Space-Maximising Lessons from 5 3-Room HDB Flats
Can a 3-room flat ever feel luxurious? These 5 designs demonstrate how
According to the Housing & Development Board (HDB), a 3-room flat is a compact space that caters well to living needs. It has two bedrooms (the third room refers to the living/dining room), one of which is a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The newer flats range in size from 60 to 65 square metres (645 to 700 square feet).
Indeed, this small apartment has adequate space for a young family (although it’s most popular with singles or couples with no children). As these clever design solutions show, a three-roomer can look more than adequate!
Indeed, this small apartment has adequate space for a young family (although it’s most popular with singles or couples with no children). As these clever design solutions show, a three-roomer can look more than adequate!
2. Use pocket doors
Space-maximising features:
Pocket doors slide into the wall, so they don’t swing open and take up that otherwise valuable floor area when you’re pressed for space.
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Space-maximising features:
Pocket doors slide into the wall, so they don’t swing open and take up that otherwise valuable floor area when you’re pressed for space.
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3. Monochromatic doesn’t have to be blah
Home: 3-room flat in Queenstown
Designer: Chapter B
Reno cost: S$48,000
Space-maximising features:
Exposed trunking (also known as electrical casing) adds texture and contrast to the ceiling (above), while patterned tiles do the same for the backsplash, wall and floors in the kitchen.
Home: 3-room flat in Queenstown
Designer: Chapter B
Reno cost: S$48,000
Space-maximising features:
Exposed trunking (also known as electrical casing) adds texture and contrast to the ceiling (above), while patterned tiles do the same for the backsplash, wall and floors in the kitchen.
4. Replace walls with glass
Space-maximising features:
Whether it’s folding doors, as in the bedroom here, or glass panels, a transparent wall takes the eyes further, thereby giving the illusion of more space and aids in maximising the amount of natural light in a room.
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Space-maximising features:
Whether it’s folding doors, as in the bedroom here, or glass panels, a transparent wall takes the eyes further, thereby giving the illusion of more space and aids in maximising the amount of natural light in a room.
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5. Join the dark side
Home: 3-room flat in Yishun
Designer: HAP Design
Reno cost: S$75,001 - S$100,000
Space-maximising features:
Darker walls give a cosier, more intimate – not to mention super-sophisticated – feel. They also, surprisingly, make the ceiling appear higher than it is despite its contrasting colour.
Home: 3-room flat in Yishun
Designer: HAP Design
Reno cost: S$75,001 - S$100,000
Space-maximising features:
Darker walls give a cosier, more intimate – not to mention super-sophisticated – feel. They also, surprisingly, make the ceiling appear higher than it is despite its contrasting colour.
6. Try a graduated colour scheme
Space-maximising features:
The floor in this bedroom is dark while the walls are in a mid-tone, and the ceiling is bright white. This creates the illusion of the space opening up as the eye moves higher. Note that the bulkier furniture (the bed) is light in colour, and the smaller pieces are even darker than the floor, for contrast.
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Space-maximising features:
The floor in this bedroom is dark while the walls are in a mid-tone, and the ceiling is bright white. This creates the illusion of the space opening up as the eye moves higher. Note that the bulkier furniture (the bed) is light in colour, and the smaller pieces are even darker than the floor, for contrast.
See more of this project
Space-maximising features:
Orientating the kitchen and the custom dining table according to the long, narrow shape of this flat is a clever use of the space, particularly as this open-concept kitchen looks primed for frequent entertaining. It affords the living area a more spacious feel, while becoming the main highlight of this home.
Orientating the kitchen and the custom dining table according to the long, narrow shape of this flat is a clever use of the space, particularly as this open-concept kitchen looks primed for frequent entertaining. It affords the living area a more spacious feel, while becoming the main highlight of this home.
8. Splash out in style
Home: 3-room flat in Circuit Road
Designer: Bowerman Interior / Space Planner
Reno cost: S$65,000
Home: 3-room flat in Circuit Road
Designer: Bowerman Interior / Space Planner
Reno cost: S$65,000
Space-maximising features:
Just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in a renovation. Removing walls and replacing some of them with full glass panels will be pricey; so will great materials such as coloured glass cabinet doors and high-quality epoxy floor finishes. But when they come together, the haven that they create – and the oohs and aahs of admiration from your friends – will be worth the cost.
Just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in a renovation. Removing walls and replacing some of them with full glass panels will be pricey; so will great materials such as coloured glass cabinet doors and high-quality epoxy floor finishes. But when they come together, the haven that they create – and the oohs and aahs of admiration from your friends – will be worth the cost.
See more of this project
TELL US
Do you live in a 3-room flat? What do you like and dislike most about its design? Share in the Comments section.
TELL US
Do you live in a 3-room flat? What do you like and dislike most about its design? Share in the Comments section.
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Home: 3-room flat in Holland Drive
Designer: i.Poise Design
Reno cost: S$10,001 - S$25,000
Space-maximising features:
Broken plan means enjoying the spaciousness of open plan while at the same time having physical demarcations for different functions and at different levels of privacy.
In this flat, for example, the living and dining areas are designed with an open layout, but the lounge space is elevated and given a different floor treatment.
More broken-plan ideas