Reno Spotlight: Inside a Collector’s 5-Room HDB Flat Designed to Host

July 11, 2025

A look into the most-saved renovation project of the week.

One of the joys of owning a home is being able to invite your friends and family over, whenever you please.

In this week’s spotlight, we take a look at a 5-room resale flat in Tampines that not only has generous square footage, but also the ideal setup for hosting large groups.

View this project by Renologist

About the renovation

Location: Tampines
Property type: 5-room resale HDB flat
Size: 120 sqm
Design style: Modern
Renovation cost: $130,000
Designed by: Renologist

What we love

Feature	Why we love it
Spacious communal area with multiple seating options	Able to comfortably host large groups of over 15
Curved sofa with sound system	Conducive for movies and conversations alike
Cafe-like island in the living room that doubles as a display cabinet for collector’s items	Additional counter/dining space and adds a personal touch
Demarcated foyer with full-height shoe cabinet	A distinct functional zone that opens up to the rest of the communal area

Inside this week’s most-saved home

At 120sqm, this apartment is slightly larger than a typical 5-room BTO and boasts a roomy living area. Using that to their advantage, the owners worked with Renologist to carve out multiple spots where members of the household can spend quality time together, or host guests comfortably.

From a large curved sofa to a cushioned window settee, a dining area to an island with high chairs, there’s undoubtedly no lack of seating space.

Practically, this also means that there’s no need for everyone to partake in the same activity when there’s a large group over. Some can watch a movie at the TV area (with a home theatre sound system, no less), while others can play a board game at the dining table, or simply chat at the island — all in the same space, without disturbing one another.

The window settee also doubles as storage

And while 2025 interior design trends in Singapore lean towards a neutral palette and clean lines, this one sets itself apart with an accent sofa and settee cushions in a rusty orange, coupled with a quirky cloud-shaped coffee table to boot.

Then, for an extra personal touch, part of the island next to the sofa is used as a display cabinet filled with the owners’ collectible figurines.

Warm cove lighting adds to the cosy atmosphere in this home

If we were to take a guess, this island probably serves as a secondary dining area, since there are high chairs that can be tucked in neatly on the other side. Alternatively, it can also be used to set up a buffet line when there are guests over, given the limited space available on the dining table.

Either way, we love how the concave fluted panel details and curved edges soften the look amidst all the clean lines, and how the rattan chairs add a resort/cafe-feel to the setup.

Meanwhile, an entire stretch of wall is fitted with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, giving the owners the storage space they need while keeping the home clutter-free.

Another detail we appreciate is the difference in flooring at the foyer and the rest of the communal area: retro tiles for the former, and vinyl for the latter.

Outlined in an organic curve, this not only serves as a “no shoes beyond this point” demarcation, but also subtly guides visitors to the living room.

And speaking of shoes, there’s a full-height shoe cabinet that matches the cabinets we saw earlier, with a gap at the bottom for shoes to air before stowing them away.

(P.S. Do this if you want to avoid having a smelly shoe cabinet!)

Lastly, the bathroom makes use of two clever (albeit simple) design tricks. For one, glass is used for the shower cubicle to keep the space bright and open. For another, a triangular corner vanity utilises otherwise dead space.

The result: a bathroom that feels much roomier than the typical HDB flat’s.