Getting an interior designer (ID) to help craft your dream home is really expensive, right? Well, it’s possible to live within your means and achieve the home you’ve always wanted – it’s all about finding the right ID who knows what you want and help control your costs so that every dollar is well spent.
Check out these 13 modern homes in Singapore that had renovations of $20,000 and under:
Using warm tones like beige and various shades of a wood is a great and inexpensive way to make your home look more luxurious and designer.
Take cue from this homeowner and pair the concept with similar-toned furniture to keep within the theme.
We love how they transformed this balcony space into an extension of the living room with comfortable wood floorings and roller blinds.
Cost of renovation: $18,000
Location: Toa Payoh
Budget doesn’t allow you to go all out in every corner of your house? You don’t need that – just focus on one element and make it a standout. Just like this homeowner who went with an impressive home library.
It doesn’t even need loud colours – a simple wood and black theme works just fine here.
Cost of renovation: $16,000
Location: Whampoa
Want your space to look “expensive” without blowing your budget? Go with a brown or gold theme that will instantly add a luxe feel to any space.
Think textures and materials as well – a leather couch, taffeta curtains, feature walls in laminated wood.
Make the bedroom an oasis of calm too with clean, uncluttered lines and a neutral palette.
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Punggol
A quick way to make your home more lively is to go techni-colour! This apartment is all about using colours in a fun, retro way, from the colour-blocking walls in the living room to the game-themed wall decals in another room.
A bright yellow wall instantly adds cheer, and oversized beanbags are a great way to bring in more comfort for both your household and your guests.
Read also: 10 Easy Ways To Add Colour To Your Home
Your home design is a reflection of your personality, so don’t be afraid to go all out. The pixelated wallpaper design brings an unexpected element of fun too!
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Punggol Field
When on a small budget, why not go whimsy for character? Here, the homeowner uses canvas prints and fun patterned furniture to give his living area a quirky feel. Feature walls in matte blue – both in the living room and the bedroom – is a nice way to add a cool vibe that is unlike any other. Best part? It’s not expensive at all!
You can’t really go wrong with a deep blue and grey combination complemented with warm pendant lamps and a raw-finished wood bedside table.
Read also: 8 Modern And Beautiful Wall Paint Colours For Your Home
The slender kitchen is a breath of fresh air, with patchwork-style floor tiles that are so understatedly cool.
Cost of renovation: $18,000
Location: Petir Road
Here’s another white meets wood design concept. Keeping the entire condo sleek with glass, wood and white panels give it a designer’s touch while sleek furniture and cool gadgets add a boutique feel.
Read also: 7 Genius Ways To Make Your Home Look More Luxurious
Perfect for intimate house parties!
A beautiful chandelier, padded headboard and elegant bay window area gives the master bedroom a serene sophistication.
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Hillview Avenue
Read also: Clever And Stylish Bay Window Design Ideas To Maximise Space
This homeowner keeps it clean, bare and easy on the eyes – with contemporary furniture and warm touches. The white-on-white concept with some wooden elements is a popular and proven concept for those on a lower budget.
A bold feature wall makes the space pop and is a clever way to separate the dining area from the living room without making the place feel smaller.
Cost of renovation: $14,000
Location: Trivelis
An easy way to jazz things up is to add splashes of colour and texture through pieces of furniture. In this two-bedroom condo, it’s the personalised framed photos, “picnic-style” dining area and vintage cage lights (see next photos).
Instead of having individual chairs, this homeowner opted for benches in different styles to give the space a more communal feel. Great for gathering with loved ones over a yummy homemade meal!
Despite its compact space, the open concept kitchen, dining and living area makes the home look much bigger than it really is.
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Telok Kurau
Read also: 10 Beautiful And Functional Designs For Tiny HDB Kitchens
Properly curated furniture and the right fittings can give a home a designer showroom quality to it. Keep everything in the same colour palette, like this home: beige, white and the occasional touches of black; to give the home a very contemporary designer feel.
An uncluttered living room can ease tension, relieve stress and make you feel happier coming home.
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Yishun
Read also: 8 Ways To De-Clutter And Get Cash At The Same Time
What we really like about this simple set up is the use of exposed brick walls that gives it a nice industrial feel that isn’t too avant garde.
Mirrors – as seen here – is a clever and inexpensive trick to make you your space seem larger.
All one really needs in the bedroom is a comfortable bed and a TV, honestly. (Well, those and a few other things…)
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Tampines
Walls in different textures and shades helps makes the space more upmarket. Try these various methods: Wood, brick, mirrors and even a zebra-print wallpaper (see next photos) that’s offbeat, but cool.
Read also: 10 Ingenious Ways To Decorate Your TV Wall
For a luxury hotel vibe, focus on the walls, ceiling and lights. Or read this!
Leather + zebra print = killer combination! You’ll definitely be working in style at home.
Cost of renovation: $20,000
Location: Segar Road
Don’t be afraid to give your home a theme. Just check out this homeowner’s nautical theme with its chockfull of unique and cute ideas. Keep everything else on a bare so that the theme stands out. You can also consider upcycled materials, such as driftwood for a dining table, which can make quite a statement.
Carry the theme throughout the house, such as shelving, to really make it uniquely yours.
Cost of renovation: $13,000
Location: Pasir Ris
Simple really does it in this four-room HDB. Rattan and wooden furniture gives a warm and homely feel. Also, the right mood lighting, colourful pillows and keepsakes gives it an intimate touch.
The country-themed dining table and chairs really amp up the cosy factor, while the horizontal mirror helps to enlarge the space.
Accentuate a small kitchen with helpful lighting, a pretty backsplash and lots of hooks for extra wall storage space.
Cost of renovation: $9,800
Location: Tampines
For more home design inspiration, read 8 Modern HDB Maisonettes You’ll Want To Live In, How To Create A Cosy Scandinavian-Style HDB Flat and 10 Clever Ways To Organise And Decorate A Small Home.
Text: Qanvast / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew
This article first appeared on Qanvast. Qanvast connects homeowners and home professionals via a trusted mobile platform, and can help match you with up to five designers that suit your style preferences and budget. Download the free app (available on the App Store and Google Play) for details.
