These days, with everyone working from home and having to spend a lot more time with their family members, having a minimalist-looking home and a clutter-free environment can really do a lot to make cleaning and living as stress-free as possible.
Even if you can’t afford to do any sort of renovation works at the moment due to the virus, you can always reorganise your space with these decluttering tips, or bookmark this page for future reference.
Find out how these Singapore homeowners achieved the sleek, minimalist-style HDB or condo apartment of their dreams:
After receiving the keys to their new home, it was two years before the Changs could move in as Jason and Li Lian designed and managed the renovation of their five-room flat themselves. He also studied the basics of interior design — from the recommended height of a countertop to the different types of hinges and lighting — as well as the 3-D modelling software Sketchup from scratch.
They went through various changes, and took their time to source the materials they liked and contractors they trusted. Carpentry experts from Cheong Cheng Renovation & Carpentry Work, for instance, were instrumental in achieving the desired sleek, minimalist look.
“Minimalism requires precision, and I did not want large gaps between wardrobe doors and other built-ins. So while it may have been one of the carpenters’ hardest jobs, they far exceeded my expectations,” says Jason.
Inspired by an Internet photo, Jason designed the geometric bookcase with handles as well as storage to conceal printers and files.
To achieve a minimalist look, Jason customised a slim TV console with an aluminium frame that concealed the wiring, and stuck with only four colours – light wood, white, grey, and black – throughout their home.
Jason also included some clever ideas in his design such as a dining table that could be tucked under the kitchen counter, and a customised trash chute on the quartz countertop that was linked to a pull-out drawer for easy trash removal.
The open kitchen and dining area feature a roller blind to keep cooking fumes out, and a two-part cabinet that conceals the pantry and display area.
Textured wallpaper with a geometric motif covers the feature wall in the master bedroom. The lamp was from Taobao. A Muji-inspired palette and concept dominates the look. Check out more Japanese-style Singapore homes here!
There is also an underlying geometric theme that started with the 3-D geometric tiles their son Caelen picked for the master bathroom.
To minimise clutter, Jason designed this pull-out toilet roll holder.
The renovation included replacing the common bathroom door with a laminated bi-fold version that blended with the corridor in order to achieve a concealed, seamless finish.
Another challenge was reconfiguring the bathroom layouts to make space for full-length countertops. Li Lian especially wanted a hotel-like ambience for the master suite.
To achieve this, Jason extended one of the bathroom walls so he could build niches for toiletries and conceal the wiring and pipes of the wall-hung toilet and LED mirror.
When the homeowners of this two-bedroom condominium approached interior design firm Erstudio, they wanted a clean and minimalist look that offers enough storage.
A white and light wood palette was chosen for the home, and a dedicated counter was incorporated into the living room feature wall to offer the couple convenience of making their favourite cuppa everyday.
Customising lots of storage space in the home was necessary for this two-bedder apartment that is just the size of 750sqf.
A built-in table in the study was created to ensure workspace is maximised alongside full-height cabinetry.
The bedroom was kept minimalist and neat, and contributed to the $50,000 renovation.
A dark-coloured bathroom juxtaposes with the rest of the home, and lends an intimate, cosy vibe. We love the strip lighting built into the mirror that helps ensure that the vanity area is well lit.
This resale flat in Jurong West, which belongs to a bachelor in his 30s, was given a Scandinavian-inspired makeover for its renovation. Scandinavian design is famous for being minimalist and clutter-free, as it’s all about maximum functionality with minimal elements.
He recruited the help of Jerry Tan from Ally Wong Interior to execute the renovation of his 1,237sq ft home.
Furniture were also sourced from Scandinavian brands to really capture the minimalist design spirit. For instance, this shelving unit is from Danish Design Co.
With open shelves, it’s important to curate and not cram them with items. Use boxes and containers to corral away things you’d rather not display.
On his desired colour scheme, the owner gravitated towards a pastel palette which evokes nostalgic memories of his childhood.
Painting a feature wall is also a great way to decorate without cluttering up your space (just be sure to avoid visual clutter!).
A cut-out nook in the built-in cabinet by the entrance foyer is perfect for placing and conveniently reaching for keys and other important valuables before leaving the house.
The fully-equipped kitchen sports a clean and seamless look – white, vertically-oriented subway tiles mimic the kitchen cabinets. The countertop surface is from EDL.
Hacking was done to the study room such that its now sports a half-wall with glass windows running throughout.
For a cosy vibe, wood-look detailing in the cabinet handles and flooring warm up the overall aesthetic in the bedroom.
Tiles for the owner’s bathroom backsplash are from Hafary. Renovation cost approximately $69,000, without furnishings.
Instead of the usual cabinets that are built into the walls, designer William Chan of Spacedge Designs went with a bolder approach for this three-bedroom condominium unit.
After a $140,000 renovation, this home has transformed into a geometric minimalist space that is not only visually stunning but incorporates many space saving solutions.
The trapezodial structure that anchors the open concept home not only holds a pull-out dining table, but also conceals the entrance to the kitchen and two bathrooms, with the help of doors that flush with the structure. This ingenious design concept in turn frees up more walking space around the apartment.
Above the hideaway dining table are spacious shelves that the homeowners fully utilise to reduce the amount of clutter in plain sight. The pop of blue within this Figured Anigre wood-clad centrepiece also adds an element of surprise to this blocky structure.
The suave living room is set apart from the rest of the light-coloured home with an all-black colour scheme. To keep in line with the minimalist decor, the sofa is upholsterd in black polyester fabric, and the floors clad in black vinyl sheets to blend seamlessly with the black walls. The result is a cosy pod-like space for the couple to kick back and relax.
Another hide-and-seek component in this transformative apartment is found in this narrow walkway that leads to the balcony. When the blue panels are shut and flushed with the wall, the study room hidden behind it completely disappears.
Towards the back of the house is the master bedroom, and a cosy black and blue colour scheme was chosen to match the rest of the interiors.
The strategic use of colours also stems from feng shui principles. As wood is the main element of this place, symbols of water, such as blue, grey, and black colours, needed to be incorporated to balance the space.
The designers of this 3-room HDB flat gave this home a minimalist-industrial look with concrete screed floors and stark white walls, but used furniture and a colourful divider to bring life to the space.
The bedroom is kept separate from the living room by a divider that mimics the old HDB flat gates from the 80s and 90s. Painted in bold colours, they bring life to the monochromatic home.
To carve out a small study, the designer placed the bed in front of the study table in the bedroom, at the same time transforming the headboard into a useful, functional space.
The living room was kept bare with white walls and concrete floors, with a splash of colour from the sofa. A small, raised platform gives the homeowner space for a reading or display corner.
The kitchen, kept equally bare and functional, features plenty of storage space and a simple work top for the owner.
Read Next
Text: Melody Bay, Eliza Hamizah and Domenica Tan/Home & Decor
