Bomb Shelter

Since 1996, bomb shelters have become a compulsory feature in every Singapore home. Though these shelters serve a very important practical purpose (to protect households in times of emergency), its plain, reinforced white door may be a little off-putting, especially when the rest of the home is done up.

Here are some ways you can conceal your bomb shelter and/or make it useful:

1. Camouflage it, either with paint or wrap it up with abstract wallpaper. The most cost-effective way of disguising the door is to colour it in the same shade as your walls.
2. Convert your door into a serviceable blackboard or memo board. Even better yet, if your household shelter is located in the kitchen, it can double up as a handy grocery tracker.
3. Multiply your storage capacity — if your household shelter is placed near the entrance, conceal it with a pivoting door, and get twice the space for your shoes and knick-knacks.
4. Turn it into a feature point at home! Think a mini gallery wall filled with travel magnets or a gallery wall of photos and artwork.
5. Transform it into a hobby den — make it your man’s cave or a walk-in room for your shoe/bag collection.

Do note that the household shelter is designed to protect you during an emergency, and cannot be hacked or drilled. Installing fixtures that cannot be easily removed is a no-go too. These ideas only serve as a rough styling guide. As always, before embarking on any of these works, it always pays to check the BCA website to see if there are any restrictions of permits to be applied.