We’ve seen a flurry of million-dollar HDB sales in recent months, and with property prices skyrocketing, you may have spent most of your budget on the house itself, leaving less for renovation and decor.
But don’t worry—creating an expensive-looking HDB on a budget isn’t impossible. With smart styling tricks, strategic furniture choices, and clever design illusions, you can elevate your space without breaking the bank.
Here are 7 budget-friendly interior hacks to make your HDB look high-SES, even on a low-SES budget.
1. Substitute marble with quartz for an expensive-looking kitchen
Aurastone’s Foresta Jade
Image credit: @the.interplay
If there’s anything that screams luxury, it’s marble countertops. That said, their heavy price tags can be quite the dealbreaker.
For a more budget-friendly alternative, look towards quartz, which mimics the elegance of marble without the steep cost. Depending on factors like thickness, quality, and supplier, quartz countertops can cost around $90 per foot run, making them a cost-effective yet stylish choice.
Image credit: @yuuli._.interiors
But that’s not all—besides being more affordable, quartz is also more durable and stain-resistant than marble. It’s scratch-resistant and doesn’t absorb stains as easily, making it a practical option for households with young kids or for messy home cooks.
For high-quality quartz countertops, check out Aurastone and Caesarstone, both known for their wide selection, premium quality and excellent testimonials.
2. Go for a faux skylight to simulate penthouse vibes
Image credit: Hoft Interior
Having a skywell or skylight used to be a luxury only those living in landed properties or penthouse condos could afford. Thankfully, technology has advanced to a point where you can have “natural skylight” wherever you need it—be it in a darkess corridor of your BTO flat, the kitchen or even the toilet! You can even be adventurous and create an indoor garden with a skylight above it to make it look like you have an indoor courtyard in your home.
Different light settings on the PesTech faux skylight.
Image credit: Joycelyn
Companies such as Pesetech specialise in artificial skylights to give your that natural glow at home with different light settings that simulate midday sun, dawn, dusk and even the moonlight. The lights even work with Google Assistant voice control and can be automated to follow a schedule, so you don’t have to manually fiddle with the lights every other hour.
3. Layer your lighting, don’t skip the wall sconces
Lighting can make or break the ambience. While its primary function is to illuminate a space, the right lighting choices can dramatically enhance the mood, aesthetics, and functionality of your interiors. A key technique to achieving a high-end look is layered lighting, which combines three essential types:
Ambient lighting—your overhead light source
Task lighting—functional lighting for, as its aptly named, tasks like reading and cooking.
Accent lighting—arguably the most important lights of all to create that added ambiance at home.
Image credit: Radilum
For a more upscale look, trade in plain lights for more wall sconces. These wall-mounted lights come in numerous shapes and sizes, with many expensive options on Taobao.
Horizon Lighting offers Nordic-style pendant lights for just $129, which is both easy on the wallet and the eyes. Alternatively, opt for Cozymatic’s Tania Modern Circular Chandelier, which is a unique set of looping lights that retail at $329.
4. Add wainscoting for an expensive feel
We don’t all have massive budgets to completely transform our BTO or resale flats, which is why this nifty trick comes in so handy. You don’t need to spend thousands on carpentry to achieve a sophisticated French aesthetic at home, all you need is to know where to look. DeKorea sell individual wainscoting planks for you to DIY your dream wall feature at home from as little as $6 per plank.
Image credit: Etsy
5. DIY your walls with limewash paint
There’s a reason why Wabi Sabi has been the biggest interior trend of 2024 and 2025—it instantly bring a sense of timeless elegance. Rather than stark, white walls, limewash paint is a simple trick that will completely transform the vibe of your home. And while some homeowners fork out thousands to achieve the finish, you can easily do it on your own with a tin of Raffles Paint’s R.LIMEWASH ($65) that comes in 44 different shades from earthy neutrals to bright shades.
6. Add curated art to make a statement
Image credit: Pinterest
Oftentimes, when new homeowners set out to add a personal touch to their homes with decor, they overlook the walls. As they are an integral part of the house and take up more visual space than you’d think, empty walls can make a house look lifeless and monotonous.
For a more sophisticated look, try putting up art pieces that help add flair and colour to a plain wall. And if you choose the right pieces, they can even act as a good conversation starter when you have friends or family over. Places like FortyTwo and Etsy are great places to check out if you’re looking for some artwork to spruce up a wall.
While it may sound tempting to hang up all your newly purchased artworks at once, it is important to consider the spacing and overall layout of the pieces too. Otherwise, your formerly empty walls may end up looking cluttered in an instant.
7. Get secondhand expensive furniture
Image credit: @hocksiong on Instagram
New furniture, especially if you’re trying to furnish an empty BTO flat, can rack up thousands of dollars quickly, which can be a hassle if you’re trying to decorate on a budget.
IKEA is a tried and true option to source for relatively cheap furniture, but the adventurous folks amongst us may want to try giving secondhand furniture a whirl instead. Not only does secondhand furniture save you money, but preloved items can also help add some character in your house.
Those who prefer online shopping can start by checking out the listings on Carousell—you’d be surprised by the number of quality pieces of furniture that go for cheap.
The platform is popular with expats who have to move away from Singapore on short notice, hence they tend to let go of these pieces at lower-than-market rates. For example, a new TULLSTA chair from IKEA retails at $249, but Carousell has a listing of a used version for only $85.
Alternatively, head down to a secondhand furniture shop, where you can pick up antique items that are hard to be found elsewhere. Hock Siong offers a range of unique curios and refurbished vintage furniture, while others such as Lorgan’s The Retro Store carry a collection of genuine mid-century modern pieces.
8. Consider multifunctional furniture for a sleek look
Image Credit: Josiah Neo
Clutter is never welcome in a home. Even if you’re a maximalist, it’s important to keep your place clutter-free and fill it with thoughtful, curated knick-knacks instead. In addition, HDB apartments aren’t exactly the roomiest, hence it’s important to maximise storage space wherever possible, and to think of ways to visually hide clutter.
To start off, invest in sleek furniture that come with hidden storage spaces or can be extended when needed. Bo Concept’s Granada dining table comes with a sleek and round walnut surface, as well as a pull-up lever that extends it into a larger oval shape to accommodate more guests or items.
9. Add a backlit mirrors & metallic finishes around the home
Image credit: ZEEK LIVING
If you want to give your bathrooms a subtle upgrade, a backlit mirror will deliver that hotel room quality. The illumination creates a soft glow in the bathroom, brightening up dark corners and making the space look larger and more welcoming. Pair that with a bronze or gold brushed tap and you’ve got yourself the recipe to making your HDB toilet look expensive. Bathroom fixture brands such as Singapore Bathtubs sell an assortment of backlit mirrors for as little as $138.
Getting an expensive HDB design on a budget
General living expenses and prices may have gone up recently, but it is not impossible to achieve hotel or luxury resort vibes on a tight budget. Instead, try getting savvy and creative with the way you decorate or renovate your home, and you may be handsomely rewarded for your efforts.
Check out more articles on decorating smart:
- Small kitchen storage solutions
- 9 Clever space-saving furniture
- This condo shows we can have nice lofts too
Cover image adapted from: Pinterest, Pinterest
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