NDP SPECIAL: How to make your home uniquely Singaporean ... without looking like a kitchsy souvenir shop

SINGAPORE - Happy National Day! Singapore has certainly come a long way in the last 51 years, haven’t we? And our homes these days are now a reflection of our confidence, success and our sense of aesthetics.

Successful retail stores, online outfits and local designers such as Naiise, Hip Van, Little Drom Store and Nathan Yong (whose chairs are available at National Gallery Singapore) have also hawked locally-inspired wares to make it that much easier to fill our apartments with Singaporean furniture and touches. Needless to say, the hipsters who now hold the keys to new HDB flats are more than happy to put up chic retro elements such as Peranakan tiles and kopitiam chairs which they discover while trawling online or in second-hand furniture shops such as Hock Siong and co. 

But be careful not to go overboard with this love affair as you wouldn’t want to look your home to look like a souvenir store or a kitschy hotel room. Unless of course, that is the look you were going for.

Singaporean home ideas platform Qanvast, which connects homeowners to interior designers, offers some tips. According to Qanvast’s design experts, while Singaporean-inspired patterns can add a creative and fun ambiance, they should be balanced against a more neutral backdrop such as white or plain walls. Your retro Singaporean furniture and items such as old biscuit tin ottomans and colourful rattan chairs add plenty of character on their own - even when you put them in a corner.

If you are considering using wallpaper or Peranakan tiles, a Qanvast spokesperson reminded they can be pricey. “Remember, it doesn’t have to cover an entire wall. Consider it for half the wall, or just on a small scale in the bathroom and kitchen to add interest without overwhelming the room,” she added.

Lastly, lighting can make a world of difference to a room or to highlight your prized Singaporean-inspired pieces. “Opt for low wattage warm yellow lights bulbs, and aim for a total wattage of about 60,” said the Qanvast spokesperson, adding that if you have beautiful posters or art works, you should use track lights to make them stand out.