BIG IDEAS for SMALL SPACES

With clever design hacks, anyone can live large in compact Singapore homes

- Chantal Sajan

Designing one's dream home in Singapore usually comes with an extra challenge - making the most of limited spaces.

Four-room Housing Board (HDB) flats are a popular choice among families looking for space to grow while sticking to an affordable budget.

Such a flat typically ranges from 90 sq m to 110 sq m, and includes a living room, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen.

Within these constraints, new home owners have to find ways to come up with spatial planning strategies that allow for more elbow room, stylish touches and a cosy ambience for the whole family.

Three design experts tell The Sunday Times that this can be done by focusing on ensuring flow, minimising clutter and mastering interior lighting. Here are three hacks.

CANNY SPATIAL PLANNING

The good news is that how space is perceived matters far more than actual dimensions, according to spatial design expert Calvin Chua, founder of Singapore-based architecture firm Spatial Anatomy.

"Good design isn't just about materials or colours. It's also about transforming the way a space supports your lifestyle," says the 40-year-old UK-registered architect, who founded his firm in Singapore in 2016. He is also an associate professor of practice at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

London-based architect Cliff Tan (left), 37, who has over three million followers on TikTok, notes that HDB flats in Singapore are laid out in a fairly standard manner, so finding the best spot for the main piece of furniture within a room - such as the bed - is usually straightforward.

However, things can get complicated when one starts adding more furniture.

"You might need to fit in a desk, a dresser, maybe even a chest of drawers," says the Singaporean, who founded his firm Dear Modern in London in 2016. "Once you start adding all these things, you can't always place them in the ideal spots any more."