After covering home renovations that cost less than 30K last month, we now bring you makeovers with a slightly higher budget: $30,000 to $40,000. Let’s see if the extra 10K makes a difference and find out what you can get for the price!

35K budget

This 1,302 sq ft condo was renovated by Home Philosophy and has a modern look with a twist. A large part of the budget went to functional updates for the whole house, such as new, high-quality furniture.

Wallpaper works were carried out in various parts of the home, as well as all of the necessary electrical works and lighting installation throughout the condo.

Windows were fitted out with blinds or curtains depending on the room; the bathroom, of course, received some new blinds that will be easy to maintain in a humid environment.

On the balcony, an artificial green wall was installed for a lively atmosphere and a pop of colour.

35K budget

In the hands of Renozone, this 94 sq ft HDB flat was fitted out with vinyl flooring, structural modifications and a variety of aesthetic updates, such as a red brick feature wall and new furniture.

The kitchen was equipped with a new island that brings lots of handy storage space to the table. On the right-hand side, a hidden sliding door was constructed behind the homeowners’ religious displays, leading to the bathroom.

The budget also made room for some hacking; one of the walls near the entrance was removed to craft a gaming room that even comes with its own daybed.

Last but not least, the original bedroom was divided into two with a solid partition, which gave way to a spacious walk-in wardrobe.

39K budget

This 4-room, 1,141 sq ft resale HDB flat got its makeover from Noble Interior Design, who started off with some hacking works and installation of new vinyl flooring.

The kitchen and bathroom were retiled with both aesthetic and functionality in mind. The kitchen also saw a heap of carpentry works done, while the bathroom got some new and improved plumbing.

Carpentry works carried over to all of the bedrooms, which were also painted for a fresh look.

40K budget

The renovation of this 765 sq ft resale HDB flat started with Salt Studio hacking one of the existing bedroom walls to create the current living room, which was given a fresh coat of paint for good measure. The original floor tiles were removed in order to apply the new cement screed, while the flooring in the bedroom was overlaid.

The kitchen wall was hacked as well, opening up the room for a brighter and bigger work area. Of course, the floors and walls were retiled for a colourful, cosy look. The outdated windows and window grilles were replaced with new ones and electrical works were carried out throughout the house.

The tiling works continued in the two bathrooms, where the designers completed some much-needed plumbing as well.

Conclusion

What we noticed looking back at last month’s budget renovations is that makeovers that cost under 30K are often limited to carpentry works, painting and other aesthetic updates. We began to see some fancier features, such as hidden sliding doors, new flooring and the occasional partition, starting from 24K, but even then most homeowners had to prioritise and could often not implement all of those features while sticking to their budget.

It was only with 30K that we saw the first bathroom upgrade, as well as plumbing and electrical works, which often cost more than most homeowners would expect! One of the most expensive updates is of course hacking and other structural changes, as those tend to be complex, time-consuming and labour-intensive. New furniture can be fairly pricey too, especially if it’s high-end.

Taking a look at the renovations between $30,000 and $40,000, we can draw similar conclusions. All of the houses above had electrical and plumbing works done, with many getting structural updates too, as the budget made room for those costly changes. Renozone’s 35K renovation even allowed for a kitchen island, which can be an expensive affair!

With the highest budget so far of 40K, Salt Studio was able to replace and update almost all of the key elements of the home, including the flooring in four separate rooms, the windows and window grilles, the tiles across various spaces and the plumbing and electrical aspects of the flat. Plus, two different walls were hacked to rearrange the layout and visually open up the home.

It’s clear that a budget renovation under 30K is very much possible, but if you have plans for a large-scale makeover with lots of structural changes and integral updates, you better be ready to spend!

Featured image courtesy of Salt Studio.