Designing a home often feels like something reserved for after you’ve collected your BTO keys, but what if you could start much earlier?
This tour is a little different. It’s for those still living with their parents, working with a single bedroom, yet itching to carve out a space that truly feels like their own. Before committing to full-scale renovations, your room can be the perfect testing ground for discovering what you love and what you don’t.
Here, we have @ryoko_market, 27-year-old Fel, who transformed her bedroom into a space inspired by the charm and liveliness of an old-school farmer’s market, all on a realistic budget.
$700 room revamp with new furniture & decor
Describing herself as an old soul with a quirky spirit, Fel shares that she has always been drawn to things with character━items that feel slightly worn, handmade, and personal, rather than shiny-new and mass-produced.
Stepping into her room, you’re immediately greeted by a sense of warmth and youthful energy. Instead of a polished, showroom-like aesthetic, the space feels layered and lived-in, with trinkets, ceramics, plants and textured fabrics scattered throughout.
While it may not resemble a literal farmer’s market, the inspiration lies in the feeling behind one: a love for natural materials, imperfect finishes, and cosy corners filled with small, meaningful finds. Much like wandering through a market with its cacophony of stalls, her room is a collection of items curated over time, each with its own story.
Working with a budget of around $700, Fel focused on choosing pieces as they came, rather than replacing everything at once. “I wanted it to feel like myself, and not chase after trends,” she shared. The result is a space that proves good design doesn’t require a full renovation, but rather, intention.
The Music Lounge
One of the most relaxing corners of the room is what Fel calls The Music Lounge: a small area dedicated entirely to unwinding.
Here, she’s set up her vinyl player, which also happens to be the most expensive item in the room at just over $200. While she modestly claims she doesn’t own many vinyl records━which we beg to differ on━this is where she spends quiet evenings listening to music while laying on her tatami mat.
With a leafy plant beside, and a vintage lamp casting a soft, warm glow, the corner feels especially calming. It’s easy to imagine this space coming alive on a slow, rainy night with music playing softly in the background, far removed from the rest of the world.
As an introvert, Fel intentionally designed her room to be somewhere she genuinely enjoys spending time. “If I’m going to laze around here a lot, it might as well look and feel nice,” she laughed.
The Art Studio
Also tucked within the room is The Art Studio, where Fel’s creative side truly shines.
During the day, this area functions as her work-from-home setup. But once work hours are over, it transforms into a creative sanctuary, a place for drawing, crafting, and exploring anything artsy.
This dual-purpose design reflects Fel’s practical approach to space planning. Rather than dedicating areas purely to aesthetics, she ensures each zone supports how she actually lives, works, and relaxes.
A grounded yet vibrant energy
Interestingly, when asked about her design theme, Fel admitted it was never a conscious decision to follow a “farmer’s market” aesthetic. Instead, she simply picked items that reflected her lifestyle, values, and personality.
One of the main reasons she chose to start with her own room was to experience the process of designing her own space firsthand. By understanding what works for her now, she hopes to apply these lessons when she eventually designs her future home. As she puts it, it’s very much an “if not now, then when?” mindset.
Although Fel initially tried following popular design trends, she soon realised they didn’t quite reflect who she was. Instead, she leaned into what felt natural to her: earthy neutrals, eclectic accents, and tactile materials.
With a background that includes some design experience from work, Fel applied design thinking principles to her room. She asked herself practical questions like, “How do I make this space more user-friendly?” This led to small but thoughtful decisions, such as placing a clothes rack near the entrance so she could easily hang her jacket and bags when she got home.
To manage clutter, Fel sticks to a simple rule: use theme-appropriate baskets and containers that add colour and texture while hiding mess. Items she no longer needs are either stored out of sight or discarded entirely. “If it doesn’t serve me any more, I just let it go,” she shared.
The room’s grounded yet lively energy comes from this balance of function and personality. Nothing feels forced, yet everything has a place.
Creating a farmer’s market-inspired bedroom for $700
Wanting to capture the liveliness and old-school charm of a farmer’s market, Fel has transformed her bedroom into a space full of warmth, texture, and character. Perhaps there’s something to learn from this, especially for future homeowners.
Sometimes, the best way to start designing your dream home is by starting small. After all, our homes, no matter the size, should always feel like the best place to unwind in after a long day at work.
Looking for more inspiration? Check these out:
- $70k reno transforms 4-room HDB into Pokemon nostalgia
- How to make your dorm room look like Muji under $200
- $58k reno turned this flat into a calm & cosy home
Photography by: Claire Sia
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