A full home renovation or a complete home interior design refresh can be really confusing and overwhelming for someone with little to no experience. How and where do you get started? What’s the direction that makes the most sense, given the structural and spatial characteristics of your home?

Many people ask these questions before getting started with a renovation on their own or hiring a Singapore home interior design company. In the absence of the right professionals with adequate knowledge to address these questions, the results can be disastrous.

Working with professionals in the fields of home interior design and renovation always makes sense. The parameters of the project and your budget aren’t really determining. In fact, hiring the right team can help you save money and make the most of the available space.

Home Guide has been around for decades and we know what it takes to completely transform (or simply enhance) a Singaporean home. If you’re wondering whether picking the team is the right choice for you, here are the reasons why the decision makes sense.

Beautifully Tailored Solutions

While going for well-known interior design styles means some seeing common elements repeated again and again in different homes, experienced home interior design companies with a creative team know how to tailor those to individual needs to create results that really stand out.

It’s not possible to adopt a cookie-cutter approach to home design and give the owner an adequately personalised solution. Rather, lifestyle preferences, aesthetic preferences and spatial characteristics will all have to be examined.

Home Guide is known among home interior design clients for our level of customization that we offer each time. It doesn’t matter if you’re a movie fanatic, a sports enthusiast, an artist or a scientist. We know what it takes to create a living space to compliment and elevate your lifestyle and compliment the activities you enjoy doing.

Take a look at our Home Guide residential portfolio. It features some of our latest work, as well as older projects executed for various clients. It also demonstrates our capability to deliver beyond expectations, no matter how complex, diverse or specific the project parameters are.

A to Z Solutions (So You Wouldn’t Have to Worry about a Thing)

People hire home interior designers for different reasons. Some want to benefit from a concrete aesthetic vision and a good understanding of furniture, accessories, colours and arrangements. Some want comprehensive project management that encompasses every single part of the renovation.

If you fall under the last category, a partnership with Home Guide will benefit you the most.

Home Guide’s team offers clients comprehensive solutions for a worry-free renovation or home upgrade. Once we take over the execution, you’ll be freed from having to worry about a single thing.

We can handle every single aspect of a residential property renovation. From conceptualisation, furniture and material selection and procurement to renovation permit issuing and hiring the right contractors, we will manage anything. Even the finishing touches will be carried out on your behalf. Once we’re done with the home renovation, you’ll simply need to take your shoes off, put some comfortable slippers on, sit down on your brand new sofa and relax.

Every single part of an interior design project can be stressful and difficult to carry out if you don’t have the knowledge and understanding of the processes involved. This is why Home Guide will handle everything. Not only will this process be faster, it’s also going to bring down stress levels and help you feel excited about the possibilities.

Complete Understanding of HDB Requirements

An interior design project cannot be carried out in any way you deem appropriate. There are rules and limitations you’ll have to take into account, especially when it comes to wall hacking, construction work and other kinds of residential remodelling.

The HDB has an extensive list of guidelines that pertains to what’s feasible and what isn’t when it comes to a residential interior design project.

You need to understand and follow these guidelines in order to make the home change legal and avoid eventual consequences in the future.

Home Guide has carried out a big number of HDB projects through the years. We understand the requirements and we can also handle the necessary paperwork. In some instances, you’ll have to obtain an official permit for the modification of your flat. We can get the document issued on your behalf, securing a worry-free renovation.

Also, Home Guide is an HDB licensed company. Working with an HDB licensed interior designer gives you even more confidence in the complete legitimacy and feasibility of the apartment changes being recommended.

Effortless Communication and a Client-Centric Approach

We believe there’s one thing even more important than experience in the realm of interior design. That thing is effortless, open and transparent communication.

The Home Guide philosophy has been client-centric right off the bat.

We believe in our ability to create the perfect home for each Singaporean family that approaches our team. This is why we listen and try to learn about our potential clients as much as possible.

The focus on communication and understanding has helped Home Guide create and maintain a stellar reputation for such a long time. We have clients coming back to us time and time again. We also receive numerous referrals that stand as evidence of customer satisfaction.

So, if you want a completely worry-free, personalised and modern interior design renovation for your home, Home Guide is the team to approach. Contact us today to schedule a no-obligations first consultation during which all of your questions will be answered

Over the years, many nightmarishly disastrous interior design fads have emerged. Luckily, natural selection played its role and many of those went through much-understandable extinction. Some bad and stereotypical trends, however, have somehow managed to stick around.

What are some of these trends that we need to put an end to today? What are some better alternatives to explore in place of these fads? Let’s examine some interior design trends that have to be put to rest as soon as possible.

Too Much of…

2020 saw the execution of many purist concepts in the world of interior design. From pristine minimalist homes to heavy country-style designs – we have seen them all. While sticking to a single theme and being true to it is obviously a good idea, too much of a good thing can suddenly become not.

An all-white minimalist living room is already predictable and even a little bit boring. Adding a few eclectic elements while sticking to overall minimalism can create points of visual interest and bring fun into the design.

Singapore home interior design companies are always looking for ways to mix and match different elements that work together. Mixing styles, especially when such choices have functional and lifestyle value, will definitely remain a prominent trend for many years to come.

Chevron Prints

A chevron print consists of inverted V-shapes that create uninterrupted zigzag lines.

If you’re a fan of interior design, you’ve definitely seen chevron prints in more than one magazine or portfolio.

They can look very fun but the problem with chevron prints is that they’ve become heavily overused. A few years ago, these patterns were well sought after. Their time, however, has most definitely come to an end.

Today, the zigzag appeal of chevron is tired and overly busy. This is why interior design professionals and decorators are recommending an alternative. Geometric shapes can be so diversified and fun. Often, they work well with florals and even tropical designs. Going a bit bolder and more unorthodox will definitely pay off, especially if patterns are chosen to work harmoniously with the rest of the interior design.

Macramé Elements

Macramé became very popular back in the 70s and millennials have brought it back over the past few years. There is, however, something quite dated about macramé accessories and the time has come to say goodbye.

Vintage is definitely making a comeback and it’s being embraced by both millennials and generation Z members. There are, however, much more practical and elevated concepts than the good old macramé that deserve to be resuscitated.

The problem with macramé is that it always tends to have this DIY look, even if you’ve spent a lot of money on it. The knots and the overall construction can easily go wrong. In addition, macramé elements will rarely work well with the rest of a contemporary interior design concept.

Painted Bricks

Looking for an alternative to bare bricks, many home and office owners experimented with painted brick walls over the past few years. One of the colours most often used in the execution of such projects is white.

The problem with exposed bricks that are painted over is that they lack warmth and timeless appeal.

There’s something exceptionally inviting and desirable about au natural exposed brick wall.

Going for white bricks, however, can result in a number of problems. For a start, such décor elements lack warmth and cosiness. Also, once you paint over bricks, you’ll find it nearly impossible to restore them to their original condition. If you change your mind about the brick wall, you’ll probably have to start to scratch with the execution.

Standard White Trims and Doors

We started with perfection in terms of interior design conceptual executions. One colour that adds to this sense of perfection is white, especially when it comes to trims, window frames and doors.

Having trims, doors, window treatments in a matchy-matchy pristine white results in an interior design that is too sterile. As already mentioned, everything being matched perfectly is too boring. Not only that, perfect whites are very difficult to maintain and they’ll eventually start yellowing.

Going for darker and natural tones makes a lot more sense. Also, it’s not essential for all trims to feature one and the same tone. A colour palette of similar and/or contrasting tones can work really well, once again creating a few lovely points of visual interest.

Heavy, Bulky Curtains

In the past, curtain sets spoke of luxury and sophistication. The heavier the fabric – the better. Today, such bulky curtains are more of a nuisance than an elegant touch. They gather dust, they’re difficult to use and they can be nearly impossible to take down, wash and put back up again.

Bulky is out in most aspects of interior design. Today, Singaporeans are looking for streamlined, functional solutions. Heavy velvet curtains aren’t one of those.

A space can be lightened up instantly through the addition of horizontal or vertical blinders. Blackout curtains are also available to get rid of daylight completely without needing a heavy set of fabric pieces hanging against the window.

So, what’s one conclusion that can be drawn by looking at the interior design trends that need to be put in storage? The single, most important take away is forget about perfection. Home interior design is meant to be both functional and fun. You’ll never get both of these elements by following all the classic interior design rules blindly and making sure that the entire space is properly coordinated and meticulously planned. A little bit of messiness will always pay off by adding unexpected elements and excitement to home décor.

Furniture is one of the most important interior design elements that most people can envision in their brand new Singapore home or office. Quality furniture is beautiful, functional and exceptionally comfortable. Bringing all these elements together while staying on budget, however, is not an easy endeavour.

Singaporeans doing furniture shopping and arrangements are guilty of various mistakes that interior design professionals can spot right away. Some of these result in unnecessarily costly purchases while others can ruin an interior design concept altogether.

If you’re seeking ways to create the perfect home interior design, you will need to avoid the following major furniture mistakes at all costs

Getting Furniture That’s Too Large for Your Space

This is probably the number one furniture-related mistake that suggests the interior design concept was executed by an amateur rather than a professional.

Good design, whether residential or commercial, is all about flow and scale. Elements have to correspond to each other to create visual harmony. If one piece of décor is out of proportion, it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Putting an oversized, over-stuffed sofa in a small living room will immediately get the space to feel much smaller and more cramped than it actually is. And once you have acquired your oversized pieces for a small Singaporean flat, the issue will become very difficult to fix.

Always measure your rooms and the furniture pieces that you want to buy. It’s very easy to create a scale diagram on paper that will show you exactly how furniture will occupy the space. Don’t rush into buying just because you like something. You may end up with a piece that’s really out of proportion.

The same applies to placement. Positioning a large coffee table in a wrong way will impede movement in the room. Flow is very important to make spaces functional (and safe!). When buying oversized furniture, you’ll have to be even more careful and strategic about placement than in the case of obtaining streamlined items.

Too Much Furniture!

Going big isn’t the only mistake connected to size and space. Having too much furniture is a similar mistake that can have almost the same negative effect.

A space can easily become cramped when you have too many furniture pieces in it. The mistake connects to flow again and fixing the situation through a rearrangement will be difficult. After all, having way too many pieces will limit the amount of space, no matter how these items are arranged.

Remember that furniture has to be functional first and foremost. If an item is not serving a specific purpose, it has no place in your home or office.

If you’re attempting to handle interior design on your own, stick to the following simple mantra: less is more! Start with the absolute essentials for the room. A bedroom, for example, cannot go without a bed. Storage furniture will also be required while everything else is usually open to debate.

Form Over Function

When doing furniture shopping, many homeowners tend to prioritise the wrong things.

Form over function is a typical rookie mistake that we’ve seen committed by so many Singaporean homeowners.

What exactly does it mean?

The concept of form over function refers to the appearance of furniture pieces or a particular layout format that people embrace. A bed, two nightstands and a dresser is a standard layout for a bedroom that most homeowners will embrace without asking questions. Are all of these items, however, functional and required?

Always question the use of a certain piece of furniture before buying. If you don’t, you’ll end up with an item that looks pretty but that most of the household neglects or under-utilises.

Furniture Placed Against the Wall or Blocking Windows

Let’s take a look at a common furniture arranging mistake. Many people who are not interior design professionals will use walls as guidelines. They’ll typically position furniture pieces against the wall in an attempt to create some movement and open up space.

Placing furniture against the wall, however, isn’t always optimal (not to mention the fact that such arrangements tend to be quite boring).

A space can be divided in functional zones by grouping furniture pieces together. This approach is especially beneficial for larger flats and open-space Singaporean apartments. If the living and dining rooms share a space, for example, you’ll be losing functional space by pushing the largest pieces against walls.

Having furniture positioned against the wall creates the added risk of blocking windows and reducing the amount of natural light entering the room. There should always be some space between the window and the larger pieces in order to avoid such a mistake.

Buying Furniture Sets

Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought an entire furniture set for a certain room from the store, just because the solution is easy and convenient. Most of us have been there. Not only are pre-designed furniture sets easy to get, they are often available at a discounted price. So, getting all of the pieces for a room and saving some money may seem like the ultimate deal. In reality, it isn’t.

Furniture sets usually have a pretty generic appearance. They tend to be bland, as the purpose is to match as many lifestyles as possible. Such sets aren’t reflective of your personality. As a result, the interior design of your home will lack character and spark.

Matching different pieces is a lot more difficult but the result will be highly rewarding.

If you don’t know how to accomplish the task, partner up with an experienced home interior design company. Seeking out individual furniture pieces doesn’t have to be expensive. There are numerous vintage and budget-friendly choices out there that will be perfectly matched to the interior design concept you’re trying to execute.

Thinking of a Single Function

The final mistake we’d like to mention today is furniture selection that’s based on a single function.

This is especially detrimental if you live in a small, space-starved flat.

To avoid the issue, think of everything you’re going to be doing in a room. For example, the living room will be a place where you’ll watch a movie, read a book, relax, play board games with the rest of the family. Now that you know what you’ll be doing there, can you think of furniture pieces that serve more than one purpose?

A coffee table, for example, can have an underneath storage compartment for books, magazines and board games. This way, a single piece will be used instead of getting a coffee table and shelves combo.

Interior design conventions and standard wisdom can be helpful when buying new items for your home. Sometimes, however, being creative and unorthodox in your choices can really pay off. Don’t feel pressured to embrace standard furniture just because everybody else is doing so.

A bit of professional assistance can go a long way when it comes to designing the perfect home. Our home renovation company in Singapore has enough experience to guide you through the numerous choices on the market and help you realise an idea that’s well matched to your lifestyle.

Don’t hesitate to check out the Home Guide residential portfolio and get a better idea about our interior design philosophy. Alternatively, you can contact us and get started with design conceptualisation right now!

For some people, it’s very easy to pinpoint the interior design style that’s going to look best in their brand new Singaporean home. They are in love with minimalism, Scandinavian chic, the Boho style or maybe even industrial design.

In other instances, it’s not so easy to pinpoint the specifics of interior design that make the most sense. You may have some concept but that idea would be very difficult to classify or exemplify through the elements of just one style.

If you cannot decide what interior design style is the best one for your project, you’re not alone. Many people have some idea but it’s too vague or maybe even too eclectic to classify as one thing or another.

What’s the best approach in such instances? Should you try to narrow it down or should you give your interior designer complete freedom? The right approach usually falls in between these two extreme ways of getting the job done.

Use Visuals Instead of Words

Do you have some concept of what interior design you want? If that idea doesn’t belong to one distinctive interior design style, you can try using visuals to illustrate the concept.

Luckily, internet provides so many sources of information and inspiration.

Start by combing through social media like Instagram and Pinterest. You’ll discover many hashtags and image categories that fall within the realm of home improvement and transformation. Bookmark all of the ideas you like, even the ones that aren’t exactly like what you’re looking for. The more illustrations you have to show, the easier you’ll find it to communicate with your interior designer.

Colour schemes and mood boards can also be beneficial.

A mood board is a thorough visual presentation of what you like. It’s not just one illustration of the perfect living room, for example. Your home mood board could provide information about colours you like, furniture pieces, architectural elements, lighting fixture and other aspects of home improvement.

You can use online printouts, magazine cut outs and even your own drawings and diagrams to create a comprehensive mood board. Don’t be afraid to brainstorm for many ideas and details (even if some of the visualisations seem silly). By playing around with numerous concepts, you’ll give your designer a very comprehensive vision of what you have in mind.

Check Out Interior Design Portfolios

Looking at residential interior design portfolios is another great idea.

You may not know exactly what interior design style you like. You will, however, recognise projects that are reminiscent of what you want for your home.

Each interior designer has their own signature, a specific way of getting the job done.

Some professionals adopt a more minimalist and utilitarian approach. Others go ornate and rustic. What matters the most in such instances is finding a design team that can execute what you’re looking for.

Most reputable Singaporean interior design studios make examples of their work available for viewing online. Do a basic search to discover the choices and pinpoint the types of execution that you really like.

Should You Leave It All to Your Interior Designer?

The short answer to this question is no.

Most interior designers need some input from clients to start conceptualising a project.

No two people have the same lifestyle, taste and preferences. Just because a certain interior design concept has worked for a Singaporean flat similar to yours, doesn’t mean the exact same idea will give you complete satisfaction.

Chances are that even if a designer comes up with some concept from scratch on your behalf, you wouldn’t be happy with the outcome.

In other words, you may not know what you want for your home but you definitely recognize what you don’t want. Hence, such an approach will be very time-consuming and it will be much more expensive to execute than providing a few pointers.

Even if you have a very vague idea of what you like, do communicate such information with interior designers. If they’re skilled and experienced enough, they’ll know how to “extract” additional information to give you a home project you’re going to fall in love with. Starting with a few basic guidelines and a couple of pictures is often enough to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

Not Knowing What You Want Is OK if You Have the Right Partner

Reputable Singaporean interior designers like the Home Guide team often work with homeowners who are unsure of what they want.

And that’s ok! It’s the job of an interior designer to guide you and help you focus. Together, especially through adequate and thorough communication, you can come up with the characteristics of your dream living space.

Let the Home Guide designers take you on a wonderful journey of discovery. We will unwrap everything that you like and the ideas that are bound to work well with the characteristics of your new flat. Don’t worry if you have too many visions right now. These can be fine-tuned and narrowed down.

Contact Home Guide now to schedule your no-obligations first consultation. Bring visuals and ideas, even if you don’t believe these are 100 per cent relevant. The more you can share with the design team about your perfect home, the easier the execution of such a project is going to be.

Many Improvements to Consider

As you can see, you can explore a wide array of strategic changes. These renovation goals will depend on your current budget, the specific resource conservation goal you have in mind and the characteristics of the property itself.

A reliable, experienced partner can help you make the choices that will have the biggest impact. Obviously, this is the goal if you want to qualify for affordable financing and if you want to save significant amounts in the long run.

Home Guide has the know-how and the practical knowledge to bring such a vision to reality. We’ve helped numerous Singaporean flat owners modernise their living space and embrace the latest green living trends.

Contact us now to schedule your first consultation and commence the journey towards self-sufficient, greener living. We are a home interior design company with in-house home renovation contractor services who offer clients a wide range of home improvement packages that can make such renovations much more affordable.

If you’re going through a home interior design and renovation for the very first time, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed by all of the preliminary steps. Choosing the right interior design team, working on the concept, buying materials and overseeing the execution can all be overwhelming for someone lacking experience.

What does it take to select the best interior design company for your home interior design project in Singapore without wasting time and money?

The answer is fairly simple. A couple of considerations carry a lot more weight than other factors you may consider. Focusing on these essentials will help you narrow down the choices quickly and efficiently.

How interested are you in greener, more sustainable living? Changing your home in an environmentally-friendly way can give you more comfort and better savings when it comes to utilities. This is why considering the switch makes sense both financially and in terms of lifestyle.

Going for an eco home improvement right now can also help you qualify for a really favourable loan. The product, first of its kind in Singapore, got announced recently and is expected to provide a new stimulus for home upgrades.

Greener Home = Better Loan Conditions

On the last day of March 2021, OCBC announced a new home and renovation loan that incentivises the introduction of environmentally-friendly home improvements.

This is the first loan of its kind in Singapore and the product is characterised by low interest rates. There are currently two choices – an Eco-Care home loan and an Eco-Care green renovation loan. The home loan is the cheapest one in Singapore right now, offering an interest rate difference of 0.2 per cent in comparison to the Sibor-pegged rate of 1.4 per cent.

Those who qualify for the Eco-Care home and renovation loans will also be eligible for Sunseap Energy solar installation plans that offer a single $80 bill rebate.

Qualifying for the New Eco-Friendly Home Loan

Needless to say, a home will have to meet various strict requirements for its owners to qualify for the new OCBC loan.

There are three primary areas of examination, as far as green home improvements go. These include home design, the installation of energy-efficient appliances and the introduction of smart home features aimed at the conservation of resources (like motion-controlled lights, for example).

Home owners have to pass THEEA in order to get the loans. This is an online tool that assesses the energy consumption of a home on the basis of characteristics that the owner inputs. Depending on the data that’s fed into THEEA, a pass or fail rating will be provided.

The test is available on the OCBC loan application page, giving home owners a good idea about the changes they’ll need to introduce in order to qualify for affordable bank funding.

Ongoing Financial Incentives Also Available

The low interest rate isn’t the only stimulus that OCBC is relying on to promote the new loans and encourage at-home sustainability.

After they have moved into the new home, residents can take the THEEA test once again. To receive ongoing rewards, home owners need to achieve energy consumption below the national median for the respective flat size.

Those who meet the goal will receive reward points called OCBC$. The points that the family has collected can then be exchanged for an array of rewards. These will be provided via the STACK marketplace – the OCBC loyalty platform that introduced the new range of Eco-Care rewards early on in March 2021.

Many Ways to Go Greener

As already mentioned, three primary areas can contribute to the low energy consumption required for loan qualification.

The good news is that so many projects can be carried out to reduce the usage of resources and bring down a home’s carbon footprint.

Something as simple as going for energy-efficient appliances can have a profound effect.

A three-tick air conditioner consumes electricity worth 930 dollars per year. In comparison, a five-tick air conditioner consumes energy worth 650 dollars. The calculation is similar for other categories of energy efficient appliances.

While these have a higher upfront cost, the savings produced are significant. Experts have calculated that the difference in purchasing price can be covered via the savings produced over the course of the first two years of use. After that, the appliance will help the household save money by bringing down the electricity bill.

Further savings can be encouraged through smart interior design improvements.

Smart and green home design can have so many characteristics. Good insulation, air sealing, energy-efficient and smart light systems, green water heating, green space heating and the right window treatments can all work together to reduce energy consumption even further.

Reducing energy bills through smart interior design is also possible through the selection of the right colours, by choosing a high quality flooring material and even by selecting suitable furniture and knowing where to place such pieces.

Many Improvements to Consider

As you can see, you can explore a wide array of strategic changes. These renovation goals will depend on your current budget, the specific resource conservation goal you have in mind and the characteristics of the property itself.

A reliable, experienced home interior design partner who are also at the same time a home renovation contractor can help you make the choices that will have the biggest impact. Obviously, this is the goal if you want to qualify for affordable financing and if you want to save significant amounts in the long run.

Home Guide has the know-how and the practical knowledge to bring such a vision to reality. We’ve helped numerous Singaporean flat owners modernise their living space and embrace the latest green living trends.

Contact us now to schedule your first consultation and commence the journey towards self-sufficient, greener living. We offer clients a wide range of home improvement packages that can make such renovations much more affordable.

If you’re going through a home interior design and renovation for the very first time, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed by all of the preliminary steps. Choosing the right interior design team, working on the concept, buying materials and overseeing the execution can all be overwhelming for someone lacking experience.

What does it take to select the best interior design company for your home interior design project in Singapore without wasting time and money?

The answer is fairly simple. A couple of considerations carry a lot more weight than other factors you may consider. Focusing on these essentials will help you narrow down the choices quickly and efficiently.

Just asking for a quote is not enough. If you’re not specific in your approach, you’ll probably get a pretty generic answer and an even more generic project brief from potential contractors. This is why you need to dedicate some time to understanding the details that matter the most to you and highlighting those in the communication with interior design professionals.

Always Start by Setting a Budget

One of the quickest ways to eliminate the interior design companies that aren’t a good match to your project is the setting of a fairly specific budget range.

A budget for interior design upgrades depends on many things.

Firstly, and most importantly, it’s determined by the scope and range of renovation works required to execute the vision to completion. Some processes are much more important than others. Here’s a detailed breakdown of common renovation types and how much these cost. If you need to carry out wall hacking and construction work, that would cost you extra.

The materials you choose for the execution of the project will also add to the expenses. Using natural marble in the kitchen is obviously going to be costly. Budget-friendly tiles and composite materials that look just like the real thing can be used as a substitute.

Finally, the pricing policies that interior design companies use will also determine how much you’ll have to spend on the renovation. Some charge hourly fees, some charge fixed amounts. Do a bit of research to explore the differences. Also, keep in mind that some interior designers offer their clients affordable solutions like promo packages in an attempt to make professional executions more affordable.

When you go through these preliminary considerations, you’ll get to set a fairly realistic project that will guide the rest of your efforts aimed at finding the right interior design team.

Come Up with as Many Project Specifics as Possible

The job of an interior designer is to come up with a project on your behalf. They, however, can go down so many roads that a bit of input from the client will be required.

To speed up the contractor selection process, try to come up with as many details of the upcoming interior design transformation as possible.

You can accomplish the goal in a couple of ways.

Looking for inspiration on social media like Pinterest will give you a great start. Explore as many galleries and boards as possible. This way, you can pinpoint the specific interior design style that your eye seems to be drawn the most to.

Speaking of style, there are many. You should definitely learn a bit about the main differences. Minimalist, industrial, Scandinavian, Boho, Japandi – these are just a few of the choices that have many fans across Singapore. If you don’t know how to pinpoint your favourite interior design style, follow this guide to find the answer.

By this point, you should have a fairly good idea about what you generally like. It’s now time to pinpoint specific details within the realm – a colour scheme, materials, textures and even furniture/accessories that appeal to you.

When you have all of this information, you can begin browsing the portfolios of interior design companies. Every interior design professional has a certain specialty. Your job is to discover a team that has executed projects similar to yours in the past. Such knowledge and a good understanding of the style will always result in a good outcome.

Get Your Most Important Questions Down and Schedule a Consultation

The final quick step you can employ to discover the perfect interior design team is to schedule a consultation with the shortlisted candidates for the project.

At this stage, you should have a clear idea about a couple of interior design companies that you’d like to work with. The consultation should be the final step in the selection process. It should provide the little details and the essentials on communication that will help you make up your mind.

To make the most of such a meeting, do draft some questions in advance. You may want to inquire about the experience of interior designers, their past work (and referrals!), whether they are HDB-licensed, how prices are calculated, how deadlines for execution are set, will you benefit from any warranties and whether some form of visualisation will be included in the cost of the project.

This meeting is also a chance for your interior designer to ask questions and get a better idea about the scope of the project.

Following the first consultation, you should get a detailed quote and a document outlining the stages of the project. The more detailed this document is, the quicker you’ll make up your mind about working with the respective company.

Home Guide would love to take you on as a client. If you take a look at our portfolio, you’ll find out that we’ve executed a vast range of stylistically different projects in the past. We’re also HDB licensed and we have decades of experience in both residential and commercial interior design.

Contact Home Guide today to schedule your free of charge first consultation or have some of your questions answered.

Getting ready for upcoming BTO launches? The next one is going to take place in May 2021, as per the latest HDB announcement. It will feature offerings in two mature estates (Bukit Merah and Geylang) and two non-mature estates (Tengah and Woodlands).

Most of the offerings in all of these estates fall in the 3-room and 4-room categories. Additionally, 5-room flats will be available in Tengah and Woodlands.

The 4-room BTO flat is one of the most popular types of residential real estate. It’s big enough for a family to enjoy while also being fairly easy to maintain in a good condition. Many young couples choose this type of flat as it ensures affordability and some room for growth.

If you’re one of the prospective real estate owners looking forward to the acquisition of a 4-room BTO flat, you’re probably wondering about the best renovation ideas for these spaces. Through a couple of strategic upgrades, you can increase the functional appeal of the space to match your lifestyle.

As HDB BTO renovation professionals having decades of experience, we can recommend a couple of interior design ideas bound to have the most pronounced impact on the quality of your living space.

Hidden Storage Units Maximise Space

A standard 4-room flat has an area of about 90 square metres and three bedrooms. These characteristics make the space perfect for a young couple that’s planning a family. Even people who have young kids can make quite a lot out of a 4-room BTO flat by choosing smart storage solutions.

This is one of the Home Guide specialties since clever storage can accomplish so much.

Sliding closets, storage units hidden behind furniture or decorative panels – the choices are so many. Such storage ideas optimise crevices and corners that would otherwise remain under-utilised. At the same time, the storage unit will also double as a piece of furniture or a décor item. This way, it can bring multiple uses to the flat without taking up space.

Smart storage and hidden units are a perfect choice for the hallway, the bedrooms and the living room. Each of these spaces holds a number of items that can be concealed for more convenience and easy cleaning.

Here’s an example of a smart storage unit that we created for one of our clients:

The feature wall camouflages the bomb shelter and a common bedroom. in addition, it keeps the wiring tucked behind neatly.

The study area and the kitchen have similar feature walls that act as multi-purpose pieces.

Scandinavian Design Is an Excellent Choice

If you’re seeking a modern and clean renovation idea for a 4-room BTO, Scandinavian interior design will be an excellent choice.

Looking clean and minimalist, Scandinavian design is also very functional. There’s nothing unnecessary or purely decorative to it. Form and function work together to make the most of every single item placed in the home, be it a piece of furniture, a storage unit or a decorative piece.

There’s one misconception about Scandinavian design and it revolves around the choice looking cold and sterile.

This doesn’t have to be the case. While neutral tones and ergonomic choices dominate Scandinavian design, pops of colour can be added through textiles and art. These liven up the home without diminishing its functional appeal.

Here’s a simple and beautiful example of just how exciting Scandinavian (or Scandinavian-inspired) design can be:

The home is very simple and very clean. The bright blue niches, however, add a pop of colour and bring a sense of youthfulness into the space.

We carried the theme effortlessly throughout the home.

Apart from the blue accents, we utilised similar materials in almost identical colour schemes to create visual consistency. Lots of white have also been integrated into the design to create the appearance of more space and light.

Industrial Design Also Works Well

Industrial design can give spaces much more personality without the risk of adding clutter.

Exposed brick walls, industrial-looking lights, minimalist flooring and finishes, as well as vintage/steampunk furniture and accessories will give the flat a ton of character.

Industrial home interior design projects can be fairly affordable to execute. If you’re drawn to something a bit more unusual and visually-stunning that wouldn’t cost a fortune, this style is one to consider.

Get Rid of Walls and Partitions

Anyone looking for a more extensive transformation should think about removing walls partially or in their entirety.

Getting rid of a few walls will create open spaces (for example – bringing together the kitchen and the living room while still keeping functional separation through the introduction of elements like a kitchen island). This choice instantly creates the illusion of more space.

If you’re looking forward to such an extensive renovation, partner up with HDB licensed contractors.

The HDB has very specific requirements and guidelines when it comes to the removal of walls. Certain parts of the flat cannot be altered because such changes may threaten the structural integrity of the building. HDB certified interior design companies know what’s acceptable and what kinds of extensive reconstructions will get you in trouble.

Bring Your Personality to the Space

All of the ideas mentioned in this guide give you a glimpse at what’s possible.

A 4-room BTO flat, however, is incredibly versatile. Just about any renovation idea can be carried out if you have a good concept and a partner to bring it to reality.

Your personality and lifestyle should guide the choices you make in your living space. Just because Scandinavian or industrial designs work well in such flats doesn’t mean you’re limited to these two choices.

Take some time to plan upgrades focused on comfort and promoting your lifestyle preferences. Think of your job, your hobbies, the things your family likes to do together. By focusing on such essentials, you will make home renovation decisions that aren’t superficial.

If you’re a classy and sophisticated person who loves entertaining guests, for example, we have a visual idea for you:

The entertainment space dominates the living room. At the same time, the furniture and the accessories are kept minimal to ensure enough space for hosting parties.

A stylish dining area opens into the living room. This way, the flow of the space is maintained, allowing people to easily get from one part of the flat to another.

The kitchen has also been set up as a social space. At the same time, it provides ample work surface and all of the essentials required to impress everyone with delicious, home-cooked meals.

Are you impressed by what you see? Are you starting a journey towards bringing out the inner light hidden inside the walls of your brand new four-room flat?

Home Guide can help you in this quest. We offer our clients a good selection of BTO promotional packages to make quality affordable.

If you’re ready to start planning the renovation of your brand new home, besides being an excellent choice for your interior design needs, we are also your home renovation contractor of choice. Contact the Home Guide team right now.

One year ago, many of us believed that we’d be back to the world as we know it in a couple of months.

Unfortunately, such optimistic views haven’t changed the reality of the situation.

Today, we are still in Phase 3 of Singapore’s Circuit Breaker. Some restrictions and limitations are still in place to protect public health and curb the eventual spread of the novel coronavirus.

One of these limitations pertains to gatherings. As of now, Singaporeans can only have eight guests attending an event. Because of this limit and due to some safety concerns, many people opt for hosting small gatherings at home.

If you’re one of these people, you know well enough that the right environment is needed to host and entertain guests.

A couple of home renovations and interior design improvements can be completed for the purpose. Here’s how to design your Singaporean home for hosting and guest entertaining.

Entertainment-Ready Doesn’t Mean Large Homes

Many (wrongfully) believe in the notion that you need a large home in order to entertain.

This isn’t the case. A small flat can be the perfect place for small gatherings.

In home interior design, scale matters much more than size. This means every room can appear tidy and spacious if the right furniture pieces and accessories get chosen.

A scale that’s out of proportion (for example – a bulky sofa in a fairly small living room) will lose its charm and comfort. It will also impede the movement of people and effortless communication.

Good coordination and an eye for detail will be required to determine the dimensions and scale of home items that are well-suited to the specifics of the flat. Opting for streamlined and even smart furniture that serves multiple purposes is always a good idea. Such pieces can ensure convenience while entertaining and also give the space enough air to “breathe.”

How Will You Be Entertaining?

Home interior design aimed at guest hosting isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

How do you intend to entertain and what kinds of people will you intend to have over? Party animals who enjoy good music amd dancing? Avid gamers who enjoy a competitive game? Culinary connoisseurs? A more intellectual crowd interested in classical pieces and a stimulating conversation?

The manner in which you plan to entertain guests will help you pinpoint the home improvement that make the most sense.

For some Singaporean home owners, a large kitchen and a beautiful dining room will be essential. Others will focus setting up of an entertainment room that brags a full cinema or immersive gaming experience with top-of-the-line audio equipment.

Think about your preferences and what your friends/relatives enjoy. These considerations will help you come up with interactive home improvements suited to the requirements of the specific activity.

Setting the Mood with Lights

Do you know what’s one of the easiest ways to change the mood in the room? Yes, the title of the section has probably given the answer away. Lights, especially adjustable lighting systems, can be the perfect atmosphere builder.

Through dimmed, warm lights, you can create an intimate ambiance for a friendly conversation. Bright lights are a good choice for parties during which you intend to play games or focus on other group activities that require good illumination. Lights systems that are dimmable or even smart lights that allow for setting the exact colour, warmth and brightness are essential for setting the mood for movie nightss, intimate dinners or having little home dance party.

Layered lights, spot lights and functional illumination can all be employed. The same applies to chandeliers and fixtures. Not only do these impact the quality of the light, they also have an effect on the aesthetics and the style of the room.

Don’t Forget the Outside Space

If your home is endowed with a balcony or a beautiful terrace, that additional space will provide wonderful opportunities for hosting and entertaining guests. Do plan for some exterior improvements if you want to be considered the ultimate host.

Some beautiful outdoor furniture, an exterior bar and a couple of charming lanterns can quickly transform your balcony into a magical outdoor party venue.

Once again – the size of the outdoor space shouldn’t discourage you from offering that possibility to guests.

A few of your guests would want to go out and catch a breath. Some would want to enjoy the beauty of the night-time Singaporean landscape. It wouldn’t cost you a lot to offer such possibilities in a safe and comfortable way.

Choose the Right Contractor for Interior Design and Home Improvements

Adding a new function to your home’s interior is easy. You just need to have a specific idea about what you want to do and a solid partner to bring that idea to reality.

Hosting guests in 2021 will be an enjoyable activity to try out in 2021 and beyond. We are entering a new stage of life that will necessitate adjustments. This is especially true for socialising. If you cannot go to parties and large gatherings, you can definitely bring those to your space.

Home Guide can help you accomplish the mission.

We specialise in residential interior design and we manage the process from A to Z. If you partner up with Home Guide, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing, be it conceptualising or executing the upgrades.

Check out our residential portfolio here or contact us today to start working on your home improvement vision.

There’s a common misconception among homeowners that interior design serves a purely aesthetic purpose. While a beautiful arrangement is very important, it forms only the surface level of what a design team can accomplish. Interior design aims to balance numerous elements – space, line, forms, light, colour, texture and pattern to achieve a visually pleasing outcome.  At the same time, the interior design team must focus on the quality of life within the realms of the available space and the function they should fulfil for the inhabitants.

The home interior design team from Home Guide work hard to understand the lifestyle and distinctive needs of their clients in both functional and aesthetic terms. Based on these preferences, interior design choices can be made to enhance the inherent assets of a flat

Lifestyle as a Functional Determinant

The way you live will have a pronounced effect on your residential space.

Some people want dynamic apartments that focus on wellbeing, fitness and a good work-life balance. Some want comfort and luxury, no matter how much it costs. Some want a home conducive of many activities and lifestyle choices at the same time.

Very often, lifestyles fall in one of the following categories: the host who loves entertaining people at home, the budding chef, the literature-loving intellectual, the home office entrepreneur and the entertainment lover who has always dreamed of having a home cinema (or a concert hall!).

Through the years, we’ve worked on functional spaces for all of these homeowners.

In the following sections, you’ll discover examples of functional interior design that has been specifically conceptualised to meet the distinctive needs of a certain individual.

Functional Spaces to Enhance Lifestyle

There isn’t a universal approach towards the creation of a functional space at home.

The Home Guide team has partnered with numerous Singaporean home owners through the years. Based on their visions and lifestyle preferences, we have worked on functional home interiors that have very specific and distinctive characteristics.

To give you a better idea about how functional interior design works, we’ve added a couple of project examples based on the lifestyle types mentioned in the previous section.

A Functional Space for Hosting Parties

Ensuring sufficient seating for guests isn’t always easy, especially if you occupy a smaller flat. Luckily, smart interior design can “incorporate” extra seating into a certain home area, turning it into a functional space.

Check out the custom-made bench that spans the entire length of the living room in this 5-room Bishan HDB flat.

Not only does it look super cool and clean, it also doubles as a storage unit. The bench is sufficiently big to hold lots of personal belongings, keeping the space free from clutter and perfectly organised.

On top of that, it adds warmth to the space through the selection of colour and material. Since it doesn’t occupy half of the room, the bench allows for some people to be seated while others walk around, dance or socialise in any other way the host deems appropriate.

The Ultimate Home Library Experience

Are you one of the people who enjoy the scent of printed books? It’s so distinctive and enchanting that a digital alternative will never suffice.

Unfortunately, hosting a large book collection in one’s flat isn’t an easy job. Books require enough space and the right storage conditions to be kept pristine. Just putting your favourite novels in boxes and storing them wherever isn’t going to cut it.

Floor to ceiling shelving is the perfect functional choice for book lovers. After all, the love for literature isn’t just about reading the books. It’s also about treating them with respect and displaying a collection (whether it consists of Shakespearean classics or graphic novels) in the best possible way.

When arranged and displayed in a beautiful way, books can actually become a part of the interior design.

This floor to ceiling shelf unit we created for a Bukit Batok BTO flat is also meant to control some of the adverse conditions bound to damage the books over time. Glass doors are incorporated in the design to keep the delicate pages protected from humidity and temperature changes. At the same time, these are very easy to slide, providing effortless access to some exciting reading material.

Bringing the Office Home

The past year has shown the world that standard workplace arrangements have to change. Work from home is now more common than ever before and it will probably continue being the norm in the years to come.

Putting together a functional, dedicated home office is not easy. The challenge is especially difficult to overcome when a flat owner has limited space for the purpose.

Let’s check out the Home Guide vision for a beautiful yet functional workspace within a flat.

For a start, we kept the space as clean and distraction-free as possible. At the same time, we introduced al of the essentials required to complete a work day successfully.

The focus fell on a comfortable desk and chair combination. We decided to position the desk right by the window, giving the occupant as much natural light as possible. To complete the functional space, we added custom cabinetry. As you can probably spot in the pictures, the cabinets are sleek and very streamlined. The lack of handles is intentional – it minimises clutter and gives the office occupant a clean, distraction-free environment for better focus.

Heavenly Culinary Experiences for the Home Chef

Cooking and food preparation aren’t just essential for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. For many people, gastronomy is a relaxing activity and a passion that they’d like to pursue on a daily basis. Such home owners are obviously in need of a clean and modern kitchen that stimulates all kinds of culinary experiments.

Here’s an example of such a functional space that we put together for this Bukit Batok Central homeowner.

Custom-made cabinets have been designed to utilise enough space that cannot be put to another use and to allow for better and more effective organisation of pans, pots, cutlery and other kitchen essentials. Every home chef knows that pan, pot and plate clutter can ensue easily in the absence of the right organisation tools.

Apart from looking gorgeous, this space is also designed for functional appeal and not just to be pretty. Open concept kitchens are becoming more popular than ever before but they’re not always the best choice. If heavy cooking is taking place at the home, the open kitchen would easily disseminate the scent throughout the home. Having a door to contain odours inside the kitchen is the best choice for cooking enthusiasts and all other flat inhabitants.

For this particular apartment, we didn’t choose a traditional door. A sliding glass panel was incorporated in the kitchen design. Functional, easy to open and to close, it works perfectly well with the clean minimalism of the room.

A Space for the Home Entertainment System Enthusiast

People who love movies, music, games and other forms of interactive entertainment system know just how important the right experience is.

For anyone who is a true movie enthusiast, or an audiophile would want watching movies or listening to their favourite concert in optimal surroundings. This would require the addition of a an entertainment functional zone to the home.

Here’s one such space we created for a client.

The multi-purpose entertainment centre benefits from a motorised projector screen that brings the cinematic experience to the home. Needless to say, this is a lot more than TV set. It’s a choice for actual movie connoisseurs who understand the importance of the right ambiance.

Custom panelling has also been chosen to minimise distraction. It also conceals the storage space behind, once again ensuring a two-in-one solution. Additionally, the panel positions audio and other entertainment systems smartly for an optimal impact on the viewing/listening experience.

What Does the Functional Space of Your Dreams Look Like?

So, what are you looking forward to in your brand new home? Cooking delicious meals and turning yourself into the next Masterchef? Spending quality time with your loved ones, ensuring entertainment like no other host? Being active and working on your fitness?

Whatever your goal is, the Home Guide home interior design company can help you create the perfect functional zone for the purpose. All you have to do is let us in on the vision. The rest is up to us, our imaginative approach and decades of experience in the field of residential interior design.

Contact Home Guide today to start customising and bringing your dream home to the real world.

Condo interior design and renovation projects provide so many opportunities for an upgrade. The bathroom is one of the spaces that many home owners will pay special attention to. Not only is it a functional room, it can also be turned into a relaxing sanctuary through the selection of the right style and décor.

Today’s condo interior design styles overview will focus specifically on the bathroom and the many different ideas to consider for this space. Bathroom interior design can be classic or modern, it can be extravagant or futuristic and resource-conserving. Choosing one style or the other depends on your personality, your aesthetic vision and the biggest goal you have for the remodelling project.

Bathroom Interior Design: A Complete Transformation Is Easy

Your brand new condo’s bathroom probably looks quite generic and impersonal. Luckily, a few stylistic upgrades can completely transform the interior of that functional space.

Bathroom renovations will usually aim to accomplish several things.

For a start, condo bathrooms often tend to be quite small. The right upgrades can create order and the illusion of more space. In addition, bathroom interior design will often focus on comfort, ease of cleaning and maintenance, privacy and a sense of luxury.

Determining which one of these goals you’re interested in meeting will help you choose the bathroom style that’s most appropriate.

The range of possibilities is literally limitless but some bathroom renovation styles have managed to gain more popularity than others. Here are a few of these evergreen choices that Singaporean condo owners may want to explore before looking for an alternative.

The Most Prominent Singapore Bathroom Interior Design Trends

From white and pristine to colourful and much more dynamic, bathroom design can be all-encompassing. Here are a couple of prominent styles you should definitely consider for your condo’s upgrade:

.

Classic Marble

Marble is a wonderful material to add to the bathroom. Elegant and timeless in appearance, marble and marble-resembling materials can be used in various distinctive ways throughout the bathroom. And while the material is porous and in need of sealing, a proper execution will give you a tremendously long-lived outcome.

Choosing marble makes it easy to execute just about any interior design concept. The material comes in a vast range of colours, patterns and textures. Hence, it is perfect for the floor, the walls, the bathroom counters and even for the creation of accents.

If you cannot afford natural marble, you can still enjoy the luxurious feel of the material.

Singapore home improvement stores offer an array of synthetic materials that look just like marble. Your home interior design company can guide you through the options, helping you choose a material that looks authentic and sophisticated.

Warmth Through Natural Hues

Many condo owners believe that natural materials like wood aren’t a particularly good choice for the bathroom. And they’re right. Wood can get wet easily, which will contribute to distortion and a whole host of other problems.

The fact that natural wood isn’t particularly suitable for bathroom installation, however, doesn’t mean you’ll have to forget about the addition of elements in natural hues.

For a start, there are treated kinds of cabinets and other wooden elements that can be installed in the bathroom without sustaining damage. As far as wall and floor treatments go, tiles that mimic the appearance of timber are readily available. Many of these products are so realistic that telling the difference will be impossible even at close inspection.

Stylish Tiles

Tiles make up a lot of the bathroom interior design. Easy to clean and moisture resistant, they are a perfect choice for the floor and the walls. What’s even better – tiles are available in so many sizes and styles that they can accommodate for every preference under the sun.

If you want to create a focal point within the bathroom, choose patterned tiles. The example above shows you such a wall that quickly draws the eye and breaks the monochrome design of the bathroom to add visual interest.

The size and the shape of the pattern can be chosen in accordance with the overall bathroom dimensions. This way, patterned tiles aren’t going to overwhelm the overall décor in a smaller condo bathroom.

You can always opt for timeless patterns like geometric shapes or something a bit more innovative and unusual. What matters when making such choices is not overdoing it. Too much colour on top of the pattern can easily result in visual clutter and a bathroom that feels cramped.

Resort-Style Bathroom

The final trend we’d like to discuss here is the resort-style condo bathroom as it is becoming more and more popular. Here’s an example of such a project that we executed for one of our clients:

A resort-style bathroom brings the “spa” experience to your very home.

The aim of a resort-style bathroom is to exude warmth and comfort. The goal will usually be accomplished through the selection of warm tones – beige, brown, yellow. Adding dark brown cabinetry to the overall picture creates some distinctiveness and gives the design more character.

Resort-style bathrooms don’t usually appeal to young families but they’re often a choice of preference for older home owners. This, however, doesn’t mean that a resort-style bathroom cannot look youthful and fresh. Colourful accessories, spa-inspired shower appliances and a couple of other touches can be introduced to modernise the space and give it functional appeal.

What Is Your Bathroom Style?

Chances are that by looking at the pictures exemplifying each one of the bathroom styles, you’re already drawn to one or some of those.

Once again – these condo bathroom styles are just a few of the possibilities. Bathrooms provide chances for the execution of various other projects. From tropical to rustic, craftsman or even eclectic bathrooms, all of these ideas can be brought to reality effortlessly.

To make the project execution a tremendous success, do consider hiring home interior design professionals for the execution.

Home Guide has decades of experience in condo interior design and renovations. We offer highly personalised solutions and we’re known for transparent, effective and friendly communication. If you’d like to start working on your condo upgrades today, get in touch with the Home Guide team. You’ll benefit from a no-obligations first consultation with our professionals.