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In the early days, the HDB’s mission was “shelter at all costs” to clear slums and squatter settlements. These flats were basic, functional, and often built in “slab blocks” with long common corridors.
There were separate toilet and shower (to save space), no master bedroom bathroom, and a shared refuse chute located inside the kitchen.
In 1966, the HDB 3-Room Improved (3I) was introduced. It was slightly larger and eventually featured the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) in the 90s, where many owners “bought” an extra utility room at the back, expanding the flat to about 65 sqm.
As Singaporeans became more affluent, they wanted privacy. The New Generation (3NG), built from roughly 1976 to 1989, was a game-changer. For the first time, 3-room flats had two full bathrooms, with one attached to the master bedroom. A slightly later, “leaner” 3-Room Simplified (3S) version (approx. 64 sqm) that still kept the two-bathroom layout but reduced the overall footprint.
In the 1990s, the HDB almost stopped building 3-room flats entirely. The government believed Singaporeans’ aspirations had shifted toward 4-room, 5-room, and Executive flats. During this decade, the 3-room flat was seen as a “stepping stone” rather than a permanent home, leading to a decade-long supply gap that makes 3-room flats from the 90s quite rare today.
The 3-room HDB flat FINALLY made a comeback in 2004 via the Build-To-Order (BTO) scheme. This was driven by shrinking household sizes and the rising number of singles.
Country interior design | $38k
This country-style three-room BTO flat in Yishun, designed by Lemonfridge Studio, demonstrates how a compact HDB unit can be transformed into a warm and inviting home for approximately $38,000. To achieve a rustic aesthetic, the designers utilised various wood-look finishes that add depth and texture throughout the space.
A significant part of the renovation involved hacking walls to replace them with bi-fold glass doors, effectively converting one room into a study while allowing natural light to brighten the living area and kitchen. This layout change helps the flat feel far more spacious than its actual footprint.
Storage was a key priority for the homeowners, leading to several clever and functional design solutions. In the kitchen, a concealed corner unit was built to house numerous utensils, keeping the worktops clutter-free, while pull-out racks were installed to make accessing cookware much easier.
Even the bomb shelter door was maximised for utility, featuring integrated shelving for additional organised space. The home is finished with charming details like a country-style barn door for the master bedroom, ensuring that practical storage needs are met without compromising the flat’s cosy, rustic character.
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New York Loft-Style | $50K
This New York loft-inspired 3-room BTO flat in Punggol, designed by Space Sense Studio for a budget of approximately $50,000, showcases a bold industrial aesthetic. To create an airy and expansive feel, the walls separating the living room, kitchen, and bedroom were hacked, allowing natural light to flow throughout the open-plan layout.
The design features a monochromatic palette accented by artificial ceiling beams and black lines that mimic the look of traditional shophouse floorboards. One of the most striking elements is a central storage unit styled to resemble an industrial garage, complete with brick veneer and wired glass doors.
The home is filled with unique, travel-inspired details that reflect the homeowners’ personalities. In the living room, a recycled oil barrel has been cleverly repurposed into a fireplace-style TV console that conceals messy cables. The kitchen features a “floating” dining table that extends from the island counter, paired with vintage-style fridge handles on the cabinetry for added character. The master bedroom remains relatively minimalist to maintain a sense of calm, featuring a streamlined bed frame and a custom world map print, perfectly balancing the flat’s rugged industrial charm with practical, modern comfort.
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White and Wood Minimalist Renovation
This minimalist three-room HDB flat at Sky Terrace @ Dawson, designed by homeowner Lester Goh, draws inspiration from his family’s travels and years spent studying in Australia. The home features a clean white-and-wood aesthetic, intentionally kept simple to highlight a curated collection of furniture, such as a vintage leather sofa and rattan armchairs.
To introduce architectural interest to the layout, Lester incorporated unique design elements like a slanted false ceiling and an angled laminate wall for the TV cabinetry, which adds a sense of depth and dimension to the living space.
Functionality and safety were paramount, particularly for the couple’s young son, leading to an open-plan configuration that enhances visual connectivity. The wall between the kitchen and living area was hacked and replaced with a versatile island counter, which serves as both a meal preparation zone and a social hub for dinner parties. To maintain a clutter-free environment, extensive cabinetry was designed to conceal messy appliance cables, while the bathrooms utilised white finishes and clever ledges to hide piping, ensuring the compact home feels bright, organised, and spacious.
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A 40s bachelor’s 3-room BTO renovation in Jalan Besar
This renovation of an 819 sq ft, 42-year-old 3-room HDB flat in Jalan Besar transforms a once-congested resale unit into a sophisticated, Bauhaus-inspired bachelor pad.
Designed by Joey Khu, the project radically reconfigured the layout by removing one bedroom to create an expansive, open-plan living and dining area.
The home’s design focuses on unity and visual depth, using repeated materials and custom furniture to create a sense of order. The centrepiece of the living space is a bespoke 2.5-metre-long angled dining table that serves as a versatile hub for dining, working, and meetings.
Pops of cobalt blue and playful geometric shapes—such as half-circle rugs and avant-garde artwork—contrast with the industrial textures of the kitchen’s stainless steel and rippled quartz. By prioritising balanced proportions and layered textures over purely expensive materials, the renovation successfully modernises the aging 3-room footprint into a luxurious, art-led sanctuary tailored for a single occupant.
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A $150,000 3-Room BTO Design
This $150,000 renovation of a 3-room resale HDB in Bishan transforms a previously dingy and poorly ventilated flat into an expansive, light-filled haven.
Designed by architect Liew Kok Fong of Studio Super Safari, the renovation centres on a massive 5-metre-long multi-functional counter that integrates the kitchen and dining areas.
This solid white acrylic table is uniquely mounted on mirror cabinets to create a “floating” effect, visually lengthening the 7-metre kitchen and providing ample space for the homeowners’ passion for cooking and hosting.
Beyond the kitchen, the design utilises a warm, earthy palette punctuated by bold bursts of colour, such as a signature purple sofa and custom-coloured dining chairs.
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A Lady’s 3-Room BTO Renovation at Dawson
This renovation of a 710 sq ft 3-room HDB flat at Dawson Road presents an eclectic “bachelorette pad” that prioritises nostalgia and the reuse of cherished belongings.
Designed by Happe Design Atelier, the home was tailored for an educator, Quek Hui Hui, who wanted to give her existing furniture and art collection a new lease of life.
The standout feature is the creative reupholstering of old furniture, such as a sentimental rattan sofa and a basketball-themed lounge chair, which are integrated into a harmonious blend of contemporary Nordic design and vibrant pop accents.
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A bachelor’s $108,000 DIY 3-Room BTO Design
This $108,000 renovation of a 743 sq ft 3-room resale HDB flat in Serangoon Avenue 2 showcases the power of a DIY approach to interior design.
The homeowner, marketing manager Jeremy How, bypassed traditional interior designers to work directly with a contractor, using 3D modelling software to realise a vision of “calm and quirky” minimalism.
With the existing walls separating the two bedrooms and the living and dining rooms demolished, what used to be compartmentalised spaces now form one large, multi-purpose, living area.
The project involved a total overhaul of the 37-year-old HDB 3-room unit, most notably the demolition of internal walls to merge two bedrooms and the living area into a singular, vast multi-purpose space that prioritises flow over compartmentalisation.
View more here for the full feature.