HDB Renovation Costs: What 3, 4 & 5 Room Owners Should Know

spaceateliersg
Oct 10
5 min read

Renovating a home stirs both joy and worry. For HDB flat owners, the first question often sounds like this: “How much should I prepare?” Whether your unit holds three, four, or five rooms, understanding the effort and cost behind each layout helps you build better.

If you just moved into a flat or plan to change things around, this guide lays the ground for smart steps. Those exploring 3 room BTO interior design or handling bigger flats will find helpful tips below.

What Shapes Renovation Costs in HDB Flats?

Many things shift the cost of renovation. Your flat’s size matters, but so do your design choices, wall changes, and material types. Even light switches can change how much you spend.

For any unit—3, 4, or 5-room—these parts often push costs higher:

Flooring changes using tile, vinyl, or wood
Carpentry, like shelves, wardrobes, and kitchen cabinets
Electrical rewiring or new light placements
Plumbing changes in kitchens and bathrooms
Hacking walls or removing flooring

Once you figure out your goals, shaping a clear plan becomes easier and less stressful.

3 Room BTO Flats: Small Spaces, Smart Choices

3-room flats invite smaller families or couples. But the limited space calls for smart ideas. You must tuck in style without cramping the room.

When thinking about 3 room BTO interior design, focus on:

Storage units that blend into walls
Bright tones that lift the mood
Glass dividers that open up tight corners

Designers often stretch their minds to fit comfort into these small rooms. A well-shaped small flat often feels better than a poorly planned big one.

4 Room BTO Renovation: Balance Comfort and Function

4-room flats give you extra space to spread your ideas. Most include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen. This room count gives you more to play with.

If you dive into a 4 room BTO renovation, you might:

Create zones like reading nooks or hobby corners
Blend storage into walls or furniture
Pick flooring that stands up to kids and pets

This size calls for care—you can do more, but you also risk doing too much. Balance your needs with your wants to build a space that lasts.

5 Room HDB Renovation: Stretch the Possibilities

5-room flats unfold the most space. With a wider living area and more corners to shape, this flat type invites bold steps. From a home office to a quiet study, you can divide the space in many ways.

As you plan your 5 room HDB renovation, consider:

Linking your dining and living space with design
Framing bold features like wall shelves or drop ceilings
Grouping rooms by use: play, work, or rest

Still, bigger flats can grow messy if not handled with care. Keep the flow open and the layout light.

Main Parts of HDB Renovation

Every HDB unit shares similar core works. Whether big or small, the jobs listed below often shape the timeline and cost.

Hacking and Tiling: Removing tiles or walls eats up both time and labour. Use it only where it adds value.
Plumbing and Electrical: Moving taps or adding lights needs skilled work. Each adds time.
Carpentry: Wardrobes, cabinets, TV units, and storage often form the biggest chunk. Choose what serves your daily habits.
Painting and Ceiling Work: A coat of colour sets the mood. False ceilings hide wires but reduce height.

Even simple rooms grow beautiful when shaped by thoughtful hands.

Flat Size and What to Focus On

Different sizes call for different plans. This table compares common flat types to show where your focus should land.

Flat Type	Main Design Focus	Tips to Guide You
3 Room BTO	Space-saving and brightness	Stick to smart shelves and glass
4 Room BTO	Blending form and use	Use durable surfaces and soft tones
5 Room HDB	Custom zones and wide layouts	Group spaces for work, rest, play

With this, you can match your design goals to the size of your flat.

Should You Renovate All at Once?

You can shape your home in one round or break it into stages. Some families renovate everything at once. Others change things slowly.

If you go all at once, you get:

One finish date
Lower cost from doing tasks together
More noise and mess early on

If you go room by room, you get:

Time to rethink and adjust
Smaller costs spread out
Longer wait before it all feels done

Look at your lifestyle. Then shape your plan based on what feels smoothest for your family.

How Design Brings Function to Life?

Interior design isn’t just about beauty. It steers how you move, store, and rest. A sharp design turns old problems into smooth habits.

In a 3 room BTO interior design, you might remove a wall to widen the space. A smart 4 room BTO renovation could hide your storage in plain sight. A detailed 5 room HDB renovation might carve zones that cut noise and lift calm.

Designers don’t just decorate. They choreograph how your home works.

Steps in a Renovation Timeline

You can’t rush a good build. Each part builds on the next. Here’s how a typical HDB renovation flows:

Planning: Sketch your ideas and set clear must-haves
Finding Contractors: Choose someone with HDB experience
Getting Approval: Send plans to HDB for a go-ahead
Starting Work: Hacking, wiring, tiling begin
Final Touches: Clean up, paint, shift furniture in

Renovation may last 8–12 weeks, sometimes more. Set clear steps and check progress often.

Can You Live Inside During Work?

Yes—but only sometimes. If the work stays light—like painting or lights—you can remain at home. But deeper work makes things tough.

If you live there:

Seal doors to rooms not under work
Ventilate with fans and open windows
Make backup plans for cooking or bathing

Heavy jobs like hacking make homes dusty and noisy. In such cases, it may help to stay elsewhere for a few weeks.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

Some choices cause regrets. But if you plan, you can avoid these bumps:

Don’t skip early space planning
Don’t follow trends that fade fast
Don’t forget your real daily needs
Don’t over-decorate or crowd small rooms

Whether working on a 4 room BTO renovation or shaping a large 5 room HDB renovation, these mistakes lead to stress. Keep the design simple, useful, and personal.

Tips to Keep Things Smooth

Want fewer hiccups? Stick to these steady moves:

Plan your home based on your real lifestyle
Start with the layout before shopping for lights
Talk clearly with your contractor from day one
Visit your home often during work

Good habits during renovation save you from slowdowns and do-overs.

Conclusion: Let Design Follow Your Life

A home reflects how you live, move, and rest. It keeps your stories, meals, and laughter. Renovation doesn’t just shape walls—it builds habits.

Those exploring 3 room BTO interior design may need to stretch small spaces. Those handling a 4 room BTO renovation may balance function with calm. Those crafting a 5 room HDB renovation often carve corners for comfort and purpose.

Choose only what serves you. Match looks with use. Build a space that grows with you—not one that simply fills the room.

Also Check: Open Concept vs. Room Dividers: Which Works Best Today?

Space Atelier Pte Ltd, founded in 2014, specializes in creating unique, tailored interior designs for residential and commercial spaces, as well as resale HDB renovations

📞 Call us at +65 62960155, 65 62960156

📧 Email us at enquiry@spaceatelier.com.sg

🌐 Visit: www.spaceatelier.com.sg