Big Ideas For Small 2-Room BTO HDB Flats

A large proportion of Singapore women are choosing to stay single in Singapore. Although both genders see a rising share of singles, the number of increases in the number of single women far exceeds men.

With Singapore’s fertility rate dropping, the government has to continuous change its policy to replace its population, as well as change the rules regarding HDB ownership. In the past, Singapore homeowner could only purchase HDB flats when they plan to get married. 

However, the rules have since changed. In 2022, singles were only able to rope in a parent as a co-lessee or opt for an expensive private property. But now, they are able to choose to purchase a BTO unit or to purchase a flexi flat in the resale market as long as they are 35 years of age and single. Unrelated singles 35 years or older are also able to jointly apply for an HDB flat.

For most singles, buying a 2-room BTO flat or a resale flat is an exciting time having lived with parents most of their lives. If you have chosen to apply for a 2-room BTO flat and you have collected your keys, you must feel really eager to start the interior design work and to move into a space you can finally call your own.

Although BTO flats are priced significantly cheaper than those on the resale market, unmarried individuals are restricted to 2-room flexi units only. 2-room BTO units consists of 1 bedroom and 1 living room with the total floor space ranging from 36 sqm to 45 sqm.

So, the question you might be asking yourself prior to renovating your 2-room BTO flat is, how should you maximise the space?

What does 2 room Flexi mean?

The underlying concept of this "2-room Flexi" plan is straightforward. Retirees who now own a larger-than-needed apartment—say, a 4-room apartment that their children have since left—can unlock the value of their larger apartment by selling it on the open market and then purchase a brand-new, less expensive 2-room apartment directly from HDB. 

Giving retirees the choice of shorter leases of between 15 and 45 years in increments of 5 years is the scheme's secondary goal. Instead of being asset-rich but cash-poor, this lowers the total cost of housing and enables retirees to save more money for their retirement.

How Big Are 2-Room Flexi Flats?

Two sizes of HDB 2-room apartments are available: 36 sqm (387 sq ft) and 45 sqm (484 sq ft). 

45 sqm is roughly half the size of a normal 4-room apartment for comparison's sake. It has a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room with a dining space, a bedroom, and a place to house a family. 

It would likely be the perfect size for an elderly couple living alone. The good news is that it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to clean the entire house. However, it could be necessary to relocate the Saturday afternoon mahjong game.

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Glass Panels

Consider using glass panels to make your 2-room BTO flat look bigger. Work with your ID or contractor on which wall you can hack to make way for glass panels. Glass panels give you an open view of your entire home space and creates visual spaciousness and openness for small spaces. 

Glass panels gives an open-floor concept and visually merges the living area, bedroom and kitchen space creating an extra leeway for circulation space. It also allows you to have more space to play with more design ideas. 

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Sliding doors

Change the swinging doors in your flat to sliding doors. Typical swinging doors are not the most space-friendly taking up valuable space, which you want. Switch the swinging doors to bi-folding or sliding doors to add space for your favourite furniture.

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Use Mirrors As Feature Wall

Create illusions with mirrors. If you add an entire feature wall of your room in floor-to-ceiling mirror leafs, you will find that it creates an illusory effect that doubles your space. 

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Built-in Storage

Carpentry for built-in storage conceals everything you want to hide from view, including the TV, because you can customise and decide how you want it to look. You can choose to use the same texture throughout your home to give it a polished look that helps to amplify existing space. 

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Raised Platform

Raised platforms is another idea you can use as a storage idea for your 2-room BTO flat. Not only does it come with plenty of storage space, you can use the platforms to double up as a space to sit in your living room to using it as a bed. 

2 room Flexi Design Ideas: Decorate With Lights

Lights make a huge difference to the design of a home and clever lighting fixtures and false-ceiling solutions can actually play up the drama of small spaces to give it an upscale vibe in your 2-room BTO flat. 

Track lights can be used to create accents, and floor lamps can be used for visual decors while recessed lighting can create drama for your small flat.

Besides these renovation ideas, it helps to disciple yourself by not buying unnecessary items that can clutter up your home. It is important to go through every item you currently possess and make a decision on whether they are needed or not. You can donate or sell these unwanted items and you will be amazed at how much space you can free up.

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