You don’t have to be a cinephile to have heard of Wes Anderson – the American film director is known best for his distinctive aesthetic in movies, one marked by pastels and best seen in movies like The Grand Budapest Hotel, with the iconic powder pink hotel.
In interior design, some homeowners have sought to emulate this, putting their own spin on the style to make it their own. Here are 7 pastel HDB homes that fit the bill.
114 Lengkong Tiga – Kembangan HDB with Alice in Wonderland vibes
Image credit: Ascend Design
Alice in Wonderland – the whimsical film set in an enchanted forest is a childhood favourite that most of us probably grew up with. While it may be impossible to visit the enchanted forest, these homeowners decided to bring the enchanted forest to them. The result is a design reminiscent not just of the film, but Disneyland as well, with plenty of trinkets peppered around the space.
Image credit: Ascend Design
The home uses colour to bring life to spaces that can otherwise very easily fall flat. In the kitchen, for example, the contrast between the blue grout on the tile backsplash, navy handles on the cerulean drawers, and orange knobs on the pink cabinets add depth and character. The swing furthers the idea of whimsy and playfulness, by adding a dynamic element to the home.
Image credit: Ascend Design
Image credit: @ascend.design
Jalan Membina – 5-room HDB turned kids wonderland
Image credit: Free Space Intent
In this home, the pastel starts right at the entryway – the front door is a beautiful shade of yellow, welcoming guests into the colourful space. The rounded edges are a recurring motif throughout the home – the pastel arches on the wall are reminiscent of paddle pop ice creams, which create a nostalgic touch that complements the rounded pink and green ceiling cut-outs.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
The dining bench seating is similar to what you might find in a diner, while the curves of the table make it look somewhat like a spaceship, adding a futuristic feel.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
The loud colours and patterns extend all the way to the bathroom, where the grey Terrazzo tiles of the exterior walls are contrasted against the cleaner, more colourful geometric tiles inside the bathroom. The pipes that are an unconcealable mainstay of HDB bathrooms were highlighted instead of sloppily hidden by being painted a bright yellow, adding a cheery element to the space and creating the focal point of the bathroom.
Kim Tian Road – BTS-themed flat in Tiong Bahru
Image credit: Free Space Intent
BTS fans know the album “Butter” as the album of summer 2021, with its pastel colour palette distinguishing it from the rest of the Korean group’s discography. These homeowners took the album as inspiration, seeking to recreate the visual aesthetic in their home.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
The colourful arches throughout the home add softness as well as functionality – the arched shelves were custom built to hold all of their BTS merch, in addition to other quirky trinkets. Painted pastel blue and yellow, the pipes in the bathroom are once again highlighted, this time painted yellow to complement the sink.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
In the living room, the space is made playful and homely with the addition of a “hamster wheel” seating nook. The nook is brightly painted to draw attention to it as one of the key features of the home.
Choa Chu Kang – Garden in an HDB flat
Image credit: The Alchemists Design
Singapore may be known as the city in a garden, but this flat in Choa Chu Kang takes the idea a step further, bringing the garden into the home. The plants tucked in every nook of the home lend an earthiness to space, creating a natural, lived-in feel. Here, the pastel colours are warm-toned rather than cool, complementing the woody tones of the furniture perfectly.
Image credit: The Alchemists Design
In the kitchen, the floating shelves and brick-patterned tiling create a farmlike environment, furthering the idea of nature and warmth in the home. The exposed wooden beam on the ceiling ties the room together, matching the wood-grain vinyl that forms the base of the island for a visually cohesive effect.
Toa Payoh – Old-school home with a pastel twist
If you’re anything like most Singaporeans, you have fond memories of visiting your grandparents house. Filled with plenty of old school trinkets, it was a space that was both warm and deeply comforting. These homeowners sought to replicate that in their own home, but with a touch of modernity.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
We see this in the living room, where dark wood furniture lends an old-school quality to the home. This is in turn lifted and brightened by the pastel pink decor, with the colorblocked rug adding a homely touch and tying the room together.
Image credit: Free Space Intent
In the kitchen, the traditional pink and blue tingkat containers extend the retro theme, while the matching pink cabinets and blue scalloped-tile backsplash create a seamless transition to modernity.
Punggol – Pastel abode straight out of a Wes Anderson film
If there’s one home that screams The Grand Budapest hotel, it’s this resale flat in Punggol. This home captures the playfulness of a bright pastel colour palette, but tempers it with more muted tones while elevating it with subtle touches of luxury.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
The velvet arches in the dining area, for example, add texture and opulence, while the powder pink walls keep the space bright and cheery. In the bedroom, the vanity is predominantly blue, creating a calm feel in what is usually a hectic space where one rushes to get ready in the morning.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
In the kitchen, the pastel pink island is contrasted against the muted tones of the kitchen, highlighting it as the statement piece of the otherwise plain space.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
Butterworth 8 – Marine Parade condo with easter egg vibes
In this Marine Parade condo, the pastel green, yellow, and blue colour scheme makes one feel like they are walking right into an easter egg. The bright colours go far in opening up the home, creating an airy, spacious feel.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
The blue Mediterranean tiles in the kitchen complement the pale green cabinets, introducing personality in an otherwise quiet space.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
Often overlooked, the childish decor in the children’s bedroom tends to be jarring and incongruent with the style of the home. In this home however, the chevron pattern on the wall is playful, while still keeping in line with the pastel, spring theme.
Image credit: Mr Shopper Studio
Pastel homes in Singapore
Over time, I’m willing to bet that most of us have come to think of flats as being fairly cookie cutter – with their small size, what room is there for creativity? These 7 perfectly pastel homes show that clearly, there is always room for flair, you just need a little inspiration.
For more home inspo, check out:
- This 3-room HDB flat in Holland V is a colonial dream come true
- Platform ideas for HDB flats that conform to HDB’s no storage guidelines
- Gorgeous HDB kitchens to inspire you to get your cook on
- Super chio loft apartments in Singapore that are seriously house goals
Cover image adapted from : Free Space Intent, Mr Shopper Studio
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