HDB homes sit at the heart of Singapore living. Whether it’s a brand-new BTO or a character-filled resale unit, an HDB flat can be thoughtfully transformed into a space that shapes, and elevates, the way you live. Over the years at Pivot, we’ve designed many HDB homes across Singapore, from Bukit Merah View to Dawson to Sengkang. What we’ve seen is simple: when an HDB renovation is done right, it doesn’t just create a beautiful house. It creates a lifestyle.
This guide brings together our on-ground experience, the renovation journeys of our clients, and insights from the wider Singapore design community to help you plan your HDB renovation with clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of personal direction.
This image shows a warm, open family space where the kitchen and living area flow seamlessly through soft curves and natural materials.
There’s a persistent myth that HDB flats are restrictive, narrow hallways, low ceilings, fixed layouts. But with thoughtful design, an HDB becomes a canvas for creativity. We’ve seen clients sell their BTO and upgrade to a resale HDB simply because they wanted more space and character. This is more common than many think. A resale flat often offers:
Our KM-LD project at Bukit Merah View is a great example. The home was designed for a family of five, including Tiger the cat. The flat’s generous layout allowed us to rethink typical room configurations, build in cozy social spaces, and carve out private pockets for everyone. Older HDBs give designers the freedom to innovate because there’s simply more room to work with.
Every HDB project begins by understanding lifestyle, not from trends, but from real habits and needs. Across our HDB portfolio, lifestyle drove the design direction:
A blend of calm Japanese aesthetics and functional space planning for a couple who loved quiet moments at home.
Bright, airy minimalism for homeowners who wanted their home to feel like a clean slate, clutter-free, soft, and almost gallery-like.
Warm, grounded textures for owners who resonated with organic materials and a “back-to-nature” palette.
A cat-friendly home with elevated pathways, scratch-safe materials, and built-in pockets for a mischievous fur friend.
A timeless, hotel-like ambiance using warm browns and soft lighting to create a calm retreat after long workdays.
In Singapore, HDBs vary greatly in shape and age, but the design intention should always be the same, create a home that supports your routines, comforts, hobbies, and long-term plans.
This image showcases a cosy, character-filled dining space where natural wood, patterned accents, and abundant daylight come together to create a warm, hotel-like retreat for everyday living.
One of the biggest renovation mistakes homeowners make is rushing. A realistic HDB renovation schedule should look like:
This is where we:
Good design takes time. If you rush, you’ll end up:
Giving yourself buffer allows the home to shape around your lifestyle instead of forcing your habits into a rigid design.
HDB renovations generally involve:
Some HDBs, especially older ones, require additional rectification work such as:
This is why starting early helps keep stress levels low and decision-making clear.
A fresh, nature-inspired bathroom where organic textures, handcrafted details, and leafy motifs come together to create a calm, back-to-nature retreat within an HDB home.
Resale flats offer charm and flexibility, but they also come with their own considerations.
This is one of the most important things to check before purchase.
If the upstairs unit has water seepage issues, you may face:
These issues can be tricky because they involve your neighbours, meaning coordination and additional time.
Older flats may have walls that are uneven, floors that slope slightly, or past reno work that wasn’t properly done.
If the bathroom is more than 15 years old, tiling and waterproofing may need full overhaul.
For homeowners who are worried about roaches, upgrading to magnetic Maxden rubbish chutes can significantly improve hygiene.
Despite the challenges, resale flats often produce some of the most soulful homes because age gives the space more personality to build upon.
A bright, cozy Bedok Reservoir View home designed with cat pathways, scratch-safe materials, and playful hideaways.
Renovation costs have risen significantly in the past few years. Materials, labour, and carpentry have all gone up. But thoughtful planning saves money without compromising design quality.
Here are practical, Pivot-tested ways to stretch your budget:
Wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, and storage benches are worth investing in.
TV consoles, platform beds, and decorative features can be kept loose or modular.
Many homeowners are now sourcing:
It’s affordable, and the range is wide, just measure accurately. We do this for clients too, helping them identify:
Hacking is expensive. We often recommend working with the existing layout rather than trying to force a concept that requires excessive demolition.
Bathrooms and kitchens cost the most to renovate because of tiling, plumbing, and waterproofing.
A clean, timeless design ages better and is more affordable to maintain.
This Bedok North HDB renovation opens up sightlines and airflow to create a brighter, more social, and seamlessly connected living space.
We’ve seen a shift in how homeowners think about their HDB homes. Here are some trends that are both feasible and beautiful:
Common in our project at Bedok North and Tanjong Pagar projects. It enlarges sightlines, increases airflow, and creates a more social environment.
Popular among resale homeowners with larger footprints.
Warm lighting, stone textures, tinted mirrors, and open vanities, like in at King’s Court Boon Keng.
Especially for WFH-heavy homeowners. Sometimes carved out from a corner of the living room, sometimes an entire room.
From our project at Belvia‘s to Tiong Bahru, from cool white tones to organic textures, homeowners are moving away from generic “Pinterest looks” and designing more personal, expressive spaces.
Yes, it’s possible, and we’ve done it.
Our Dawson project integrated a bathtub inside the master suite, creating a calm, spa-like retreat.
This King’s Court Boon Keng HDB is crafted to support the homeowner’s routines and hobbies, turning daily living and personal passions into a joyful, light-filled space.
This is the part many first-time homeowners underestimate. A well-thought-out interior design home:
When designed with intention, even a small HDB becomes a powerful foundation for the life you’re building, whether as a couple, a young family, a multi-generational household, or a pet-loving home.