by Montie Mahtani | Jan 27, 2016 | Home Upkeep, Trending Styles
Small living room is not a disease, but it sure has the power to make you feel like you’re trapped and with that feeling waiting for you at home all day every day it might as well be a disease. Singapore interior designers have been innovating solutions to solve such dilemmas.
If you have a living room that is smaller than what you would prefer, take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone. My guess is most people who live in a big city around the world share the very same pain as you do. If it makes you feel better, I have seen someone living in a very literal closet in New York City. So at least you have a living room, right?
In Singapore, most of the residents in this fine island would probably agree that the size of their living room could really use an upgrade. But this is Singapore, not Texas. Your HDB flat comes with a “fun size” living room oh well what can you do?
Actually, there are a lot you can do.
Like, mirrors.
image source: www.housetohome.co.uk
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, tell me if my living room is big enough to host a ball.”
Well, if you’re reading this, the answer is probably going to be no.
But having a mirror on the wall is a good start! We all know that mirror is a great space play, and big mirrors can make a place look and feel much bigger. Think about it, those dance studios are never as big as they seem! Use mirrors to virtually extend your living room, although we all know it’s not real but hey, as long as it feels real, and you and I both know it will!
If you’re feeling particularly wild about it, you can position the mirror across from a window to maximize the virtual effect.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Image source: www.homedit.com
We know that sometimes just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there, but it sure feels that way, right? With the demand of storage solution rising with time, a lot of the furniture in the market offer storage space to help with the problem. Stairways, under-bed, and sometimes even storage spaces in disguise as couch, coffee table and more!
And don’t forget that vertical space.
image source: www.homedit.com
Take a look up, that’s probably the most spacious space you have in your apartment. That means… Space. Are you going to let that go to waste? Of course not! Use the wall for vertical storage space, of if you have the luxury of not needing more storage space, hang something simple or an elegant wall art to say “Hey, look at me, but not really, look how spacious this is.”
Hold on, I’m not done yet.
Image source: www.messhall.org
Desperate to free up some space just to lighten up your living room a little? Here’s something for you: Get rid of your traditional couch and replace it with a backless couch.
It’s like getting a hair-cut, you’d be amazed how much of a difference it makes without the back cushion. Freeing up a significant amount of space virtually and gives your living room a clean and fresh vibe.
And sometimes, to avoid looking too cramped, we must add a little something first.
Image source: www.home-designing.com
Plants. Get yourself some easy to take care of, small and clean looking plants and put them in the corner.
I know, I know. You’re thinking doesn’t that take more of my space? I am trying to make my living room look spacious!
Well, sometimes it’s all in your head, and with a little help, you, too can play tricks on your mind. The corner greenery does exactly just that, tricking your head thinking the space is bigger than it really is.
And for the non-deceiving tricks….
Ultimately, making your living room (actual) spacious is about getting rid of stuff, or, if the stuff is small enough, hide it.
And here’s where multifunctional furniture come in, choose furniture that can serve as more than one thing, this could be a pull out bed, or a sofa that comes with storage space. Either way, the principle is to Use. Every. Inch. Of. Your. Home. Space. (And sometimes use it twice!)
Related (Tricks that make you living room look and feel bigger)
Also, for the more open looking home space, consider getting built in storage. This type of storage usually fully utilizes your apartment layout and often come in as a floor to ceiling arrangement, some with a touch of connecting wall shelves, bringing all your storage needs right by the wall and open up the living space.
Image source: www.housetohome.co.uk
by Montie Mahtani | Jan 18, 2016 | Design Tips, Trending Styles
One of the many questions that people are aware of but don’t really understand how much thoughts and effort is put into in your interior design is the colors, . While you might think there are a primary set of colors that can be found in almost every home, the arrangement of each color and the pairing of them are both something an interior design has to really spend time on, not just something that “looks good” will do, even a Singapore interior designer would agree with this.
So what goes into consideration when designing the color themes in a home? For starter, the functionality of the space. The living room should have a different vibe from the bedroom, the master bedroom generally feels different from the children’s bedroom. After setting up a clear direction of how the space should feel in each space, that’s where the psychology of colors come in to help.
Another thing people often don’t notice is that the colors in interior design absolutely go beyond wall, ceiling paints and large furniture. The lamp in your living room corner, the vase sitting in your kitchen are all a part of a greater colors theme.
Of course, not every person on earth will feel exactly the same toward the same colors or a combination of colors. However, the psychology in interior design aims to deliver to a more general population with themes that are more general. For example, almost everyone associates black with night and white with daytime or brightness. While some might feel a little stronger and more emotions toward white, white would be the color to go to for brightness and a positive vibe.
So what are the colors that are often used in interior design and what are their psychology effects? Here are some small examples:
The Master’s Bedroom
In most homes, the master’s bedroom is one of the most authoritative space in the house. Unlike a nursey, the master’s bedroom usually provide a stable, elegant vibe with a color theme that caters to both sexes.
Healing Aloe
Image source: pinterest
Image source:theestateofthings.com
Healing Aloe is a combination of blue, gray or green and can look either of them in different lighting situation or just by different people. The soft, elegant and tranquil vibe that comes with the color makes it one of the more popular choice of wall paint.
Khaki Green
Image source: houzz.com
For a contemporary touch, Khaki green is a cool looking color that has the rare ability to mix well with colors that are on the more classy and elegant side, perhaps it’s the peacefulness in khaki green that makes it go so well with the home space.
Quartz Moon
Image source: pinterest
Quartz moon is a shade of lavender that is excellent with natural lights, the subtleness in colors also makes quartz moon a very gender neutral color, not too feminine, not too masculine. A perfect balance in the master’s bedroom.
The Children’s Room
Lavender
Image source: bumopodir.blogspot.com
With all the entertainment and activeness going on in your children’s room, a touch of lavender can serve as the calming factor in the room, also brining a little bit a sophistication into the room.
Yellow
Image source: valiant-design.com
The ultimate color of youth and playfulness, through the proper balance of yellow and other more calming colors will bring your kid’s room to live without being “too loud”.
Marine Blue
Image source: talkandsleep.wordpress.com
The classic “the boy’s room” color, never gets out of style. Energetic, bright but not too much that one can’t relax when seeing it.
The Living Room
The Gray-Blue-Green combo
Image source: pinimg.com
All the calming colors roll into one to create a calming effect with a hint of the excitement of outdoor. A popular color combination for the family who enjoys a little outdoors but also enjoy spending a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the living room with loved ones.
Red
Image source: decorwoo.blogspot.com
More than just a Taylor Swift hit song, a little bit red in your living room creates excitement and makes your living room feel more inviting to guests.
Greige
Image source: decorpad.com
A very neutral and relaxing color tune that does very well with natural light, works well with modern home design but also suitable for a vintage scene with its elegance and class.
Related (7 Open Concept Ideas For Your HDB Flats)
Cheerful Blue
Want something a little more cheerful for your living room but don’t want to turn it into a kid’s room? A decent amount of cheerful blue will do.
Image source: decoratorsbest.wordpress.com
Kitchen
Gray & Woodlawn Blue
Image source: pinterest.com
A splash of edginess and impact in your kitchen, taking a little break from all those warming colors.
Warm Sienna
Image source: pinterest.com
A cozy and warm color , soft on the eyes and comforting like mom’s home cooking.
Golden Honey
Image source: benjaminmoore.com
A delight among your wooden furniture, bringing a little bit of sunshine in the kitchen.
Golden Brown Sugar
Image source: hotalizee.com
A warm, comforting color that relaxes you while making the food in the kitchen even more appetizing.
Cream Stone
Dining Room
Midnight Sky
Image source: blog.countrychicpaint.com
The all-time champion of delivering a sophisticated, elegant vibe into any setting and space, the midnight sky in dining space also brings out the class vibe.
Truffle Brown
Image source: theclassyhome.com
A lift for your airy white ceiling and a seamless look in your dining room.
Apple Green
Image source: solelyhouse.com
A fresh look for your dining room, energetic and a modern vibe in the space that’s traditionally warming, making your dining just a tad more interesting while still staying on the warm and comforting side.
Spicy Orange
Image source: postmoderndir.blogspot.com
A great color to break away from the warmth, also a great add-on to avoid making your dining room looking too intense or serious.
by Montie Mahtani | Dec 23, 2015 | Design Tips
Also known as open-plan, an open concept apartment is an apartment with little to none walls, doors or any kind of barrier between living room, kitchen and dining room. Although not a brand new idea, open concept has really found its way in many apartments around the global, including Singapore, as people have grown to enjoy the intimacy an open concept brings to an apartment. In fact, the open concept can often be found in HDB interior designs.
Without walls, doorways or any barrier between living room and kitchen, family members are encouraged to interact with each other while enjoying different functions of the apartment. Open concept also removes the “dead space” in interior design – the space used up for walls and doors, giving those space back to your apartment for a more spacious looking home. Additionally, the lack of walls also allows a greater access of natural light in the apartment, a great way to instantly make your apartment look more lively.
While the open concept can be found in apartments of all sizes working its magic, bringing families and natural lights closer, it is especially great for apartments are of smaller sizes. So if you think your Singapore HDB flat is looking and feeling a little cramped, some open concept magic might just be the answer for you. Of course, HDB interior design is no easy task, find out what works best and fully communicate your needs with your interior designer before you commit to an open concept to make sure your open concept flat is tailored to your needs.
Here are a few HDB open concept ideas for inspiration:
For apartments that houses 1 -2 residents, an open plan can easily be arranged to free up dead space and makes your apartment looks more spacious:
177 Bt Batok
Instead of putting a traditional, heavy dining table that takes up so much space, go for a carefully selected “light” dining table that goes well with your HDB interior design and still keep the apartment looking lightweight.
177 Bt Batok
And then, of course, although a lot of apartments are designed in warm colors, this doesn’t limit the open space concept one bit. In fact, for a more futuristic and modern vibe, use black and white as your main color theme for your modern open space apartment:
Image source: founterior.com
And of course, you can also play a little mix an match, putting a little modern in your cozy warm colored home:
177 Bt Batok
And as far as the elimination of barriers goes, just because you need storage area doesn’t mean you need a cabinet. Free up that space by getting some wall shelves instead.
(Of course, don’t forget to make sure your wall shelves are strong enough to carry the things that you’d like them to carry.)
Once again, for those who lives alone or with only one other person, the elimination of traditional dining table can free up a good deal of space, replace it with a corner wall cabinet or breakfast bar for a more spacious apartment.
Even for the bigger household ( 3-4 people), this can still be easily done by setting up a breakfast bar that is just a little far reaching on both side to double as dining table and food preparation area.
Have a long, railroad style apartment? Don’t worry, the open space concept works just as fine.
For the big family apartment that are relatively richer in space, consider install big windows, if not floor to ceiling windows to utilize the natural light intake. Something like this:
Image soure:snapdesign-contraciting.com
So. Much. Lights.
Or this:
Image source: houzz.com
At the end of the day, home is where you and your family members come back to not only to unwind, but also to be with the people you love and care about. And open concept bringing you closer by eliminating all walls within, creating a more intimate vibe while allowing you and your family members to really “share” the living inside of the apartment. Especially in a busy household, the people in the kitchen and easily interact with people in the living room and multitask, getting things done without sacrificing your family time.
As always, run through all your ideas with a professional interior designer to make sure you didn’t miss anything and that everything you need is incorporated into the design, then sit back and relax for a new “living” in the house!
by Montie Mahtani | Dec 15, 2015 | Design Tips, Trending Styles
Back in my mom’s generation, pets are rarely a factor when it comes to interior design or any home renovation, however, like many things in this world, a lot of things has changed in just one generation. Our pets are more and more treated like our family, and they deserve to be. This also means that we go beyond the love and affection and start building our home with them in mind, too! More and more homes are adding pet-friendly features to make their pets really feel like home and have their own special feature in the house. If you don’t know how, here’s a few key features to think about:
Flooring.
The beauty of hardwood floor is undeniable. However, the hardwood beauty might also be difficult to maintain when the claws are doing things that claws do on it all day. Hardwood floors are easily scratches and dents comparing to other flooring options. Choosing harder woods like oak or mahogany will save you a great deal of trouble over time as they are harder to dent. Incorporate rugs in your interior design to further protect your hardwood floor, and remember, no-slip rugs are very necessary because the last thing you want is those little claws dragging the rugs around the house, creating even more scratches. Alternatively, you could also choose other flooring option that are less likely to be scratched by claws, such as concrete, stone, porcelain tiles or laminate flooring.
Built in pet beds
While some dog owners allow their dogs to crash in their bed at night or clutter the master, why not giving your beloved pet a room for their own? Even a new born baby gets his or her own nursery, right? If it’s the space (or more accurately, the lack of it.) you’re worried about. Built in pet bed is a great idea to get your little loved ones their own space without taking up extra space in the apartment.
For example, that space under your home bench, lounge chair, and even stairs? Don’t just let it be unoccupied, keep your little loved ones close while allowing them to have their own room!
Image source: remodelingtherapy.com
And, fine. If you really have a strong desire to be roommates with your pets, and not just house mates. There’s a way to do so without giving up space nor sharing the bed, too!
Now that we saw some ideas for sleep and naps space, what about another big part of your pets’ daily life – Eat? In a city like Singapore, home interior design for most are mostly about saving space. When it comes to the puppies and kittens, they, too can enjoy a regular dining space without taking out extra space at home. Much like the built in bed concept, there’s also built in dining areas for your pets.
For example, a slide-out drawer:
Image source: thefuntimesguide.com
Or, a pastry or closet convert that allows you to use it for storage and set up a little dining space for your pets.
And if slide draws are not your idea of worry-free living or you simply don’t like to slide stuff, don’t worry, you can still get that built in sleep or eating space built in at home.
I mean, look at how peaceful this adorable puppy is when he’s enjoying his very own room and still be in touch with the environment?
And if those tiny claws in the house are kitten claws, you might want to add a few layers to your place to make your kittens feel like they’re living in an amusement park, after all, happy kittens, happy owners, right? (I think that’s how the saying goes… I think.)
Now, let’s move on to bathing.
When it comes to bathing, if you have a little extra space, consider getting our loyal furry friends their own bath tub.
Image source: abqjournal.com
Because who doesn’t like his or her own bath tub? Once your pet gets used to the idea and having the habit of going to its own bath tub, it will be a lot easier for your pet to take a bath. Also, cleaning a small bath tub is a whole lot easier than trying to get the hair off your human size bath tub!
When you’re planning a renovation, it is important to let your interior designer know exactly how many pets and what kind of pets you own. Home interior designs in Singapore, like many other major cities, are now paying more and more attention to creating a pet-friendly environment at home. After all, your pets are a part of your family, and a home should be built for everyone in the family.
by Montie Mahtani | Dec 11, 2015 | Design Tips
Living room, where the “living” happens. A space in your home that is supposed to be the one place you spend most time in, either reading by yourself, watching TV with your loved ones or hosting your friends over for afternoon tea. While it is true that people in big cities don’t tend to have house guests anymore, but with a cozy living room design, your Singapore HDB flat might just be able to turn into a best hangout spot for you and your friends!
177 Bt Batok
What’s the living room even for, anyway?
Perhaps because people today are more and more aware of personal style and interests and are spending more time effort in designing their bedrooms and kitchens, which is not a bad thing, but also not mutually exclusive with spending some time and thoughts on your living room design. After all, your living room is your home’s “first impression”. Yes, people will be impressed with your cool kitchen and the bedroom that is full of characters, but that doesn’t change the fact that living room is the first thing they see and the space in your home that they are going to spend most if not all the time in. In fact, unless you really, really like to sleep, the living room is the place YOU will first see every time you come home and also the place YOU will spend most of time your time in at home, too.
And that’s why the living room is worth some thinking and designing for.
What kind of atmosphere best suits a living room?
The answer varies from person to person, but generally, you can’t go wrong with a cozy atmosphere.
While it is cool to have a very edgy living room, let’s not forget that you probably would rather be comfortable in a space that you’re spending a great deal of time in. Something cozy will help you relax and unwind after a long day at work or a lazy Sunday at home. Not to mention the mental hugs you get when you walk into your home and the first thing you see is something warm and cozy, instead of something edgy and of strong character.
A cozy living room is also a good investment for your wallet, the more comfortable and happy you are with your living room, the more likely you’d want to spend more time in it instead of going out on Saturday night and spending big bucks for beverage and food when you know you can enjoy the very same thing at home for much less.
Does a cozy atmosphere living room mean a warm and darker color themed living room?
If you worry too much brown or darker colors would be a conflict for the rest of the design in your home or looks too dark, worry not. Although people do enjoy brown-ish colors for a cozy atmosphere, but a cozy atmosphere does not actually need brown colors and the likes. Take a look at these bright yet very cozy living rooms:
Loving how cozy those puffy white couches look? You’d love it more and get even more cozy when you switch the covers to something stain proof.
Inevitably, one of the most common concerns in living room design in Singapore is a cluttered living room. While we do always think of something puffy and bigger in size when we think of something cozy, it does not have to be the case. Here are two simple tricks to follow for you to have a cozy living room AND conquer living room clutter!
- Natural lights can fix a lot of things, including clutters.
Any space that lacks lighting looks a lot more cluttered than it actually is, if it is even cluttered! Naturally light is not only a natural photoshop for skin when you take a Instagram picture, it also does the same thing to your living room!
- Keep it simple, no, really, keep it SIMPLE.
I’m sure you have heard it all before, keeping it simple for limited space and what not, but do you really understand the idea of keeping things simple? If you already have a small living room, everything that you don’t need in there CAN be eliminated. Only keep the essentials, like a couch, coffee table? Replace it with one or two small side table instead. Also, do you really a TV stand? Mount that TV!
Finally, make sure you know that you deserve the cozy living room of your dream, don’t let the limited space stands between you, and leave that to your interior designer to deal with! (Or yourself, whichever works best for you, I’m not here to tell you what to do…)
