In case you haven’t heard, the average cost of renovating a home in Singapore is about $50,000. Yes, let that sink in for a moment. Average or not, $50,000 is still no small change... so what happens when you don't have that much to spare for your renovation?
Well, it definitely doesn’t mean you have to settle for less! Proving good design doesn’t equate to major cost, these 10 homes are gorgeously done up – all for a price tag of (gasp) $30,000 and below:
Erratum: Renovation cost of listed home 'Ryokan Dream' by Weiken.com is $38,000, not $20,000.
1. Cozy Tranquility
Applying a palette of restful whites, greys and blues, this condo is the perfect abode to nestle in after a long day at work! Keeping built ins simple and open-plan, its small size manages to fit all the essentials in without coming off cramped. The home has no shortage of smart storage solutions too! Think a combined wardrobe, platform bed and study desk, concealed sliding doors that double as feature walls and more.
Interior Designer: Charlotte’s Carpentry
Renovation Cost: $22,000
2. Bright and Cheery
Think whitewashed spaces are too clinical? This cost-savvy apartment is a case for cheery warmth, even in an all-white space. It’s secret? The use of different textures and off-whites to balance things out. Pale wood finishes act as an accent colour, alongside hints of dove greys that keep the home looking light and bright.
Interior Designer: Carpenters 匠
Renovation Cost: $18,000
3. Ryokan Dream
Shoji screens, tatami-style seating and simple, MUJI-esque décor? Sign us up to live anytime in this stunningly serene 4-room HDB flat, please! No expense is spared – whether it’s that ultra-practical see-though kitchen, built-in dining bench (with under-seat storage) or positively zen-like bedroom.
Interior Designer: Weiken.com
Renovation Cost: $38,000
4. Dark Beauty
Dusky walls paired with rich, wooden accents make this refined abode look costlier than it really is! We think it has something to do with the herringbone wood grain used, lending a structured yet classy air. Not skimping out on practicality as well, space-maximising tricks are applied - such as those strategically placed tinted mirrors. Meanwhile, that innocent looking countertop at the side? It actually pulls out to form a dining table that seats 4. So smart.
Interior Designer: Posh Home
Renovation Cost: $28,000
5. Rhapsody in Blue
Proof that a timeless look doesn’t always have to be black or white, this home plays up its blues in a sophisticated (yet fun) way. The key is to play with colours in small touches instead of going full-on solid. Here, shades of blue can be found in accents like the table lamp and rug, on the home’s eye-catching chevron feature wall, by the window seats and even the built-in TV console. All that is deftly matched with warm neutral hues like golds and woods for a homely, pared-down look.
Interior Designer: Jubilee Interior
Renovation Cost: $29,000
6. Affordable Elegance
As they say, it’s all about looking the part. And classic European-styled spaces often have a way of looking opulent (without costing it). Here, this upscale home is no exception - elegant without coming off over-the-top, detail-heavy elements like its French-molded wall panels are matched with clean lines and minimal décor. Rather, a sense of luxury is accentuated through the use of rich fabrics - think brocade curtains, wallpaper and plush, patterned rugs.
Interior Designer: Fatema Design Studio
Renovation Cost: $30,000
7. Scandustrial Comfort
Packing tons of easygoing charm, this homey HDB flat gets all the basics right (and then some)! Bleached-wood finishes and bold, black strokes bring a hint of edgy, Scandustrial style to the space. But the best part about this $25,000 renovation? It manages to include every girl’s dream feature – a walk-in wardrobe ‘room’, complete with a vanity table to match.
Interior Designer: Zenith Arc
Renovation Cost: $25,000
8. Angular Strokes
With angular shapes as its main theme, this smartly designed home uses various shapes to its advantage. Complementing the prism-like TV feature piece, a connecting console below angles up to form a functional dining bench. On its side, a boxy partition piece doubles as a convenient bar counter to hit up some drinks. And it doesn’t stop there – in the bedroom, similar angular strokes criss-cross to form a feature wall that works as a bedhead.
Interior Designer: Colourbox Interior
Renovation Cost: $26,000
9. Barnyard Cool
Apart from the earthy tones and rustic barn-style doors, what really steals the show in this stylish apartment is its structured, open-shelves. Unfolding like a piece of origami into eye-catching, modular cubbies, these floating shelves don’t just look great on their own; they work as perfect display frames as well for all sorts of quirky knick-knacks.
Interior Designer: Juz Interior
Renovation Cost: $24,000
10. Monochromatic Simplicity
When you’ve got a view like that, flaunt it, don’t fight it! And that’s what this home exactly does, keeping built-ins, colour and décor to a minimal to frame that to-die-for balcony area. Using a high-contrast palette of whites and blacks, linear built-ins lend a visual punch and a sense of structure. However, things are kept subtle in the bedroom, where pale woods and soothing grey cement screed exude a sense of quiet restfulness.
Interior Designer: Lemonfridge Studio
Renovation Cost: $25,000
No matter the budget, a dream home is never out of reach
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