Renovating one room at a time is one of the smartest ways to upgrade your home without blowing your entire budget in one go. But the question every homeowner asks first is the same: how much does it actually cost to renovate a room in Singapore?
The honest answer — it depends on which room, how much work it needs, and the finishes you choose. A fresh coat of paint and new lighting can cost a few hundred dollars. A full bathroom rebuild with waterproofing, hacking, and premium tiles can run into the tens of thousands.
This guide breaks down realistic costs room by room, so you can budget with confidence before you call a contractor.
Quick Answer: Room Renovation Costs at a Glance
| Room | Typical Cost Range (SGD) | What Drives the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | $5,000 – $15,000 | Wardrobe size, flooring, lighting |
| Kitchen | $10,000 – $35,000 | Cabinetry, countertop material, appliances |
| Bathroom | $4,000 – $20,000+ | Hacking, waterproofing, sanitary fittings |
| Living Room | $5,000 – $25,000 | Flooring, feature wall, TV console, lighting |
These are planning ranges, not final quotes — a bedroom typically costs between $5,000 and $15,000 for full custom wardrobes, flooring, and lighting, while a full kitchen rebuild with better appliances runs from about $15,000 to $30,000, and premium kitchens with imported surfaces and island counters can reach $30,000 to $60,000. The real number for your home depends on scope — so let’s break each room down.
Bedroom Renovation Cost
A bedroom is usually the most affordable room to renovate, since it doesn’t involve wet works like plumbing or waterproofing. A full bedroom refresh with custom wardrobes, flooring, and lighting typically lands between $5,000 and $15,000.
What affects the price:
- Wardrobe size and material (laminate vs. veneer vs. solid wood)
- Flooring type — vinyl is the most budget-friendly, engineered wood costs more
- Feature walls, cove lighting, or built-in study/vanity units
- Whether you’re keeping the existing built-ins or hacking them out entirely
Ways to save: Keep your existing flooring if it’s still in good condition, and prioritise a well-built wardrobe over decorative extras — carpentry is where bedroom budgets are usually best spent.
Kitchen Renovation Cost
The kitchen is consistently the most expensive room to renovate, because it combines carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and finishing materials all in one space. Kitchen renovations typically range from S$10,000 to S$35,000, covering cabinetry, countertops, tiling, plumbing works, electrical points, and appliance integration. For a BTO flat specifically, renovating one kitchen typically costs between $10,800 and $22,300.
What affects the price:
- Countertop material (laminate is cheapest; quartz and sintered stone cost significantly more)
- Full cabinet replacement vs. refacing existing cabinet doors
- Number of appliances being built in
- Plumbing and electrical relocations
- Open-concept vs. enclosed kitchen layout
Ways to save: If your cabinet carcasses are structurally sound, refacing doors and replacing the countertop can achieve most of the visual upgrade at a fraction of a full teardown cost.
Bathroom Renovation Cost
Bathrooms are small, but they’re deceptively expensive — it’s the most expensive room per square metre in any renovation. Budget $5,000–8,000 for a standard HDB toilet refresh, $8,000–20,000 for a full condo bathroom rebuild, and $20,000–40,000 for premium work with rain showers, frameless glass, and designer fittings. This is largely because labour-heavy wet trades — hacking, waterproofing, and tiling — together account for 45–60% of a rebuild budget before a single visible fitting goes in.
What affects the price:
- Whether hacking and re-waterproofing are needed (essential if you’re changing the layout or floor trap)
- Tile size and material — large-format tiles cost more to lay but reduce grout lines
- Sanitary ware quality (basic vs. designer fittings)
- Shower screen type — sliding doors are cheaper than frameless glass
Ways to save: Don’t skimp on waterproofing to save money — a cut corner here causes leaks that cost far more to fix later. Save instead on sanitary ware brand tier if your budget is tight.
Living Room Renovation Cost
Living room renovations covering flooring, a feature wall, TV console, and lighting typically range from $8,000 to $25,000. On the lighter end, a basic HDB living room refresh — washable paint, a simple feature wall, and lighting upgrades — can be done for $3,000 to $6,000, while premium makeovers with full flooring replacement and custom carpentry can reach $12,000 to $18,000 or more.
What affects the price:
- Flooring choice — vinyl flooring typically runs $5–12 per square foot installed, while engineered wood costs $10–20 per square foot
- Feature wall complexity (paint vs. panelling vs. stone cladding)
- Custom TV console and storage carpentry
- Whether electrical points or wiring are being moved
Ways to save: Working within your existing layout instead of moving walls, electrical panels, or plumbing lines keeps costs down significantly — and phasing the project (infrastructure first, décor later) lets you spread the spend over time.
5 Factors That Change Your Room Renovation Cost
No matter which room you’re tackling, these factors move the price up or down the most:
- New build vs. resale — a BTO flat is handed over as a blank canvas, so you only pay for what you add, while a resale unit usually needs existing fixtures removed first — which is why resale renovations typically run 20–40% higher than an equivalent BTO job.
- Hacking and demolition — removing old tiles, built-ins, or walls adds cost before any new work even starts.
- Material grade — laminate vs. solid wood, vinyl vs. marble, standard vs. designer fittings can shift a room’s budget by 2–3x.
- Wet works — any room involving plumbing or waterproofing (kitchens, bathrooms) costs meaningfully more than dry rooms like bedrooms.
- Custom carpentry volume — custom carpentry and joinery typically account for 30–40% of a renovation budget and is usually the single largest cost category.
How to Budget Smart for a Single-Room Renovation
- Get an itemised quote, not just a total figure. Ask exactly what’s included — materials, labour, disposal, and any exclusions — so you’re comparing like for like.
- Set aside a contingency buffer. Most contractors recommend setting aside 10 to 15 percent above your agreed cost to cover unexpected works or last-minute changes.
- Prioritise what’s behind the walls. Waterproofing, wiring, and structural work are the most expensive things to fix after the fact — don’t cut corners here to save on visible finishes.
- Phase your renovation if funds are tight. Complete essential infrastructure first, then add furniture and décor gradually.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to renovate one room in Singapore? It depends entirely on the room. A bedroom typically costs $5,000–$15,000, a kitchen $10,000–$35,000, a bathroom $4,000–$20,000+, and a living room $5,000–$25,000, depending on scope and finishes.
Which room is the most expensive to renovate? The kitchen is usually the single most expensive room, followed closely by the bathroom — both involve plumbing, wet works, and higher-cost materials that bedrooms and living rooms don’t need.
Can I renovate just one room instead of the whole house? Yes. Renovating room by room is a common and practical way to spread out costs, especially if you’re staying in the home during the works.
Is it cheaper to renovate a BTO room than a resale room? Generally yes — a BTO room is a blank canvas, so you’re only paying for new work. A resale room usually needs old fixtures removed and rectified first, which adds cost.
What’s the biggest cost driver in any room renovation? Custom carpentry (wardrobes, cabinets, built-in storage) is typically the single largest cost category in any room, followed by wet works for kitchens and bathrooms.
Get an Accurate Quote for Your Room Renovation
Price guides give you a starting budget — but the only way to know exactly what your room will cost is a proper site assessment. Rubel Handyman Services provides transparent, itemised quotes for bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and living room renovations across HDB flats, condos, and landed homes in Singapore.
📞 Call +65 8142 2500 for a free quote, or get in touch online.