When Ting Wei and her husband moved into their four-room BTO flat in 2021, it was a season of milestones. Not only did they celebrate their wedding during the uncertainties of the Covid years, but they also completed their first renovation, shaping a space they could call their own. At the time, Ting Wei was working in content marketing, but last year she made the leap to pursue her true passion—interior styling—refining her eye for design while transforming her home.
The renovation began with a neutral Japandi look: muted tones, light woods, and understated cohesion. “It felt calm and clean, but after living here for a year, I realised it wasn’t me,” she recalls. Vibrant colours had always defined her personal style—her wardrobe full of bold hues stood in contrast to her beige-toned rooms. Inspired by the playful, colourful Danish homes she admired online, she began to wonder why she was comfortable wearing bright pinks, blues, and greens but hesitant to bring them into her living space. That question marked the beginning of her home’s transformation.
What followed was a personal experiment that grew into an Instagram series she named @beyondaspace. With more time after leaving her corporate job, she began injecting colour into her interiors: curating a gallery wall, repainting her glass room in cheerful yellow, and trading neutral furniture for playful pieces. Art became a key part of this shift too. Instead of choosing works to fit a theme, she sought out pieces that resonated deeply, such as 行走的春天 (Walking Spring) by Studio Ni Mei—a canvas print of a cheeky woman basking in her favourite season. Each addition was a step toward creating a home that felt vibrant, joyful, and unmistakably hers.
Today, Ting Wei’s common area is her pride and joy. The couple knocked down a wall to open up the layout, carving out distinct yet connected zones—the glass room, dining area, and living space—that allow friends to gather and linger comfortably. Her personal favourite corner is the coffee station in the glass room, anchored by a striking blue Dulton cabinet. “Moving my coffee machine out of the dark kitchen corner into this bright, colourful space completely changed the ritual for me. Brewing coffee has become something I look forward to every day.”
Her approach to colour is both bold and balanced. She builds palettes around shades she loves, contrasting light tones with darker anchors. A blush-pink sofa sits on a dark brown rug, framed by green and blue armchairs, while wood furniture grounds the space. Even her husband, she notes with gratitude, has been nothing but supportive. “He gave me free rein to experiment, reassuring me whenever I doubted myself. His confidence gave me courage to go bolder.”
If there’s one surprise in her design choices, it’s that she didn’t play it safe with furniture. Instead of sticking to neutral foundations, she made colourful statement pieces central to her home. “It goes against the common advice of adding colour only through accents,” she says with a laugh. “But this is my exploratory phase, and it’s been so much fun.”
The biggest challenge, she admits, was overcoming the fear of making mistakes. Furniture isn’t as easily switched out as clothes, and every decision felt weighty. Yet policies like IKEA’s return options, and her husband’s reminder that even paint can always be redone, helped her see experimentation as less intimidating. “My yellow glass room turned out darker than I expected, but I’ve grown to love it. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours—and that memory of creating together is what matters most.”
Looking back, Ting Wei sees her style evolution as a journey towards authenticity. Her home is now a space that reflects her energy, her joy, and her stories. The shift has also made her more intentional, curating pieces that are not just beautiful but meaningful—whether linked to travel, memories, or moments in life.
As for the future, she envisions slowly phasing out some of the bulk-purchased furniture from the early renovation years in favour of pieces with design history and craftsmanship. While she embraces colour wholeheartedly now, she remains open to change. “Our homes should grow with us,” she reflects. “Just like our lives, they’ll go through different seasons. And that’s the beauty of it.”
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