A resale flat renovation is notoriously expensive. Unless you’re completely fine with whatever was left behind by the previous owner, you’ll probably need a lot of work done to switch up your home’s design. With all the extensive built-in removals, hacking and dismantling required, it’s unsurprising for 3-room BTO flat owners to rack up huge reno costs despite the small sqm.
Though, there are always exceptions to the case so no worries if you’re on a tight budget. Here are 11 flat renovation styles under $40,000 that prove giving your 3-room HDB BTO a fab makeover is totally possible without breaking the bank.
1. Bohemian Scandinavian: $35K
Image credit: The Interior Lab
Featuring soft, muted colours and playful decor pieces, this Bohemian Scandinavian reno by The Interior Lab emanates a fun yet cosy atmosphere.
This flat renovation’s price point becomes even more remarkable when you consider the thoughtful elements that have been incorporated into the design, such as the floating sideboard and false ceiling. However, the most impressive aspect of this reno might just be the shaker-style cabinets that seamlessly disguise the bomb shelter in this unit.
Image credit: The Interior Lab
The homeowners also completely transformed the kitchen, embracing a minimalist modern American aesthetic. The light wood open shelving also reflects natural light and contributes to the bright and airy feel of the space.
Cost of transformation: $35,000
2. Danish contemporary: $40K
Image credit: Weiken.com
Drawing inspiration from Hygge—pronounced “hoo-gah”—the Danish concept of cosy comfort, this reno design exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. Smooth curves replace harsh edges throughout, adding a touch of elegance and a distinctly contemporary style.
This focus on bespoke details is further emphasised by the inclusion of a custom-fabricated dry pantry that’s been cleverly integrated with a coffee bar. Its functionality and aesthetic value are further enhanced by the use of stylish, space-saving arched partitions and pocket doors.
Image credit: Weiken.com
Instead of a conventional solid door, a wood laminate sliding door separates the bedroom from the living area. A frosted glass panel incorporated into the door allows natural light to filter through, maintaining a sense of openness and airiness in both spaces.
Image credit: Weiken.com
A large built-in unit in the bedroom seamlessly integrates a wardrobe, desk, bedside table, and headboard. While such extensive built-in carpentry can often cost upwards of $10k, the designers here strategically leveraged the budget to achieve this impressive result in this flat renovation.
Cost of transformation: $40,000
3. Colourful eclectic: $38.3K
Image credit: Salt Studio
Against a clean white backdrop, this Joo Seng Green BTO stands out with its vibrant accents at every corner. The custom curved niche, framed by bright orange trims, is an instant focal point of the living room that showcases the homeowner’s collection.
Image credit: Salt Studio
The wall between the living room and the bedroom was hacked and replaced with glass sliding doors, creating a study area that feels open and airy with natural light flowing through.
Image credit: Salt Studio
The bathroom gets a playful Pop Art-inspired makeover, featuring tiles in bold primary colours paired with contrasting grout. This budget-friendly design injects personality into the space, with half-tiled walls and a tiled vanity countertop offering vibrant pops of colour, an eye-catching and stylish alternative to pricier options like sintered stone.
Image credit: Salt Studio
In contrast, the kitchen is decked out in monochrome for a sleek and modern touch. It’s also made practical for everyday cooking, with ample built-in storage in upper and lower cabinets. Subtle colours still peek through, such as the blue-coloured grout with the tiled backsplash, tying the space back to the home’s playful nature.
Cost of transformation: $38,300
4. Modern Japandi: $30K
Image credit: Elique.Co
Curves take centre stage in this Japandi-inspired home in Clementi, where rounded furniture and curved carpentry add softness to the home. Curved shelves paired with a round dining table tie the living and dining areas together, giving the communal spaces a cohesive, inviting feel.
The homeowners made smart choices throughout the renovation, opting for a wall-mounted TV instead of a built-in console, while a sleek false ceiling cleverly conceals the trunking for a polished look. The dry pantry doubles as a bar counter, adding both style and practicality to the space, maximising functionality without unnecessary costs.
Image credit: Elique.Co
With limited floor area available, clever space-saving solutions were incorporated into the renovation. Custom niches built into the kitchen carpentry neatly house appliances and the washing machine, keeping daily essentials within easy reach while maintaining a clean and clutter-free look.
Cost of transformation: $30,000
5. Contemporary open-concept with wood accents: $28K
Image credit: The Interior Lab
Bringing some outdoorsy picnic vibes to the comforts of your home is this modern contemporary interior design by The Interior Lab. The home is decked out in warm woody accents and Scandinavian white tones. It’s even got a glass-enclosed study which allows more natural light into the room, giving the illusion of a larger living space.
Image credit: The Interior Lab
On top of that, this reno also features an open concept kitchen alongside an actual picnic bench table, giving it the charm of an IG-worthy cafe.
Cost of transformation: $28,000
6. Contemporary Industrial Style: $35K
Image credit: @ascend.design
This apartment on Queen Street is basically your run-off-the-mill industrial style with its monochromatic scheme and cement screed-brushed flooring. Sleek black electrical pipes line the walls of the flat, serving as both a characteristic industrial design feature and a practical conduit function.
Image credit: Ascend Design
Most of the walls are whitewashed and contrast against the darker carpentry to give the home a more modern feel. Not to mention, this 2-bedroom flat also features a kitchen with a sliding glass door that provides the illusion of a bigger living space.
Cost of transformation: $35,000
7. Industrial eclectic: $30K
Image credit: Swiss Interior Design
This Telok Blangah BTO is filled with charming industrial details and retro touches in every room, including a front gate resembling a vintage lift gate.
Image credit: Swiss Interior Design
While the flat retains most of the original features of a 3-room BTO layout, the renovation budget was channelled into aesthetic trunkings for the lighting, sleek tiles, and custom carpentry for the kitchen & dining areas.
In the dining area, warm wood tones soften the industrial aesthetic, creating a retro setting complemented by vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia.
Image credit: Swiss Interior Design
There’s even a boutique-like walk-in wardrobe, complete with a vanity mirror framed with bulbs to cast a warm glow. A sliding translucent glass door helps to save space, while filtering light and keeping the contents subtly concealed.
Cost of transformation: $30,000
8. Monochrome minimalist: $25K
Image credit: Design 4 Space
Minimalism, as you would expect, is perfect for those with smaller budgets. This home might seem sparse at first glance, but it demonstrates how to nail the minimalist look without feeling too clinical, creating a clean and fuss-free appeal.
Image credit: Design 4 Space
The minimalist aesthetic extends into the hallway, where doors are finished in clean white for a seamless flow. The neutral backdrop allows the darker details to stand out, from an oversized wall calendar statement piece to a laundry area partitioned by sleek glass doors. An additional aircon unit above the dining area keeps both living and dining spaces cool and comfortable.
Image credit: Design 4 Space
In the kitchen, simple yet functional cabinetry keeps the look streamlined, while the metallic extractor hood and stove adds a professional touch.
Light wood details in the kitchen and dining area introduce warmth to the monochrome palette, softening the overall aesthetic. As one of the more affordable renovations on this list, it’s a stylish and budget-friendly option for new homeowners looking for a simple and sleek design.
Cost of transformation: $25,000
9. Vintage with old-school features: $33K
Image credit: The Local INN.terior 新家室
This one’s for those who love the look of old-school British colonial-style houses. The overall home interior is classic and current all at once, combining sleek modern carpentry with aesthetically vintage furniture.
Image adapted from: The Local INN.terior 新家室 , The Local INN.terior 新家室
At the same time, you’ll find touches of Peranakan influences throughout the 80sqm HDB apartment. With Peranakan-inspired textures and patterns seen in the living room feature wall, the mosaic tiling of their bathroom walls and kitchen floors, this flat renovation style pays homage to Singapore’s colonial history.
Cost of transformation: $33,000
10. Scandinavian minimalist: $38K
Image credit: Charlotte’s Carpentry
Scandinavian designs are marked by their simplicity and functionality without compromising on beauty at the same time. True to its characteristics, the Scandinavian theme can clearly be seen throughout this Toa Payoh East HDB flat.
Image credit: Charlotte’s Carpentry
For this reno style, you don’t have to dramatically alter your home for it to look fresh. In fact, this home was easily given a nordic touch with its neutral colour palette and wooden elements – it appears minimalist without looking too sparse.
Image credit: Charlotte’s Carpentry
Take note that using real wood will hike your reno fees quite a bit so opting for vinyl wooden flooring and wood-looking vinyl laminate wraps might be the way to go if you wanna save on those dollars.
Cost of transformation: $38,000
11. Japandi Scandinavian: $30K
Image credit: The Interior Lab
This Alkaff Crescent BTO embraces a Japandi Scandi-inspired design with a neutral palette, highlighting natural textures and cool colours. Large windows flood the living room with natural light, making the 3-room flat feel brighter and more spacious than it is.
The bomb shelter is cleverly disguised behind a set of curved mirrors, adding functionality without disrupting the clean aesthetic.
Image adapted from: The Interior Lab
Space-saving solutions are integrated into the renovation, with built-in wall niches in both the living room and bedroom neatly displaying the homeowner’s photos.
Contrasting with the breezy common areas, the bedroom is defined by a deep teal accent wall that adds a pop of colour, while a raffia walk-in wardrobe creates a textured backdrop.
Image credit: The Interior Lab
Natural textures, such as wood and raffia, are layered throughout the home to add warmth and texture. Lighter wood used for the built-in dining table continues into the bathroom, where darker wood panels paired with a lighter wood sink create a spa-like retreat resembling a Scandinavian sauna.
Cost of transformation: $30,000
Budget 3-room HDB BTO transformations to inspire you
Styling your home on a budget doesn’t mean you have to compromise on aesthetics. It’s completely possible to give your place the makeover it deserves with these 11 3-room HDB BTO flat renovation inspos. Spice up your apartment with styles like those above and inject your own flair and personality while at it – your dream home can still be realised without it getting too spenny.
Read our other articles here:
- HDB bathroom design ideas
- Cheapest estates to buy a resale HDB in 2022
- HDB BTO launches for May 2022
Cover image credit: Salt Studio, Swiss Interior Design
This article was originally published on 20th Jan 2022, and updated on 30th September 2025.
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