Can You Afford to Hire Interior Designers for Your Singapore HDB Flat?

Are you dreaming about renovating your HDB apartment? If so, you have to choose between a DIY project and hiring professionals to carry out the renovation for you. Many people, however, still worry about getting interior design assistance due to cost considerations.

Is it expensive to hire a professional interior designer in Singapore? The answer depends on several things.

Factors that Affect the Cost of the Interior Design Work

Singapore interior design work does not come with a fixed cost. Rather, a professional will come to do a preliminary HDB apartment residential interior design assessment and talk to you. Through this first meeting, the interior designer will get a better idea about the characteristics of the property and the scope of the work that you want to have done.

Several factors will play a role in the final calculation. The size of the apartment is the first one. A bigger apartment will obviously necessitate a lot more work, especially if you’re planning to redesign or renovate the entire living space.

Several other factors will also play a role as far as the cost of interior design services is concerned:

• Whether it’s a new or an old building: new buildings don’t need to have that much work done on them. If you live in an older building and you want the entire apartment to be upgraded and modernised, you will have to spend more on the work.
• The materials and items you are looking for: tiles, carpets, paints, furniture and accessories don’t come at a fixed price. Your taste and preferences will have a determining role for the amount you will have to spend on the acquisition of all these supplies for the execution of the project.
• The interior designer’s pricing policy: while most professionals in the field would like to maintain their competitiveness, there will be some variations as far as charging structures go. Some have an hourly rate; others calculate a cost on the basis of the apartment’s surface area. Some may have a combination rate. Always ask about the manner in which the interior design modification rate is going to be calculated. This way, you will not be subjected to surprises once the work begins.

Based on this information, you can now determine how much the HDB apartment renovation is going to cost you. According to some estimates, the cost of renovating a four-room HDB is about $55,000. This doesn’t mean you can’t get the job done for $15,000 to $20,000. You may want to give professionals that you’re interested in working with an idea about the budget in advance. When interior design service providers know what the limit is, they will suggest renovations and improvements that give you the outcome you want without going overboard.

Finding the Best Quote Necessitates a Proactive Approach

Going for professional interior design makes a lot of sense for your HDB home. For a start, interior designers are professionally trained to increase the comfort and the functionality of the available space. A tiny HDB apartment can look so much bigger through the selection of the right furniture, colour schemes and accessories.

In addition, professional work will result in the quick completion of the project, a comprehensive approach towards the renovations and the choice of the best materials for the execution of the particular remodelling. When doing a DIY project, you will often have to adopt a trial and error approach due to the lack of knowledge and experience. Such an approach may end up costing you more in the long term, plus you could be dissatisfied with the final outcome of the renovation.

The benefits of professional interior design services are easy to understand but you may still be worried about the cost.

A proactive approach on your behalf can help you save some money and still choose a home interior design Singapore service provider that has an excellent reputation.

The number one thing to do is talk to several service providers. Get quotes from all of them. If you haven’t done an HDB renovation in the past or if it’s been a long time since the last project completion, you will certainly lack information about charges and fees.

When you get the offers, compare them side by side. A good quote should come with a price breakdown. All charges should be listed and announced upfront. If the quote appears to be vague, chances are that additional charges will be revealed once work begins. Don’t leave things to chance and ask questions. Go for the interior design professional that communicates effectively with you and that’s willing to offer a bit of flexibility.

A Few Additional Considerations

Interior design professionals in Singapore can offer a range of services. The specialisation and the nature of assistance could have an impact on the cost of the project. If the interior design company is also taking care of renovations, it is essential to make sure they are HDB licensed and are well-versed in HDB renovation guidelines!

Does the respective company specialise in luxury interior designs, interior design project management or functional projects? Will they oversee solely the interior design work or every aspect of the renovation (like new wiring or plumbing)? The more comprehensive and exclusive service you’ll be getting, the more expensive it’s going to be.

It may be a good idea to opt for a company that does planning work, interior design project management and execution. While you may have to spend a bit more on such assistance, you will be free from having to get involved with contractors. The interior designer will handle the project from scratch to finish.

If you are looking for reputable and experienced interior designers, you should definitely get in touch with the Home Guide Interior Design team. We have been in business since 1992 and over the years, we have worked with numerous satisfied clients. Home Guide team has managed to maintain an excellent reputation because of our personalised approach, the effective communication with customers and a policy of honesty from start to finish.