Step inside this colourful 4-room HDB and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a whimsical toy store. From Toy Story figurines to a plush Sanrio collection, every corner of this 1,001sqft BTO bursts with colour and character—this is the dream home of Jean, a full-time artist, and her husband.
Despite the vibrant dopamine decor and decades’ worth of collectables, their home renovation only cost a surprising $14,000. With clever DIY projects and a toy collection built over 20 years, the couple has created a home that feels joyful and anything but ordinary.
A toy collection 20 years in the making
The couple bought their 4-room BTO for around $300k in 2019 and finally collected their keys this year, wasting no time in turning it into a vibrant space that sparks delight.
Jean has been an avid toy collector since she was 15, building a treasure trove of fan-favourite IPs like Toy Story, Sanrio, and, more recently, Pop Mart. While most of the collection stayed sealed in boxes due to the lack of space, the couple can now finally give the collection amassed over 20 years the spotlight it deserves.
When they first got their keys, they meticulously measured the entire flat to ensure everything would fit exactly as planned. Their multi-tiered cabinet became the perfect showcase for their favourite IPs, becoming one of the biggest highlights of the home.
As a self-designed home renovation, they were able to maximise every inch. Every piece of furniture was carefully planned and only purchased if it fit, striking a balance of practicality and display space.
Many would assume that cleaning a massive collection would be a hassle, but contrary to popular belief, cleaning the space is surprisingly manageable. Regular dusting once or twice a week helps to keep everything tidy, and with most toys displayed within the cabinets, dust build-up is less than most would expect.
$14k maximalist self-designed renovation
Jean and her husband drew inspiration from the homes in China, especially with the dopamine “多巴胺” theme, with its bold colours and playful vibe. Their flat was entirely self-designed, with no built-ins or custom carpentry.
Instead, most furniture was sourced individually to match the theme. As Jean describes: “it felt like curating our dream home one item at a time.”
Colourful & bold aesthetic on every surface
From the moment you step inside the home, you’re met with a mix of bold colours and quirky trinkets at every corner. Charming details add to the eclectic vibe, such as mismatched dining chairs and big googly eyes on the fridge that give it a Toy Story feel.
For the couple, the most challenging part of the renovation was deciding which colour to paint each wall. They spent over $100 on paint samples, testing out different shades of pink, purple, and yellow, to ensure every hue matched their furniture and statement pieces.
Amid the cosy sofa filled with plush companions, the living room is anchored by statement pieces, such as a Garfield coffee table and a Mickey Mouse TV console. Both were among the couple’s biggest splurges, doubling as playful centrepieces that blend their favourite characters into functional furniture.
DIY candy doors & pastel laminates from Taobao
Visitors are first greeted by a DIY sprinkle door, painted by the couple to resemble the entrance of a candy house. For under $50 and 2 days of work, they laminated the main door and painted the gate, creating a pastel colour-blocked effect that brightens up the HDB corridor.
A similar colour blocking continues inside, where every door was transformed with DIY laminate. As they weren’t fans of the original wood finish, the couple sourced solid colour laminates from Taobao and got hands-on with the process. Each door took about a day to measure, cut, and apply the laminate.
To set the guest bathroom apart, they chose a Crayon Shin Chan laminate, adding a cheeky surprise for visitors. Best of all, the total cost of the solid colour laminates came up to around 120 yuan (~S$21), making it a budget-friendly option to add vibrancy without using custom carpentry.
Full-time artist’s home office
As a full-time artist behind her brand Mochi Buddies, Jean’s home includes a dedicated creation room for drawing and storing her store inventory.
The couple went for a play-school vibe, using primary colours for the stackable storage bins. The bold colour scheme stands out against the pastel tones in the rest of the home, creating a cheerful corner with its own distinct personality.
A toy collector’s dream home
The challenges along the way, from stressing over paint colours to tackling DIY projects, only made the renovation more memorable and the home feel more personal.
For homeowners hoping to achieve a similar look, Jean and her husband share this advice: “Have fun with it! Don’t be afraid of bold colours or playful statement pieces if that’s what makes you happy. Measure your space carefully before buying furniture because it saves a lot of stress later. Most importantly, take your time to find items you truly love instead of rushing to fill the space.”
For more featured homes:
- This $58k self-designed Hougang 4-room reno turned this resale flat into a quirky, one-of-a-kind home
- This Tengah 2-room BTO looks like a Parisian apartment after a $30.5k renovation
- 5 best HDB 3-room resale renovations that make the most of that rectangular layout
Photography by: Aina Izzati Bohari
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