area, curved built-in storage cabinets with display niches provide storage while softening the edges of the space. The homeowners also opted for a loose TV console instead of going all-in with a TV feature wall or built-in console, which helped to keep the renovation costs low.

The open-concept kitchen follows the same logic. A straightforward peninsula defines the cooking zone, keeping the layout efficient for daily routines without unnecessary add-ons.

For the bedrooms, the master was kept simple with a streamlined wardrobe and bedside niche that maximise storage with ample space for the homeowners to add some personality, and minimal renovation works were likely done for the junior bedrooms.

By focusing only on what’s needed based on the homeowners’ daily routines, the renovation stays well within budget while still delivering a cohesive, comfortable home.

Contact Thom Signature Design

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