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HDB Living Room Design Ideas: Feature Walls, Lighting and Layouts That Work
Living room ideas for HDB flats, shown with real Singapore homes: feature walls, lighting, arches, curtains and layouts, with typical costs and the HDB rules to know.
- Make one wall the focal point, layer the lighting and keep the floor clear.
- A TV feature wall costs from about $300 (fluted wallpaper) to about $1,900 to $2,900 (veneer).
- Carpentry and false ceilings need no HDB permit; new wall openings do.
Homey Furnishing 3 min read The best HDB living room designs do three things: make one wall the focal point, layer the lighting, and keep the floor clear. Here are ideas from real Singapore homes, what they typically cost, and the HDB rules that affect them.
1. Make the TV wall the focal point
A fluted or timber TV feature wall with built-in shelves turns the biggest blank wall into the centre of the room. Plan the TV bracket backing and cable routes before the panels go up.
Typical cost: from about $300 for a fluted wallpaper finish to about $1,900 to $2,900 for a veneer feature wall. See our fluted panel feature wall guide.
2. Soften it with curves and cove lighting
A curved timber wall with hidden cove lighting makes a rectangular HDB living room feel warmer and less boxy.
Cove lighting needs a false ceiling or a recess. False ceilings need no HDB permit but must leave at least 2.4m of headroom.
3. Use an arch to zone the dining area
An arched opening or arched frame separates dining from living without a solid wall, so light still flows through the flat.
Creating a new opening in an existing wall needs an HDB permit, and structural walls cannot be cut. Check first with our Can I hack this wall? tool.
4. Go minimal with lit niches
Hidden storage and a lit wall niche give a calm, gallery-like feel, which suits smaller 3-room flats.
5. Get the curtains right
Living rooms usually suit day and night curtains: a sheer for daytime privacy and a heavier layer for evenings. Wide windows are the most common place to motorise curtains.
- Day and night curtains: about $500 to $940 for a wide living room window.
- Smart curtains: the motor and track add about $350 to $900 per window.
6. Layout tips for HDB living rooms
- Float the sofa a little off the wall if space allows; it makes the room feel larger.
- Choose a round coffee table in tight rooms so you do not knock into corners.
- Keep the walkway to the balcony or kitchen at least 80 to 90cm.
- Never drill the household shelter walls. Put shelving or a TV elsewhere.
Planning a living room makeover?
See our HDB interior design service, our guide to BTO and HDB renovation costs, and the HDB renovation guidelines. Renovation works are carried out by our DRC-listed partner, V On Construction Pte. Ltd.
FAQ
How can I make my HDB living room look bigger? Keep one feature wall, use light colours, add layered lighting, choose slim or raised furniture, and use sheer curtains to let in daylight.
How much does a TV feature wall cost in Singapore? From about $300 for a fluted wallpaper finish to about $1,900 to $2,900 for a contractor-built veneer feature wall.
Do I need an HDB permit for a living room makeover? Carpentry, feature walls, false ceilings and curtains generally do not need a permit. Hacking walls or replacing floor tiles does.
Can I mount my TV on the bomb shelter wall? No. HDB does not allow the household shelter walls to be drilled.
Photos show completed HomeySG interior projects. Costs are indicative 2026 ranges.