What You Can Do with Your 5-Room BTO's Suggested Study Area

For work, play, dining or rest.

At its core, the main difference between a 4-room and 5-room BTO is a larger living area – approximately 10sqm in size – which HDB suggests to be used as a study. While this additional floor area might not seem like much, it’s honestly all you need to carve out a personal sanctuary or comfortably host more people at a go.

To be sure, the following ideas don’t need to be in the exact spot marked out in HDB’s floor plans. You can always reconfigure the placement of your furniture as you please, or work with your ID to change up your unit’s layout.

Read on to find out more!

A study area as suggested by HDB, but maximise storage space with cabinetry…

Needless to say, one of the things you can do with your 5-room BTO’s suggested study area is to set up… a study area. But unless you require a desk that stretches the length of an entire wall, consider using some of that space for storage.

In this example, floor-to-ceiling shaker style cabinets add visual interest to an all-white space, while cubby holes behind the sofa allow the owners’ kids easy access to their toys.

…or reconfigure the space based on the kind of study you need

Depending on your specific needs, though, it may make more sense to enclose the study area, shift its position within the living/dining area, or have one that’s larger than the area suggested by HDB.

For instance, enclosing the suggested study area with glass walls will make it conducive for conference calls while retaining an open, airy feel…

…while building a study nook with pocket doors can help to conceal it when not in use, particularly for those who prefer minimalist interiors.

Use the space to form a larger (spacious) living area

But if you’re already planning to set aside one of your junior bedrooms as a dedicated study room, or don’t require a study area at all, a fuss-free option would be to integrate the suggested study area as part of the living area.

And since you’ll have the space for them, consider adding aesthetic features like a display niche for memorabilia.

For your dining table, so you get to catch up on your favourite shows while eating

Since the suggested study area is located behind where most homeowners would likely place their sofa, positioning your dining table here would allow you to watch the television while having your meals.

And if your unit’s layout allows for an open kitchen, the rest of the communal area can then be used to house other features like a kitchen island, pantry, or both:

That way, you’ll have multiple options on where to host your guests as well!

A secondary dining area/breakfast counter

Alternatively, set up a secondary dining area/breakfast counter with high stools here – perfect for simple meals and even light work when needed.

Or, adopt a combination of ideas in this list, by including both a breakfast counter and cabinetry.

Practicality aside, the owners of this 5-room BTO at Tampines also included a gallery wall of photos, adding a personal touch to an otherwise minimalist interior.

House your home theatre system setup

Enjoy binge watching Netflix series or movie marathons? Consider investing in a quality sound system, and use the suggested study area to house speakers for that all around you audio experience at home.

A home gym to achieve your fitness goals

Save on recurring gym membership fees by building a home gym if you don’t require a study in your 5-room BTO!

That said, be careful to avoid deadlifts and other exercises that involve slamming heavy weights on the ground, as HDB floors aren’t built to endure such load-bearing intensity. Plus, you don’t want your neighbours downstairs to be complaining to the Town Council, do you?

A multi-purpose space

That said, flats are getting smaller, which means it may not be practical to set aside an area just for one specific purpose.

For this reason, many homeowners have opted to create flexible mixed use spaces with minimal built-ins/furnishings, coupled with foldable/sliding glass doors to open up the space when needed.

Use that extra square footage to build a platformed chill out spot…

As aforementioned, these ideas are in no way restricted to the exact spot marked out in HDB’s floor plans.

For instance, if your unit has a view, this additional 10sqm of floor area can be used to build a platform by the window – a spot for ‘me-time’, if you will.

Think afternoon tea, a spot for journaling, or a reading nook with an abundance of natural light streaming in.

…or a foyer/private ‘lobby’

Another way you can use that additional square footage is to create a foyer at your main entrance. This will prevent nosy neighbours from peering in, with an added benefit of serving up looks.

Take a leaf from this 5-room BTO, where the foyer is demarcated with patterned tiles, and includes a cutout for ventilation and light to pass through…

…or this bold all-black entryway partitioned with a display cabinet that makes a strong first impression!

Discuss ideas for your suggested study area with an interior designer

We’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg! For ideas on how to better utilise your square footage in a way that best suits your unique lifestyle needs, click on the button below and we’ll connect you with interior designers – for free!

Love the ideas above, or got a question for us? Leave a comment down below! 👇