Introduction

“Hello everyone, my name is Lucas and I am an interior designer from Weiken.com. Using one of my latest project as reference, I will be sharing with you some design tips for your next renovation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5QYVtDv-PM This project is a 4 Room HDB in Teban Gardens for a young couple. The design brief was to create a wide common living space not only for future children, but also for their dogs and cats. Scandinavian designs with contemporary elements are the couple’s preferred style and used throughout the apartment.

Living Room Design

The wide living space is achieved by combining one of the bedrooms with the living room. The effect of this widened spaced is visible right upon entrance and facilitates interaction between all users in the living room.

If space allows, a platform can not only be used as a space for storage, but also acts as a fine gesture to sensually demarcate a more private area from another. Allowing you to carve spaces out such as a lounge or a study area.

If you also have pets at home, cabinets with terracing steps can function both as a storage, and also play area for your pets to entertain themselves when you are away.

Bathroom Design

Now if the main colour scheme of the house is generally subtle, bathroom walls are one of the areas to be bold. In this project, we’ve chosen glossy fish-scale tiles with Japanese patchwork patterns to contrast with its environment.

HDB Yard Design

As for yards, new HDB units generally do not come with windows. It is often a good idea to install for safety of children and preventing rain from getting in during thunderstorms.

Kitchen Design

When it comes to kitchen, functionality will be the most critical. Maximise storage if you a lot of cookwares, and maximise the number of drawers to easier access to stored items. If you’re looking for hobs with minimal maintenance, you may want to choose an induction hob over gas hob as its flat glass top is much easier to clean.

Final Words

All you have seen today are generated in an 3D software. For the best immersion, you will be able see your future home up close even before construction through a Virtual walk-through during the design stage. 360 degrees 3D images will also be available for you to access on your mobile phone or computer anytime you want to have the best understanding of the design. So, if you are still looking for a reliable interior designer, feel free to send an enquiry to Weiken.com and I, Lucas, will be pleased to assist you.

Always feel like you’re running out of space? Here’s some smart renovation hacks for you to try during your 2-Room BTO renovation.

After you’ve gotten your house keys, you’ll probably be stressed out about doing renovation as you attempt to fit in everything in your cosy home. It may be a challenge but with proper planning and renovation, a smaller space could also be as functional as larger spaces.

Whether you are preparing for your 2-Room BTO renovation or renovation for any smaller spaces, the below ideas will help to make better use of your small space.

Table Of Content

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  1. Tear Down The Walls
  
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  2. Keep It Light
  
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  3. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall
  
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  4. Use A Foldable or Pull-out Dining Table
  
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  5. Re-purpose Your Bomb Shelter
  

1. Tear Down The Walls

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 590A ANG MO KIO ST 51

During your 2-Room BTO renovation, it may be a good idea to get rid of the walls and embrace an open-concept as the reduced barriers allows you to maximise space. Think about it, do you really require a wall between your kitchen and living room? Or a wall between your bedroom and living room even?

In order to create a practical  spaces (comfortable to live), sometimes you need to think out of the box and take bold steps. So, why don’t you try tearing down the unnecessary walls and converting them to partitions, glass-door dividers or sliding doors.

2. Keep It Light

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 591A ANG MO KIO STREET 51

One of the quicker ways to make the existing space look larger would be to make use of light color paints . Try painting the ceilings in light colors to create an illusion of increased ceiling height.

When planning for your 2-Room BTO renovation, make your home seem more spacious by using a consistent color throughout the various walls. The illusion of a larger space is created because the eyes are allowed to travel throughout and around the house because the room is painted with lighter colors.

When contrasting or different colors are painted on the walls, the human eyes tend to pause whenever the color changes. This causes the size of the room to seem smaller because the edges are emphasised. Or in other ways, you notice the boundaries. Whereas the space appears to continue when the same color is consistently utilised throughout the house, reducing the boundaries. 

3. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall

Click The Photo To Zoom In!
Project: 16 SHAN ROAD

If an intricate and sophisticated renovation plan is not within your budget, how about creating an illusion of maximised space instead?

Incorporating mirrors into your renovation plan could do wonders by making your room look larger. Simply find the focal point and place some mirrors that angle toward it; this provides an illusion of depth.

• In the day, the usage of mirrors can help reflect sunlight and natural light, making the room look brighter.
• During the night, the mirrors can also reflect artificial light into the house, making the room feel less dull.

If you’re looking to make your home feel even warmer and cosier, you can also try placing the mirrors near the windows to bounce outdoor light deep into the room.

Don’t want to include placement of standing mirrors that occupy space into your 2-Room BTO renovation plan? Then try placing mirrors on the walls or even table tops instead — it helps to give an open feel to your house.

(Bonus Tip: Also try to opt for furnitures with mirrored surfaces or doors as much as possible to make smaller spaces feel larger). 

4. Use A Foldable or Pull-out Dining Table

Photo Credit: Hafele

If you wish to go an extra mile to save even more space, typical dining tables are not the best option. Instead, if you don’t have a lot of people living in your home, try to opt for space-saving dining tables.

Such dining tables include wall-mounted tables or even extendable pull-out tables. Both types of tables will also provide you great flexibility in space usage.

When you need to use the dining area for other purposes, simply keep the table away. Then pull it out again and you’re ready to host your guests for a sumptuous dinner!

5. Re-purpose Your Bomb Shelter

It’s a well-known secret that many of us simply use our bomb shelters as store rooms. Instead of doing that, why not make it part of your renovation plan and turn it into a space that you’ll actually love – while not breaking any rules of drilling or hacking.

This is a pretty good tip to try during your home renovation. Here are some good ideas that will help inspire you when making the plan.

Idea #1: Mini Library

Photo Credit: contemporist.com

Ideal for both parents and the inner bookworm in you. Not able to fit in a full-sized library? Fret not, simply transform your BTO bomb shelter into a mini walk-in library for yourself or for your children. And this is one way you can make better use of the bomb-shelter in your house. 

Idea #2: Hidden Walk-In Wardrobe

Photo Credit: Good Housekeeping

Instead of using the bomb shelter in your home as a storeroom, you could even convert it into the walk-in wardrobe that you’d always dreamed of. Remember, a smaller living space doesn’t translate into having to sacrifice the furniture or renovation style you want – all you need to do is find ways to make these items as multi-functional as possible.

Idea #3: Pet Room

Photo Credit: Musely

Another great way to maximise space by re-purposing your bomb shelter would be to convert it into a pet room. If you’re currently using your bomb shelter solely as a storeroom, how about clearing out the clutter and creating a pet room for your furkids?

The bomb shelter may not be spacious enough to be used as a full-fledged bedroom, but it may just be the perfect spot for your pets! Wouldn’t be a much warmer nest for them as compared to metal cages? Not forgetting, you could even store your pet’s food and belongings in the very same pet room.

And if you do not prefer having your pets roam around while you’re out for work, just add a pet-safe gate at the bomb shelter entrance. Of course, do remember to leave the bomb shelter door open to allow proper air ventilation while your precious fur kids rest in their very own pet room.

10 Practical Lessons for Small HDB Bedrooms Design

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  Lesson 1: Use A Platform
  
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  Lesson 2: Place Your Bed At The Corner
  
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  Lesson 3: Room Combination
  
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  Lesson 4: Use Neutral Colour Tone (Go Soft on Colors)
  
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  Lesson 5: A “Bay Window Seat” May Work For You
  
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  Lesson 6: Recessed Shelves In The Walls
  
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  Lesson 7: Tricks With Mirrors
  
• Lesson 8: Bring The Nature into Your Bedroom
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  Lesson 9: Light Supplying
  
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  Lesson 10: See-though Wardrobe
  

Struggling with Small HDB Bedrooms Design? We Know Your Pains!

We all feel the pain of living in an HDB / BTO flat today, especially when we struggle to incorporate our favorite stuff to the tiny master bedrooms (there’s simply never enough space for our demand).

…Yes, I’m talking about your bedrooms, the 1st place you start a new day, the last place to end a day & also the place where you will spend 1/3 of your life!

While Singapore BTO & HDB flats have been getting smaller over time, it doesn’t mean we can’t have our dream bedrooms come true. In contrast, do you know that a proper layout & design can totally create a miracle in turning a small bedroom into a functional & spacious haven without sacrificing beauty & style?

Don’t believe me? Let’s read #10 practical Lessons below (by Weiken) and start transforming your bedroom into a wonderful place.

#Lesson 1: Use A Platform

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 4-Room HDB at 104A CANBERRA ST

Consider incorporating a platform when designing your bedroom!

Having a platform under your beds not only helps bring a clean & tidy look for your bedroom, but also enhance the functionality by providing extra hidden storage (Either sliding-out OR top-opening style).

#Lesson 2: Place Your Bed At The Corner

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 3-Room HDB at 353B Anchorvale Lane

Although some people may disagree with me and think this layout will limit their choices of directions to access the beds, placing your beds at the corner is really an effective solution to make the most of your space.

#Lesson 3: Room Combination

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 4-Room Condo at 9A RIVERSOUND RESIDENCE

If your bedroom’s area is too small, why not consider hacking down the wall and combine 2 consecutive rooms together. Yes I know this may possibly lead to an extra cost (for hacking work involved) but it’s worth the price since the new space will be really much bigger and more comfortable!

#Lesson 4: Use Neutral Colour Tone (Go Soft on Colors)

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 4-Room HDB at 462D YISHUN AVE 6

Color always plays the vital role in interior design & home decor. That’s why when choosing the painting color for your bedrooms, it’s much better to stick with light & neutral color (White, Citrus Hue, Grey, Purple, Pink) to make the room looks spacious!

#Lesson 5: A “Bay Window Seat” May Work For You

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 4-Room HDB at 591A ANG MO KIO STREET 51

Rather than putting too many random seats around your bedroom, why not try incorporating a bay window seat? It can possibly become a wonderful area for reading books or simply taking a look through the window for relaxation.

Let’s get inspired by the Weiken’s design above and try connecting a bay window seat into your existing bedside vanity (it works like a charm!)

#Lesson 6: Recessed Shelves In The Walls

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 5-Room HDB at 587 WOODLANDS DRIVE 6

Well, if you want more storage spaces but not a fan of too many blocks present in the bedroom, an in-built shelf (in the wall) will be a must-go option for you. Additionally, recessed shelves also brings the modern & luxury look for your bedroom.

#Lesson 7: Tricks With Mirrors

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 5-Room HDB at BLK 487B CHOA CHU KANG AVE 5

The clever use of mirrors inside the bedroom well reflects the light throughout the room, thus providing more exposure & making every inches of your space looks sharper and brighter.

More importantly, the presence of mirrors also help create an illusion of a bigger bedrooms. However, please be careful when choosing the place for the mirrors. Below are some ideal position:

• Near the window
• At the corner
• At L-shape wardrobe

(Avoid hanging the mirrors on the wall opposite the bed, or facing the entrance door for a good health and peaceful sleep)

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 5-Room HDB at 587 Woodlands Drive 6

#Lesson 8: Bring The Nature into Your Bedroom

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 4-Room Condo at 95E Jalan Sendudok

The presence of some flower pots or indoor plants inside the bedrooms creates prominent elements for your space and make it look more eye-catching.

#Lesson 9: Light Supplying

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: 5-Room HDB at 831 WOODLANDS ST 83

When I mention “light”, it doesn’t always mean “artificial light” (from lamps), but also the “natural light”. Yes, that’s true, the more sunlight you can bring to the bedroom, the bigger your room will look (it’s also good for your health).

Addition to the natural light, I will recommend you to install some decorative lights along the walls. Especially if your bedroom is long and narrow, this will be a great tip to make the illusion of a larger space.

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: Landed House at BELGRAVIA VILLA AMK AVE 5

#Lesson 10: See-though Wardrobe

Click the Photo to Zoom in!
Project: Studio at ST THOMAS WALK

Avoid boxing up your wardrobe inside the master bedroom, instead, try to utilise the glass panels to make your room more transparent & brighter!

Conclusion

I hope these 10 lessons will inspire you to transform the current small HDB bedroom into a functional & cozy space today. For more reliable advice & unique ideas for home decor & renovation, please feel free to navigate to Weiken’s best project designs OR contact Weiken now!

Your home should reflect who you are. Our interior design concepts mirror the lifestyle of our homeowners and combining it with a strategic execution of a modern, contemporary design.

HDB homes are no different. Designing an apartment is no trick; from budgeting, to planning, to the execution, everything has to be swiftly prepared. As one of the leading interior design companies in Singapore, we provide quality home interior designing for HDB homes with 3 to 5 bedrooms.

We work with our client’s preferences while improvising using our personal touch. We believe that a home’s interior design should not compromise the living space of homeowners, and it has to lift the character of your homes.

Look through our series of works from our professional interior designers in Singapore. These selection can give you some inspiration for your own humble abode.

Our designers are industry experts who specialises in providing comprehensive home design solutions to help you build your dream home.

Special things come in small packages – even on apartments and condo units. Because no one says that you have to have a huge space to enjoy interior design in Singapore, many little houses are slowly turning into majestic homes. A common approach in designing a small space or a studio-type condo is through minimalism – a little furniture on the corner, a small table at the center, then it should be fine. But to make your place more worth living, you should go with the current trend of having a functional interior design.

Gone are the days of minimalist decorations, because it’s the time to create a space for your homes that serves all your needs. There are plenty of professional interior designers in Singapore who can help you in turning your boring, plain units into a trendy apartment. You may be surprised how a bare studio flat can turn into a magnificent entertainment room in the morning and a cozy bedroom at night.

Here are some tips on how you can make a bigger experience in your small home space:

• Paint the background plain. The wall colors are the basic foundation of a home design. Regardless of how enticing it is to play with wall colors and wallpaper designs, it doesn’t really go well with small spaces. It makes the house look smaller. White, gray, or chrome gives a lighter aura to your home. Also, it allows the furniture and other decorations to stand out.
• Use colors to differentiate spaces. Avoid using walls or dividers as it shrink the place. Instead, choose monochromatic palettes to create an illusion of a room separator. You can have a darker color for private, more intimate spaces like your bedroom, and a lighter, more welcoming color for entertainment spaces such as the living room.
• More than just one room. For small spaces, it may be impossible to equally-divide the spaces of your home for all its functions. Thus, you cannot make your bedroom just a place to sleep and rest. But of course, you would still want to entertain other people in your home while having the opportunity to make it your fortress of relaxation. The smarter way to make your place functional is to divide it into sections – your personal space and your ‘welcoming’ space. You can have your bedroom, study or office corner, and dresser in one side; while you can have the entertainment and living room in one side. The kitchen can also be your party place and your intimate dinner spot. Make each room in your serve many functions.
• Multi-use furniture. A sofa that can turn into a bed, stairs that has drawers underneath, coffee chair with mini cabinets on the side, and a wall bed that can cage everything a person needs are some of the most popular multifunction furniture for modern home designs. These types of furniture certainly save and maximise your space without limiting you from experiencing a fulfilling life.

• Built-in furniture. Instead of buying detached furniture and decors, utilise your walls as the foundation of your bigger furniture. For instance, there’s no need to buy an extra table for your home office desk and there’s no need to set up a TV rack and media cabinets. Build those cabinets and shelves attached to your walls, or other furniture like the bed, and you can save more space. Also, it looks cute.

• Frames above eye level. To make an illusion of having a tall ceiling, make sure to hang paintings and other framed pieces as high as it is aesthetically possible. For example, instead of hanging an artwork in line with the window, try to put it a few spaces horizontally and a bit higher vertically.

• Declutter, as often as you can. All the mentioned tips cannot be effective if your room will be filled with your “everyday” things. Nothing makes a home look smaller than hanging clothes, cluttered papers, and random personal stuff lying around the house. Any place will always look flawless on the first few weeks, but as time passes you may unintentionally accumulate mess. Make sure that you will maintain and keep your humble abode clean and neat all the time.

Get bigger experience on a smaller space The moment you step into your new home, you have already imagined how your life will be on a daily basis. From your uncontrollable busy working days to laidback lazy weekends, you must, at all cost, maximise the experience while you’re at home. As your home gets smaller, it requires more creativity to come up with solutions to save spaces while serving the purpose of your home. It may sound a bit easier but careful planning and placement of furniture may look harder than it is. Good thing, though, there are reliable interior designers that can help realize your dream home. Through creative interior design, living in an undersized space may not feel that small at all.

The best way to set the mood of your home starts with the correct lighting. That’s right. Regardless if your home has the most state-of-the-art furniture or an award-winning interior design, if the lights do not match the room, then you’re sure to be in a big trouble.

Lighting sets the ambience in your home. It has the ability to impact the mood of the people in the room. For example, a living room with bright and shiny lights means a welcoming aura; this is advisable to use when entertaining visitors. A dimmer light on the living room, on the other hand, represents intimacy and peace; this is recommended for romantic nights watching movies. Choosing the right lights can make your house more appealing and, well, homey. Believe it or not, lights have characters too.night.

More than just the mood, lights are also a good investment, and addition, to your home’s interior design. From traditional to contemporary styles, you will never ran out of decorative choices crafted in various materials such as metals, glass, bamboo, crystals, and more. What’s more exciting is that it also comes in different sizes and shapes – lamps, wall lights, chandeliers, etc. Lights also go in different colors; there’s yellow, white, blue, red, and even purple. Each color can match however you decorated the different parts of your home. Each tone and brightness can greatly affect the ambience of the house.

Lights for every room

One of the most popular, and trendy, lighting is the use of natural light. If your home is luckily located in a place with that has a good sunlight, maximise it. Especially in the living room filled it huge and tall windows, the natural light can bring out the elegant atmosphere around the house. Artificial lighting, on the other hand, has to be carefully planned.

You have to remember that each room has different functions, and these are helpful in planning your decorative lighting. For example, if you are going to light the study room you have to have adequate illumination to avoid eye strain. As for your bathrooms and dressing tables, it has to be adaptable based on how you use or need the place. Thus, a dimmer switch may be of great help.

For your entertainment room, you can add a dazzling glow to your TV rack or cabinet using a back panel lighting combined with an adjustable light level for the entire room. In this way, you can personalise the mood depending on the situation. Say if you are watching a movie, you can dim the lights or just keep the back panel lighting. And if you have guests and celebrating, you can have a brighter light.

Aside from the function of the room, you also need to consider the make and the fixtures in it. For textured surfaces like cabinets and dressers, you can add a soft light to create warmth. A plain bookshelf can still look more stylish with the help of some colorful lights.

Basic Lighting Tips

• Your home’s main lighting should be bright. At the end of the day, your home is still a place that needs to be lit. You can play around with different types of lights to set the mood of your home, but you still need to have a bright light to make the entire place visible.
• Size matters. Make sure that you will consider the ceiling height before you run to the chandelier store! You wouldn’t want your dangling lights serve as a curtain too, right?
• Lamps are nice but use it wisely. If you are to put a lamp on your office desk, remember that it’s not just a decoration. You have to place it in the correct angle that it lights the working area. Also, your bedside table lamp is also a good reading light. And most importantly, place the lamp in a convenient distance from the sofa or chair or bed.
• Lights are nice but it shouldn’t compromise your interior design. When choosing light fixtures for your home, ensure that it matches the theme of your home – from the furniture design to the wall colors.
• Maintain the lights as often as possible. Unlike other decorations at home, lights need to be maintained more often. Check or replace the bulbs when necessary; and make sure to wipe it from time to time.

Surely, each light has its function and effect on your homes. And as surprising as it sounds, choosing the best lights to set the mood around the house is no easy task. Home design may come naturally for some, especially if you are already certain on how you visualize your entire place. But for some who need some guidance to head in the right direction, you can seek help from professionals such as an interior decorator in Singapore to make sure that you are doing it right.

Nothing is more exciting than designing a new home, whether it’s your first time to live alone or it’s a new flat that you just moved into. New settlers can’t help but go for quick interior design tricks that can turn their new sanctuary into a haven of homey feeling. If you are one of those new homeowners who’s struggling to decorate your new home, we have a couple of tips here that can help you start a new life in your new home.

1. Lighter and softer colors for small rooms

If you have small rooms in the house, it will look a little cramped and loaded if it’s covered in high-contrast paint. To make the ambience feel a little lighter, use soft colors on the walls so it will reflect the natural light from the windows. In that way, it will look more spacious that it actually it. Darker colors can actually make a room feel smaller.

2. Decorative mirrors can brighten up the place

Instead of putting too many wall hangings such as paintings and photographs, try to install decorative mirrors on some places of the house. Aside from the fact that it is really functional, it’s also stylish and can transform a room for a more elegant look. Mirrors add dimension to your home, too.

3. Add a combination of designs

The tendency about new homeowners is that they frequently leave old things behind and just buy new stuff for the new house. Well, to add a little character on your new home, try mixing old and new furniture and display. Different patterns and textures can create an eclectic interior design, something that can add beauty to your home. You will be surprised how an old family heirloom such as vases and lamps can go perfectly with your new couch. Try to reinvent and mix it up a little.

4. Choose glasses instead of wall dividers

If you are to select a room divider, always go for a glass fixture. Glass dividers make the house look more spacious, also it can save electricity. You can add decorations to your glass walls through the use of stylish drapes and curtains. This gives you a dual option for privacy and style. Moreover, glass is also a better option than a door cabinet. In that way, the cabinets can serve as a storage and a dishware display at the same time.

5. Reinvent and recycle

Honestly, there is no need to buy new stuff to decorate your home. Unpack those baggage and rummage through your old stuff, find something worth recycling. It can be that old coffee table that only needs a couple of new books and sheets to make it look new. Or maybe the old shoe rack that just needs a little repaint so it can look like a new shelf for your living room. Interior design shouldn’t really be about new things; it’s reflecting your own style.

6. Plants are great decorations

We’re not talking about synthetic plants, ok? We mean real, living plants can add color and texture to your home design. More than just its decorative benefits, plants can help clean the household air and balance humidity, plus it absorbs pollution and it removes harmful gases from the air. Going green is a good to go.

7. It’s all on the floor

Little did most people know, the most important part of the house is the floor. From choosing whether you’ll go for hardwood or granite marble, up to deciding if you want to have a carpet or just a plain surface with decorative rags around, it’s tough to make a decision. The best solution? Use a variety of floor design. Each room can have different patterns or textures of floors. In that way, you can set the mood of each room while adding a bit of style on your overall interior design.

8. When all else fail, let a professional do it

Designing your new home can be pretty tedious. That’s why it’s good to know that here are professional interior designers in Singapore who can help you build the fortress that you’ve always been dreaming to have. By setting an appointment with an interior designer, you can share your thoughts and ideas of the house and they can help you bring it to reality. Nothing beats like going home in a well-maintained home.

Regardless of how big or small your office is, it always seems like you can never have too many shelves. Whether you use it as a way to display your office accessories, hold legal documents or store supplies in the pantry, shelving is a practical solution that adds the perfect hint of beauty and functionality to your office.

But, while you’re well-aware of your needs for storage, you may be practically clueless when deciding which shelves will allow you to dramatically upgrade the look of your office, without compromising its functionality and comfort, too.

However, upgrading your office with shelves shouldn’t be difficult when you know the three elements that make up a great shelf option: multi-functional, space-saving and aesthetically pleasing. So, to help you get started, Weiken.com, a trusted interior design brand in Singapore, searched the Internet to give you some of the best shelve samples, along with some tips on how you can integrate them into your office design.

Wall-Mounted Shelf

If you have a modern and minimalist office that exudes the need for a straightforward shelving solution, a wall-mounted shelf may be for you. Some shelf options keep the supports hidden behind the shelves, giving the impression as if they’re cantilevered from the wall.

Such shelf option is great for showing off books, décor, as well as file organizers. Just keep in mind to keep items that you don’t use often on higher tiers, while the ones you frequently use on the lower ones.

Built-In Shelf

When you have a small office, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to accommodate all your odds and ends, particularly when you want the office clean and organized. But, adding a built-in shelf provides more than just a place to store your stuff.

Made to maximize the wall space, built-in shelves offer adequate storage and display space without the need to give up floor space when it’s already limited. An added benefit, it can also add style and architecture to the interior.

Overhead Shelf

A storage directly above a small-space workstation allows for ample space for office necessities while keeping them within reach. The shelf in this picture comes in the same finish as the worktable, creating a sense of casual elegance and style.

Meanwhile, the under-shelf lighting enhances the overall look of the workstation, while adding a crisp look with its minimalist appeal. It illuminates the white tabletop, providing adequate light in order to make up for the light that could’ve been blocked by the storage.

Alcove

An alcove is a recess often formed by a wall being built further back than the rest of the wall. When used to its full potential, it can serve as an attractive focal point of a space.

If you’re in an office with such an interesting architectural feature, you can use the space for additional space to display your prized possessions and décor from awards, lamps to pictures and more. Meanwhile, for alcoves that run from floor to ceiling, you can create a cozy nook for some reading during breaks.

Here are some other shelf options you can consider:

• Multi-Tiered Shelf – This multi-tiered standing shelf is minimal and practical. It offers a modern update to your office, providing additional storage with less floor space.

• Industrial Design Shelf – You may think your office is the last place for an industrial furniture. But, this shelf, with its iron frame proves otherwise.

Choosing the Best Shelf for You

Your options for shelving solutions are limitless, but your choice should boil down to the one that will best suit your needs and taste. If you think shelves are created equal, you’re wrong. Shelves can come in a range of finishes and materials. If you have a traditional office, then a shelf with intricate design may suit your interior perfectly. But, if you want to create a sense of casual and modern elegance, then you may want to opt for a shelf with a minimalist design.

Choose what will work well with your office, and you’ll never go wrong with your decision. Nevertheless, you can always consult an interior design brand specializing in office design in Singapore.

“After much comparison and consultation with various ID firms, my partner and I still decided to go with Weiken.com. Aside from the expertise & experience they possess, we also found them to be one of the most cost effective” — said Mr. Charles Ding (Business Development Manager)

Christmas is in the air! For those who look forward to the Holidays, it’s hard to ignore the appeal of sparkling lights and festive decorations you furnish your home with during the start of December.

You are so delighted with the warmth of the holiday fire and the enticing beauty of your home that you just can’t accept the idea of packing up your decor right after the New Year, one more time. A post-holiday depression creeps in and you tend to want to keep your Christmas tree past its prime and leave the lights on for as long as possible.

But, with a few clever ways to make use of your festive décor year-round, you now have the excuse to extend your Christmas décor! It will not only save you from the trouble of packing up immediately, but it’s also an economical way to use your holiday decor for the next eleven months or longer!

In this article, Weiken, a trusted home and condo interior design firm in Singapore, enumerates the ways to repurpose your festive décor.

Clearance Items That Work All Year

To begin with, if you want your décor to work well beyond the holidays, you should stray away from ornaments that speak directly to Christmas. These can include Santa figurines, nativity scenes, poinsettias and mistletoe. Some alternatives such as snowflakes, pine cones, trees and other winter-themed accents are better in making your atmosphere feel more wintry than Christmas-y

Limit Your Colour Scheme

Further, as much as you’d like to add a touch of the traditional red and green colours, you might be better off opting for modern holiday colour schemes which can include silver, gold, white and other neutrals. Just keep in mind that regardless of your preference, limit your palette to three colours at most.

Add More Green

Anyone can easily associate red with green during the holidays. But, if you’re looking for something that will remain relevant year round, do away with red and instead, focus more on adding fresh greens indoors. Just as you would with a Christmas tree, these evergreens can be easily decorated with garlands and lights. Just imagine the unrivalled beauty and life they can add to your home.

Leave Your Christmas Tree Up

In terms of bulky, seasonal items, Christmas trees take the first spot. But, with some tweaks and a dose of creativity, you can give it a festive twist to suit any other occasion. For instance, you can string a garland of faux foliage around to give it an autumnal flair. Now, you no longer have to worry about where to store your Christmas tree! Meanwhile, check out some other ways to leave your Christmas tree all year long.

Furnish With Neutrals And Metallics

Lastly, to get the most out of your buck, top off your all year round décor with neutral and metallic elements. While it may seem impossible to pass off red and green for Christmas, glass, gold and silver ornaments work just as well. The only difference is that they look better, particularly when used along with natural accents such as twines and woods.

In summary, if you’re looking to spruce up your home with something that will remain relevant year round, then look for holiday decorations that aren’t too specific to Christmas. Try one or two of these year-round solutions and you’ll never have to pack everything away again the next season!

Some homeowners require nothing more than a basic kitchen where there’s just enough cabinets, counters and appliances to serve food on the table. But, if you’re a fan of Master Chef who loves to cook and spends most of the time in the kitchen, then there are scores of kitchen interior design and renovation ideas that will transform your kitchen into a place where you enjoy to work in.

As one of the best interior design firms in Singapore, we take kitchen remodels seriously. We believe that even if you don’t do much of the cooking, the style and functionality of your kitchen is more important than ever. After all, it’s where you start with your day – sip your first coffee and read newspapers in the morning.

So, where to begin? We share the best tips on how to upgrade your kitchen like a 5-star chef.

Choose Functionality Over Style

Although style and functionality go hand in hand, it’s essential to put purpose first. So, when renovating a kitchen, position the sink adjacent to the cooktop and countertop to form a triangle.

Because we engage these fixtures the most out of any other in the kitchen, they should be no more than 6 ft. apart to guarantee ease of movement when preparing food.

Maximise Kitchen Island

Part workspace, part dining table, part storage – a kitchen island just serves multiple purposes. Smartly placed in the centre of the room, it provides an additional countertop for cooking as well as storage – hooks, shelves and drawers – for your kitchenware. It also proves to be a great place to gather everyone when dining.

For best results, consider an island that offers all these conveniences, and pair it with seating that matches the overall design. When all these are considered, make sure that the island leaves enough space to ensure easy access to the kitchen.

Invest In Your Storage

In kitchen renovation, it’s not merely a question of having an adequate amount of storage, you also need to identify the types of storage you actually need. So, it pays to get these details right. Here are some of the typical options you can consider:

• Open shelves – The absence of cabinet doors make an open shelving a great way to display all your kitchenware and supplies in fancy containers. Install shelves from the countertops all the way to the ceiling to make good use of the vertical space.
• Overhead cabinets – Installing overhead cabinets is also a great way to maximise the space between the countertop and the ceiling, while at the same time conceal clutter that you may not have time to organise.
• Concealed storage – Creating concealed cabinets is a recurring approach we take on many of our interior design projects. It offers a barely-there look on the cabinets, thanks to the absence of handles on the surface.

Get The Lighting Right

You can’t cook like a five-star chef if you can’t see your kitchen properly. The solution to bring in adequate light is to make sure that you’re making the most out of natural light. Often it means installing shelves across and above the windows to keep them from blocking the light penetrating through.

Additionally, while overhead lighting may be a given, it may be insufficient in the kitchen as it has the possibility to cast shadows on the workspace. It can be solved as simply as by placing lights on the bottom of the overhead cabinets to illuminate the area where you prepare food.

Give Your Kitchen A Personality

Just as you would add personal touches to your living room, pouring your character into your kitchen will not only create a space that is truly functional but one that is the focal point of your home.

It can be achieved by planning everything down to the last detail from the paint colours, window dressings, flooring, materials and finishes – and while you’re after exceptional styles, you should also opt for ones that are durable and handles signs of wear and tear beautifully for years to come.

Kitchen renovations, while they can be costly and time-consuming, are always worth the dollars you spend to transform your space into a 5-star-worthy kitchen. So, it goes without saying that if you want your kitchen renovated, you want to do it the right way – and Weiken can help you with just that.

The successful Kevin Kwan book series Crazy Rich Asians that has recently been adapted into a multi-million box office film romps through the fictitious, opulent world of Asia’s super wealthy and their upper-class living in luxury properties.

In the series, Nick Young is portrayed as the protagonist who hails from a crazy rich, but secretive family in Singapore. But, no matter how fictitious his character may sound, many of the elements the author details were actually based on real-life encounters with Singapore’s super-rich – an upper-class of society that the masses can only imagine in magazines and on social media.

But, while the Kevin Kwan books speak a seemingly far-fetched truth, the city-state is actually home to millions of dollar worth of properties only the crazy rich can afford. Now, while you may not fall under this upper-class, you can and deserve to enjoy the grandeur of a luxury home even without spending the money you don’t have.

In this article, Weiken, an award-winning interior design firm in Singapore is revealing the secrets on how to achieve a million dollar-looking home without breaking the bank!

Add Lightning

Lighting is one of the essential elements in a space, but it’s also one that’s often overlooked. When upgrading your home, you’ll want to create depth in the room by having additional light sources such as table lamps and pendant lights. You can also place candles in reflective glass containers for a cheaper alternative to lamp shades.

Invest In Textiles

Another easy way to spruce up your room is to invest in textiles such as throw pillows and cushions. Now, while these may seem costly upfront, there are many ways you can save a few bucks like by hitting up your local fabric store to hunt for discounted textiles and sew them yourself if you’re feeling crafty. These can instantly make your room feel more cosy and luxurious.

Upgrade Your Window Treatments

Many expensive homes indulge the conveniences of having high ceilings and towering windows that flood the interior with natural light. Get this look by hanging your curtains as high and as close to the ceiling as possible and make sure that they’re long enough to touch the floor. Finally, for that warm and cosy feel, opt for sheer curtains that will soften the light when penetrating through.

Display A Large-Scale Art

A large-scale, attention-grabbing piece of art can imbue your space with an instant lux feel. If you’re on a budget, you can check out thrift stores for bargain artworks. But, if you’re feeling artsy, you can also do it yourself! All you need is an oversized canvas and the medium of your choice. After all, you don’t need to spend a lot to own an impressive piece of art.

Play With Textures

For a look that’s collected rather than matchy-matchy, mix up a variety of textures such as glass, wood, metal and textiles. You can make a trip to discount home furnishing stores for faux fur blankets, sheepskin throws and statement area rugs to achieve a look that is both elegant and luxurious without breaking the bank.

Replace Or Add Mouldings

To wrap this list, make your home look and feel more expensive by improving its interior architecture. We don’t mean a full renovation though. Simply add mouldings to your walls to create a distinct character to your space. But, if you already have mouldings in place, then you might want to replace them with something thicker for a more elegant look. You can opt to hire a professional for this job.

Final Tips

• Commit to a unified palette

A coordinating palette makes a home feel more intimate and intentional. Pick a palette and stick with it. So, whenever you come across affordable pieces that match your colour scheme, you can easily buy them knowing that they will blend perfectly with your existing interior.

• Go minimal

Living in an age when minimalism is coveted has its own perks. You are urged to make a space look more expensive by putting less in it – and buying fewer pieces means saving the money you could have spent on more accessories that you may not really need.

Of course, every interior design is individual to your home and to you. If you’re on a tight budget but are looking to upgrade your space into something the crazy rich will love, you can trust Weiken to give you the best advice on how to do exactly just that.

Designing a bedroom is relatively easy, but designing a kid’s bedroom is entirely a different matter.

Even if you’re feeling pretty confident in making sure that your kid’s bedroom looks good, chances are, you’re missing out on how to make it functional and kid-friendly. It’s easy to lose the idea of what it should be – a room that is more than merely a place to sleep but a sanctuary that will foster imagination, a safe environment where they can run wild and free.

It’s better to be prepared for the worst. So, as a trusted interior design firm in Singapore, we present this guide on how to childproof your kid’s room and some decorating ideas to boot.

How to Childproof Your Kid’s Bedroom

The first step in making the bedroom safe for kids is by childproofing it. If something poses a hazard to your child, remove it. The same goes when shopping for furniture: avoid anything that has the tendency to compromise the safety features of the bedroom.

In addition to making sure that every item is kid-friendly, it’s essential to take an overall approach to guarantee safety in your child’s bedroom. Here’s what to look for:

• All furniture should be sturdy – Secure shelves, dressers and other freestanding furniture pieces to the wall to make sure that they will not tip.
• Lock doors, drawers and cabinets – Lock all the storage items that your child shouldn’t have access to.
• Cover electrical outlets – Place covers on all electrical sockets to keep your child from touching them and risk electrocuting himself.
• Don’t attract your child to danger – As much as possible, never place toys on the topmost shelf as it could encourage your child to climb to reach them.
• Pad sharp edges – If you can’t avoid furniture with sharp edges, then you can opt place some corner or guards that can help prevent injuries.
• Check knobs – Child-friendly dresser knobs can be quite tricky: they should be too large to swallow and too small to serve as a climbing foothold. They should also be secured so they will not be easily pulled out.
• Store toys conveniently – Keep toys in easily accessible storage and avoid a toy box with a lid that opens vertically. The lid has a tendency to fall over your child when he reaches for a toy.
• Choose window treatments wisely – Moreover, avoid curtains that can be easily pulled down and Remove or keep any cord that can be dangling from the sides. Otherwise, keep them out of reach.

Store toys conveniently

Bedroom falls are not unusual. In fact, it’s among the top causes of death and injuries among children under 5 years old in Singapore. So, to reduce the risk of bedroom falls:

• Install a safety rail to the bed frame
• Move your child to a bed as soon as he starts to climb out of the crib
• Place area rugs with slip-proof mats underneath; and
• Provide a nightlight in the bedroom

An environment where your child feels safe offers far more benefits than you can imagine. It gives them the freedom to explore his surroundings while he is still learning how to be more alert and self-sufficient.

But, more than a safe bedroom, a child can also make the most out of living amidst a beautiful space. The problem is that many parents tend to hold off decorating until their children are older, thinking the kids will only damage everything else.

We don’t mean that your kids should always be spotlessly clean and organised – but we also not mean they can’t build towers and run laps in their Superhero costumes in a beautiful and kid-friendly bedroom.

Consider a style that will welcome the safety measures not to mention, the mess that comes with having a child and design accordingly. Our professional home interior designers in Singapore can help you with just that.

If you’re looking for a hand in creating a child-friendly bedroom, get in touch with Weiken today!

The time when you have to manually lock your doors and play music on the speakers are already a thing of the past in the smart home of today. It took years to get here but, the smart technology today has been demonstrating us the possibilities of a smart home. In fact, statistics predict the smart home devices industry will hit the $100 billion mark by 2023 as homeowners are aggressively adopting the advanced technology in the years to come.

We may not be experts in the smart home technology, but as a trusted home interior designer in Singapore, we have worked with clients who wanted to integrate artificial intelligence solutions in their homes. So, to give you an idea, we made a list of what we think are the most in-demand smart gadgets available today along with some tips on finding the right ones for you.

Smart Speakers

Image: Pexels

Smart home speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home were the first ones to introduce us to the power of smart home technology. Alexa, for instance, the virtual assistant built into the Echo, responds to voice commands to play music.

But, not only that, when your speaker is connected to other smart devices like the thermostats and lighting, it allows you to control them without even leaving your couch. The Google Home, on the other hand, has the Google Assistant built into it, allowing you to add a to-do-list to your Google Calendar through the device.

Wireless Door and Window Sensors

Smart door and window sensors provide an added security for your home. They are considered a cost-effective security system that alerts you when an intrusive activity is detected. What’s great about them is that you can monitor these sensors using a smartphone app intended for them.

The app sends you a message or an email when suspicious activity is detected, alerting you real-time. It also allows you to verify if all the entry points are closed, regardless of where you are at the time.

Air Purifiers

Image: Your Best Digs

Now, to help you maintain appropriate humidity in your home, there’s a smart and compact device that purifies the air indoors. It features an aroma diffusion capability that eliminates bad odours from the room.

But, unlike its regular counterpart, a smart purifier allows you to track what sort of impurities are infiltrating the air indoors and control the air quality within your home. It’s also connected with a smartphone app that delivers this data in real-time.

Temperature Control

Smart thermostats are the evolution of the traditional heating and cooling control in your home. Thermostat devices such as the Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee4 have the function to automatically adjust the temperature when their sensors realise you’re not at home.

Such a setting not only makes it easy to control the temperature within your home, but also helps conserve energy, maximising the efficiency of the household.

Lighting Control

Along with these smart devices, a lighting control system completes your basic smart ecosystem. It provides you with the ability to control the brightness, warmth and colour of your lights with a smartphone app or even with your voice.

Aside from conserving energy, using smart bulbs also let you alter the ambience of the room through an app. Motion detection is also available on some brands.

Setting up your smart home can be as straightforward as placing a smart speaker in the living room. But, it’s complexity still depends on to what extent you’re willing to invest in your smart ecosystem and personalise it your preferred level of comfort.

Nevertheless, this list of smart gadgets can help you start with your journey to creating a smart home.

If you want a home bathed in light, there are a few adjustments you need to make. Through this, not only will you get to enjoy the benefits of natural light, but you’ll also have a home that is a design masterpiece.

Take inspiration from these Singaporean homes (full article link): https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/spaces-we-love-singaporean-homes-washed-natural-light

… His heart is full when he has a cozy home that he looks forward to coming back to after work. For those who would like to set up a meeting with Heartland Boy’s interior designer, Jessie of Weiken.com, simply leave a comment below and he can help link you up …

Read full article here: https://heartlandboy.com/hdb-bto-renovation-interior-design/

(https://bobbergdesigns.com/)

Creating your dream home need not be a difficult task. Let SquareRooms and Weiken.com help you. We are inviting all homeowners-to-be to meet us so that we can help you design your desired home. For a start, simply register your interest below and bring along your floor plan to get a free consultation with the designers.

Read full article here: https://squarerooms.com.sg/promo/squarerooms-presents-design-your-home-with-weiken-com/

Choosing an interior designer can be a daunting task with the sheer number of interior designers in Singapore. The last thing anyone wants is to end up a victim of a renovation scam. But even with the help of home renovation sites, there can be an overwhelming number of choices to filter through. Hence, we have researched and compiled this list of interior designers that you should check out for different desired home styles. With regards to how we curate our picks, please refer to the bottom of this article.

Read full article here: https://www.theweddingvowsg.com/interior-designers-singapore/

It’s the start of a brand new year and also the perfect time for a round-up of home trends and ideas from 2018. From chic monochrome spaces on Instagram to tranquil Zen dwellings from Facebook, here are the most popular homes that you were swooning over!

Our Top Facebook Favourites

1. It’s no surprise that this apartment (by Weiken.com) is a fan favourite. Light wood hues, dining bench, a platform and half-hacked kitchen wall? This Japanese, ryokan-inspired interior, with its serene atmosphere, checks all the right boxes when it comes style and function.

…. Read the full articles on Qanvast: https://qanvast.com/sg/articles/best-of-qanvast-the-most-popular-interior-ideas-of-2018-1747

Which Interior Design Firms should you hire so you don’t get scammed? To get you started, here are 5 companies that are CaseTrust-accredited and have done really swee designs in HDB flats.

Read full article here: https://blog.moneysmart.sg/budgeting/interior-design-singapore-casetrust/

While Weiken.com’s managing director Vincent Neo’s chief talent may be design, he is also a marketer at heart. A strong believer in branding, he has positioned his company’s strategy by taking inspiration from the branding campaigns of large companies like OSIM and Amazon.com. “Branding is crucial to companies in industries like ours where it is important to extend reach and build a strong reputation in order to ensure a consistent customer stream,” he explains.

Read full article here: https://www.smeportal.sg/content/smeportal/en/stages/grow/2015/Capitalising-on-a-Strong-Reputation-for-Business-Growth.html

It is common thinking that homes of the elderly should be just utilitarian bereft of any style. That’s not true with a semi-retired couple living along Kim Tian Road. When they met Emily Tan of Weiken, their brief was to create a modern home with clean lines and it had to be easy to maintain. The inclusion of plenty of storage space was also paramount. There also had to be more space for them to walk around.

Read full article here: http://homeplusliving.com/2016/02/16/house-tour-an-apartment-for-an-elderly-couple-demonstrates-how-style-and-function-can-coexist/

With many years of experience in the industry, Neo and Goh are both still constantly upgrading themselves to keep up to current standards. They place their heart and soul into ensuring their best for their customers. Committed to the Company’s philosophy of “placing a client’s design wishes first, coupled with design creativity, quality workmanship and excellent customer service”, they work towards their mission of turning their customers’ dream interior space into reality.

Read full article here: http://soe.org.sg/awards_2013_interview/vincent-neo-goh-joo-hong/

Weiken.com is one of Singapore’s largest and most prominent interior design firm, with widespread appeal and a host of celebrity fans. On 24 November 2013, the local company achieved yet another milestone with the grand opening of its new showroom at Oxley Bizhub. This new showroom is strategically located in the East, and specifically addresses the common challenge of working with small living areas.

Read full article here: https://www.lookboxliving.com.sg/happenings/weiken-com-showroom-grand-opening