Covid-19 Home Improvement: Elvin Ng Added A Dining Table To His Bedroom “So Friends Can Have Meals When They Come Over”

Quite a bit has changed at Elvin Ng’s house since 8days.sg visited his self-designed three-storey semi-D property when he first moved in in 2017. Ever since the pandemic broke out, the actor has been busy sprucing up his home, adding little touches to the space. It started with a few bright cushions here, some quirky paintings and antique cabinets there, and soon things started to get a bit out of hand.

“I am a bit excessive and obsessive, and I kept adding things to the place. When you spend more time at home, you will keep wanting to do more to your living space. Maybe it’s ‘cos I cannot stay still for a long time, adding things gives me a small change of environment. It makes me feel rejuvenated,” the 40-year-old tells 8days.sg over the phone.

The home’s relaxed, resort-style vibe seems to have evolved into something more eclectic. Not that there’s any issue with that, except that Elvin lives with his family of eight, which includes his mum, sister, brother, sister-in-law, two nieces and a nephew. They are more conservative and prefer the space clean, while Elvin’s taste veers towards the daring and controversial, kinda like his Star Awards bandung suit, he says.

It doesn’t help that his hobbies have taken over the common spaces now that he has run out of room in his own cavernous bedroom-slash-bachelor pad which occupies the entire third floor. In fact, his bedroom is practically an apartment now that he’s added a long desk (“so I can sit properly and read my scripts”) AND dining table (“if friends come over, we can also eat there”) to it. Yes, even his manager, who was in the call with us, was shocked by the revelation.

For privacy reasons, Elvin declines to show us his round brown oak dining table but he tells us it can sit four people comfortably.

So we are not entirely surprised when Elvin confesses that his home-enhancement efforts have resulted in quite a few clashes with his mum.

“Whenever I bought something, she would give me the ‘black face’ for one week and we would be totally at war. She would threaten me by saying things like she would move out if I continued bringing things home. There was big drama, but she’s given up on me already,” laughs Elvin. “Now, I will inform her a day before the items get delivered, so she doesn’t get too shocked.”

He continues: “I am also trying to educate [the family] that these [changes] are artistic and nice. You need to add [things] to live.”

In the communal living room on the first floor, he’s filled the space with indoor plants, and is currently working on adding a new pot water feature to his living room, as well as more works of art, in the form of Bearbrick toy collectibles.

It was love at first sight for Elvin when he saw the quirky figurines at Jewel earlier this year. “If I set my eyes on something, it will always eventually make its way into the house. I am very obsessed. When I am into something, I will keep Googling and finding out everything about it. The first one that I bought was the black and white one with the scribbles, then the Mona Lisa. Another two, which are louder and brighter, have not arrived,” he says.

​​​​​​

8 DAYS: Why are you constantly sprucing up your place?
ELVIN NG: Ever since I designed the house [five years ago], I was very interested in architecture and interior design. I called the shots and asked my family’s opinions and arranged everything. I was also obsessive then, and I just keep doing things [to the house]. I enjoy the little things in life, and I constantly seek small changes here and there so I feel like [things are] always evolving and growing together with me.

Has your design style changed since you moved in? The home’s vibe seems slightly different.
Initially, only the interior design of my bedroom was a bit daring and romantic ‘cos that’s my space. My family’s more conservative and they always wanted everything quite clean, so I tried to go their way. But along the way, I kept adding my own style and adding more things, and it became more eclectic and quirkier.

Your family doesn’t seem too pleased about the new additions. Is it because they find the place too cluttered, or they just don’t like your taste?
A bit of both. They find that I am putting things everywhere, but I am not cluttering the place. I just feel I have these artistic vibes that I want to [exude], like some aesthetics that I enjoy seeing, and I like to feel it around me. I don’t think I am cluttering up the place. I think I will only be happy when I fill everything that can be filled up.

Like how the walls are now all filled with paintings?
Yes, wherever there is a wall, you will find a painting or mirror. Even the side of the staircase landing, which was not supposed to have paintings, has paintings, so there’s really no space for more. I can only replace existing ones or put them on the ceiling.

Does your family think you need an intervention?
(Laughs) I need help? Well, when [the space] is filled up then it will be fine.

You sound maxed out.
Yes, I should stop adding stuff. I can only replace things.

​​​​​​​Are you someone who likes to shop, that’s why you keep buying stuff?
Actually, I seldom shop. I just like architecture, interior design, and household stuff. Now, people are starting to realise that the home is very important ‘cos you now no longer go to work, come home and sleep. Home is where you spend a lot of time with your family, so you want to make it a very conducive place. Which is why I keep on doing things around the house to make it how I would like it to be.

What are some of the things that you are most obsessed with now? Water features, Bearbrick collectibles and plants?
Can I say my scripts? This year I am filming long-form drama [The Heartland Hero]. There are 130 episodes, of which 90 involve me, so this whole year, from February to November, I will be filming this drama. Yeah, so can I say I am obsessed with my scripts?

Do you think you are a hoarder?
I am not a hoarder. I don’t hoard useless things. Only meaningful things or things that speak to me and make me happy. A hoarder is untidy. I am neat.

Because you have help around the house?
I am an artistic hoarder. I don’t know lah.

Have you always been like this?
I don’t know. I think it’s becoming worse.

As you age…
I don’t know leh. I think there will come a point where I will just suddenly stop [buying things] and I don’t want to have anything at all. Let’s just say I am not a minimalist. People say less is more, but to me more is just more. It’s okay. I don’t know what I am doing. Let me know if you know a place where I can get counselling.

Photos: Elvin Ng