IDs Share the Challenges of Renovating a Small Condo, With Solutions

Small condos may be challenging to renovate, but there are solutions aplenty!

Condos are popular housing choices among Singaporeans for a variety of reasons, such as the abundance of facilities, safety and security, status, and more.

But unbeknown to most new homeowners, condos have their own set of unique features that make it challenging to renovate. For instance, some units are even smaller than a regular HDB BTO flat!

So, what can prospective homeowners of such small condo units expect, and do about this? We got from Ivan (Aart Boxx Interior) and Jack (Para.graph) – two experienced interior designers – to tell us more.

The extent of how tiny small condos are

If you think HDB flats are small, you haven’t seen certain condos. According to Ivan, he has seenunits with bedrooms that are only just big enough to accommodate a queen bed and wardrobe, while Jack mentions that living rooms have been getting smaller and smaller over the years, with barely enough room for a sofa, TV console, and table.

Also, unlike HDB flats, newer condos typically have their household shelters outside the unit, near the common staircase. They’re also shared among residents of the same floor, and can’t be used for storage – which means that you’ll have even lesser storage space at home.

Because of these issues, there are a few related problems that arise – so here are some possible solutions you can consider:

Problem #1: Overall lack of storage space

One of the biggest challenges of renovating a small condo is finding ways to create storage while making it accessible. For this, Jack suggests getting creative – like relooking at the walkway, which he believes has a lot of potential.

“I find that walkways are quite underutilised,” he says. “Instead of just being a simple area to walk through, it can be a lot more functional – I would normally propose building shelves or small cabinets along it to create extra storage space.”

Problem #2: Spaces that may feel overly boxed-in with storage units

Of course, while storage is important, you don’t want your home to feel overly boxed-in – especially if the house is already small.

Because of this, Jack stresses the importance of intentional choice. “You’re more restricted on a lot of things, like furniture choices and colours,” he says. “As much as you may want something like an L-shaped sofa, it’ll just cramp up your space. It’s better to be more conservative and get things that can fit into your space well.”

“Similarly, bold and vibrant colours can make a space feel smaller. I recommend going with a lighter, neutral colour scheme, so that the space visually flows smoothly.”

Aesthetically, Jack also highlights a few things you can do. “I would choose something on the far side of the room to be your focal point – like a wall or window,” he says. “This draws your eyes towards the furthest point, which will visually elongate the space.”

“In contrast, features nearer to you – like your furniture – should be more toned down, so that they don’t capture your attention.”

Problem #3: Communal areas with insufficient space for a dining table

If the unit’s communal area doesn’t have the space to fit in a dining table, Ivan would typically suggest shifting the dining area to the balcony. But of course, not every unit has a balcony, or it may be too small to accommodate a proper dining table – so in such cases, he’d propose designing cabinets that can incorporate a built-in dining area.

“It doesn’t just help homeowners save space,” he explains. “It also gives them the flexibility to change the space according to what they need.”

Problem #4: Small junior bedrooms

When you’re dealing with a tiny bedroom, carpentry is going to be your best friend. If the bedroom is used by one person, Ivan suggests sticking with a super single bed, and using carpentry to create a platform, study table, and wardrobe that makes full use of the space.

The downside to this solution is that the manoeuvring space between the table and wardrobe is tight – which means you’ll have little room for a luxurious study chair. But hey – if you’re able to fully utilise every inch of your tiny bedroom, that’s all that matters, right?

Problem #5: Kitchens with insufficient storage space

Like the rest of the space, kitchens are typically smaller than average – which, again, means lesser storage space for your culinary knick-knacks.

Ivan’s solution for that? Creating a small pantry area in the living room to store ‘dry’ items, like appliances, cups, and snacks. “This way, it frees up space in the kitchen for the more heavy duty things, like cooking and washing dishes,” he says.

Problem #6: The air conditioning unit is located in an awkward position

Another thing that Ivan has noticed in small condos is that air conditioning units are usually found in a location that hinders the space for storage cabinets or TV feature walls. Plus, some units come with two airconditiong units in the living room – which Ivan (as well as his clients) feel is redundant.

“If the unit is small, there’s no point having two units to cool the space,” he says. “So, usually, I’ll ask my clients if they want to remove one of them or shift it elsewhere, because this involves extra costs and may affect the warranty from the condominium.”

“Most of them are usually okay with this, but some of them aren’t – they’d rather sacrifice the extra storage space to keep things as is. If that’s the case, then we’ll just revise the design to work within the given space.”

Renovating a small condo: choosing between aesthetics and storage vs renovation costs

According to Jack, renovating a small condo ultimately boils down to a single dilemma: prioritising aesthetics and storage, or minimal renovation costs.

“A lot of people think that renovating a small condo won’t cost much,” he says. “But over the years, I find that that’s not always the case, because these homes require a bit more work to ensure that every inch is fully utilised, while still looking visually appealing.

“In the end, it always comes down to one main dilemma: does the client want their house to be sleek and functional? Or are they willing to sacrifice some of that to keep renovation costs low? It’s something that I feel homeowners should think about before purchasing a small condo, because this choice will involve a lot of give and take.”

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