If you have bought an older flat, the best resale HDB interior design firm for you is the one that can handle the hidden work as well as the pretty work. A resale flat is not a blank canvas like a BTO, it comes with a previous owner's layout, ageing wiring and plumbing, worn flooring and the odd surprise behind the walls. So I focused this list on firms that genuinely know older flats, cross-referencing Qanvast reviews, HDB registration, CaseTrust accreditation and real resale project experience.
This guide is part of my wider list of the best interior design firms in Singapore, narrowed to the nine I would trust with a resale flat specifically. Resale renovation is a different job to a BTO: more hacking and reconfiguration, more rewiring and re-plumbing, and more that can go wrong once the walls are open. The firms that shine here are the ones that price honestly for older units and manage the surprises calmly.
A quick word on the ranking. I led with firms that have deep older-flat experience and hold their reviews high, and I weighted the ones with the accreditation to protect your money. Read the notes more than the numbers, because the right resale firm depends on how much you are reconfiguring and how old your flat is. Here are the nine I would recommend.
Key Takeaways
- 1 Resale flats usually cost more to renovate than new BTOs, because older units need hacking, rewiring and re-plumbing before the nice part even begins.
- 2 The firms that win here are the ones experienced with older-flat quirks: dated layouts, hidden conditions behind the walls, and HDB approval for structural works.
- 3 For a resale-focused choice with strong accreditation, MET Interior and Ciseern are the two I would shortlist first.
- 4 Budget roughly S$50,000 to S$85,000 for a 4-room resale, more if you are reconfiguring the layout heavily. Always get an itemised quote.
- 5 This is one of my property-specific guides. For the wider shortlist across all home types, see my main list of the best interior design firms in Singapore.
How to choose a resale HDB interior design firm in Singapore
Before the list, the checks that matter most for an older flat. As with any HDB work, the firm must be on the HDB Directory of Registered Renovation Contractors, and for a resale flat that is doubly important, because more of the work, hacking walls, moving wet areas, rewiring, needs to follow HDB rules and, in some cases, formal approval.
Deposit protection matters here too. Resale renovations are bigger and pricier than BTOs, so I look for firms under the CaseTrust-RCMA accreditation scheme, which requires a standard contract and deposit protection. When you are paying six figures in stages, that safety net earns its keep.
Then the resale-specific judgement. Older-flat experience: ask to see recent resale projects of a similar age and layout, not just glossy BTO shots, because reworking a 30-year-old flat is a different skill. Honest pricing for the unknowns: good firms flag that hacking, rewiring and re-plumbing carry some uncertainty until the walls are open, and build a sensible contingency in rather than lowballing the quote and hitting you with variation orders later. And layout vision: the real value in a resale is often a smarter floor plan, so you want a designer who can see past the previous owner's choices. Treat this as a shortlist to interview, matched to your flat.
1. MET Interior
MET Interior is the firm I would put first for a resale flat, because it treats resale HDB as a core specialism rather than an afterthought. It maps out the whole older-flat journey, from hacking and rewiring through reconfiguring dated layouts to custom carpentry and styling, which is exactly the sequence a resale project actually follows. Since 2014 it has built a strong, versatile track record and a Qanvast SuperTrust award every year from 2022.
It is HDB-registered and CaseTrust-RCMA accredited, so both the HDB compliance and the deposit protection are covered. The reviews point to responsive project management and designs that respect the budget, which matters when a resale can spring surprises. For a dated flat that needs real reconfiguration, MET is my top shout.
Website: metinterior.com.sg
Location: 65 Ubi Road 1, Oxley Bizhub (plus Tradehub 21)
Reviews: 4.68 on Qanvast (210+ reviews), Qanvast SuperTrust 2022 to 2026
Best known for: Resale HDB reconfiguration with full accreditation
2. Ciseern
Ciseern brings something few firms can match to a resale project: depth. In business since 1997 with tens of thousands of homes behind it, and the appointed HDB showflat designer from 2017 to 2023, it has seen every flat type and vintage many times over. For an older unit with awkward bones, that experience translates into confident, sensible decisions rather than guesswork.
It carries the credentials I want on a bigger resale spend, HDB-registered and CaseTrust-RCMA accredited, and the reviews are among the highest on this list. If you want a seasoned, accredited firm that has renovated more resale flats than almost anyone, Ciseern is a very safe pair of hands.
Website: ciseern.com
Location: 1 Tampines North Drive 1, #01-37 T-Space
Reviews: 4.88 on Qanvast (330+ reviews), multiple Qanvast SuperTrust years
Best known for: Deep older-flat experience and CaseTrust-RCMA accreditation
3. Jialux Interior
Jialux Interior has quickly built a strong reputation and is refreshingly upfront about the permit-required side of resale work, hacking, window replacement and plumbing adjustments, which tells me they understand what an older flat actually involves. Recent SuperTrust years and a high Qanvast score back up the reputation.
They also publish typical HDB project figures, which helps you sanity-check a resale budget before committing. They are HDB-registered, so the compliance basics are covered. For a resale owner who wants a well-reviewed, transparent firm that clearly knows the older-flat permit landscape, Jialux is a strong option.
Website: jialuxinterior.com
Location: 1 Tampines North Drive 1, T-Space #02-14/15
Reviews: 4.85 on Qanvast (270+ reviews), Qanvast SuperTrust 2024 to 2026
Best known for: Transparent, permit-aware resale renovation
4. Urban Home Design
Urban Home Design is where I would send a resale owner who wants a calm, minimalist result and is willing to invest in a proper reconfiguration. Their published average HDB spend is the highest in this set, which is consistent with the heavier hacking and reworking that older flats often need to feel genuinely new. The work leans Scandinavian, Japandi and Wabi-sabi, and it is genuinely award-winning.
They are among the more transparent firms on pricing, with itemised quotes, and their near-perfect long-run Qanvast score speaks to consistency. They are HDB-registered. If your resale plan is a serious, design-led transformation rather than a light refresh, Urban Home Design is a superb choice.
Website: urbanhomedesign.com.sg
Location: 100E Pasir Panjang Road, #01-02
Reviews: 4.99 on Qanvast (360+ reviews), iF Design Award 2025
Best known for: Design-led, minimalist resale transformations
5. Swiss Interior
Swiss Interior handles the full range of HDB work, resale flats included, and its reviews consistently praise liveable layouts and projects that run to schedule. With thousands of completed homes since 2012, it has the volume and the process to take an older 3 or 4-room flat and make it feel current without drama.
They are an HDB-registered contractor with Blum-certified carpentry and a long run of Qanvast SuperTrust awards. For a resale owner who wants a dependable, high-volume specialist and is comfortable confirming the contract terms, Swiss is a solid, no-nonsense pick.
Website: swissinterior.com.sg
Location: 126 Bukit Merah Lane 1 and 70 Ubi Crescent
Reviews: 4.77 on Qanvast, Qanvast SuperTrust
Best known for: Dependable, high-volume HDB and resale renovation
Recommended reads
6. Design 4 Space
Design 4 Space brings the reassurance of a large, established firm to a resale project. They handle both BTO and resale, have gathered one of the biggest review counts on this list, and offer budget-tiered packages that give you a clear starting point even when an older flat makes the scope harder to pin down.
They are HDB-registered, CaseTrust-RCMA accredited and bizSAFE certified, with three showrooms to visit. If your resale is on the larger side or you simply want a big firm with proper systems and accreditation behind a more involved renovation, Design 4 Space is a safe, experienced choice.
Website: design4space.com.sg
Location: Toa Payoh, Paya Lebar and Boon Lay showrooms
Reviews: 4.75 on Qanvast (420+ reviews), CaseTrust-RCMA
Best known for: Established, accredited firm for larger resale jobs
7. Weiken
Weiken has been renovating Singapore homes for close to three decades, with a BCA and HDB builder history and RCMA accreditation, and a full design-and-build model that suits the more involved nature of resale work. Its published average HDB figures are among the more budget-friendly on this list, which is useful when you are weighing how much of an older flat to touch.
The scale means process and staying power: four showrooms, systems, and a firm that will not vanish mid-project once the walls are open and the surprises appear. For a resale owner who wants an experienced, accredited design-and-build outfit at a sensible price point, Weiken is dependable.
Website: weiken.com
Location: IMM, Midview City, Oxley Bizhub 2 and Tradehub 21
Reviews: 4.74 on Qanvast (210+ reviews), CaseTrust-RCMA and BCA/HDB builder
Best known for: Long-established, value-focused design-and-build
8. Starry Homestead
Starry Homestead pairs a long operating history with a big, verified review base across both BTO and resale, and a Qanvast SuperTrust streak that stretches back to 2016. Older flats with reconfiguration needs sit comfortably within its residential range, and its in-house custom carpentry helps keep the built-ins tight.
It is HDB-licensed, BCA registered and CaseTrust-RCMA accredited, so the money and contract side is properly handled. As with any busy firm, agree the timeline in writing up front, but for award-level polish on a resale with the paperwork done right, Starry is a strong, bankable pick.
Website: starryhomestead.com
Location: 18 Boon Lay Way Tradehub 21 (plus Balestier and Paya Lebar)
Reviews: 4.76 on Qanvast (380+ reviews), Qanvast SuperTrust 2016 to 2025
Best known for: Award-level residential work with in-house carpentry
9. Homescape
Homescape rounds out the list as a design-and-build firm that keeps its trades in-house, masonry, carpentry, electrical and tiling under one roof, which is a genuine advantage on resale work where hacking, rewiring and re-tiling all have to be coordinated closely. Its resale page focuses squarely on the older-flat essentials: upgrading plumbing and wiring, replacing flooring and reworking layouts.
As a newer company it does not have the decade-long review history of some others here, so I would lean on its testimonials, ask to see recent resale projects, and confirm the contract terms in writing. But the in-house build model is a real plus if you value accountability when an older flat throws up the inevitable surprises.
Website: homescape.com.sg
Location: 3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62, #01-19 Link@AMK
Reviews: Newer firm; design-and-build model with in-house trades
Best known for: In-house design-and-build for older-flat coordination
How much does a resale HDB renovation cost in Singapore?
Resale renovations usually cost more than a comparable BTO, because you are paying to undo and redo before you even reach the finishes. Hacking, rewiring, re-plumbing and new flooring across a whole flat add up fast. Here are the ballpark design-and-renovation ranges I would budget for in 2026, excluding furniture and appliances.
| Flat type | Typical resale renovation cost |
|---|---|
| 3-room resale | S$35,000 to S$60,000 |
| 4-room resale | S$50,000 to S$85,000 |
| 5-room resale | S$60,000 to S$100,000+ |
| Jumbo, executive or maisonette | S$80,000 to S$130,000+ |
How much you reconfigure is the biggest variable. A light cosmetic refresh sits at the bottom of these ranges, while gutting the flat, moving the kitchen and re-planning the layout pushes toward the top. Always get an itemised quote with a contingency line, because older flats reliably reveal something once the walls are open.
The resale HDB firms compared at a glance
Here is the shortlist in one view, by what each firm does best for an older flat.
| Firm | Best for | Signal I trust |
|---|---|---|
| MET Interior | Resale reconfiguration | HDB-registered, CaseTrust-RCMA |
| Ciseern | Deep older-flat experience | Since 1997, showflat designer |
| Jialux Interior | Permit-aware, transparent pricing | SuperTrust 2024 to 2026 |
| Urban Home Design | Design-led full transformation | iF Design Award 2025 |
| Swiss Interior | Dependable, high-volume | HDB-registered since 2012 |
| Design 4 Space | Larger, more complex resale | CaseTrust-RCMA, 420+ reviews |
| Weiken | Value design-and-build | RCMA, near 30 years |
| Starry Homestead | Award-level polish | SuperTrust 2016 to 2025 |
| Homescape | In-house trade coordination | Design-and-build, in-house trades |
How I put this list together
No firm paid to be on this list. I weight Qanvast reviews that describe the process and after-sales service, cross-check HDB renovation-contractor registration and CaseTrust-RCMA accreditation, and favour firms with genuine resale experience and honest pricing for older-flat unknowns. Ratings and details were accurate when I wrote this but they move, so confirm the current picture with each firm before you sign. I update the list when my view changes.
Why does a resale HDB cost more to renovate than a BTO?
Because you pay to remove before you pay to build. A new BTO starts clean, so the money goes straight into carpentry and finishes. A resale flat usually needs hacking of old fixtures and walls, rewiring of ageing electrical, re-plumbing, and full replacement of dated flooring and bathrooms before any of the nice work begins. Those hidden-layer works add cost and time, which is why a resale renovation of the same size typically runs noticeably higher than a BTO.
What renovation works need HDB approval in a resale flat?
Structural and safety-related works are the ones to watch: hacking or removing walls, changing the position of wet areas, replacing windows, and certain electrical and plumbing changes generally require HDB permission, and some works are not permitted at all. A registered renovation contractor will handle the submissions and know what is and is not allowed, which is one more reason to use a firm on the HDB register of renovation contractors. Never let anyone hack a wall without confirming it is approved.
How long does a resale HDB renovation take?
Longer than a BTO, typically around 10 to 16 weeks once works start, plus a few weeks for design and material selection. The extra time comes from the demolition and hidden-layer works, hacking, rewiring, re-plumbing, that a new flat does not need. If your flat is old or you are heavily reconfiguring the layout, build in a generous buffer and do not commit to a hard move-in date until the works are well underway.
Should I hack and reconfigure the layout of a resale flat?
Often yes, because a smarter floor plan is where a resale renovation adds the most value, an open kitchen, a better-placed bedroom wall, more usable storage. But hacking is also the most expensive and disruptive part, and some walls cannot be touched. The right approach is to have a designer assess which changes are worth the cost and which are structurally or legally off-limits, then reconfigure with intent rather than hacking for the sake of it. A good resale firm will talk you out of changes that do not pay for themselves.
The bottom line
The best resale HDB interior design firm is the one that handles the hidden work as confidently as the finishes. For a dated flat that needs real reconfiguration I would start with MET Interior or Ciseern. For a design-led full transformation go to Urban Home Design, for transparent permit-aware work Jialux, and for in-house trade coordination Homescape. Whichever you pick, confirm the firm is HDB-registered, ideally CaseTrust-RCMA accredited, and insist on an itemised quote with a contingency before you sign.
This is one of my property-specific guides. For the full shortlist across HDB, condo and landed, see my main list of the best interior design firms in Singapore. And if you run an interior design firm yourself, a website that shows your portfolio as well as your work deserves does a lot of the quiet selling for you. Take a look at my web design services or get a free quote.
Editorial note: This guide reflects my own independent research and opinion. Firm details, accreditations and indicative prices were accurate at the time of writing (July 2026) but can change, so confirm scope, registration and pricing directly with each firm before you engage them.
Sources & References (11)
- https://metinterior.com.sg/
- https://www.ciseern.com/
- https://jialuxinterior.com/
- https://urbanhomedesign.com.sg/
- https://www.swissinterior.com.sg/
- https://www.design4space.com.sg/
- https://www.weiken.com/
- https://starryhomestead.com/
- https://www.homescape.com.sg/
- https://www.hdb.gov.sg/business-partners/renovation-contractors/directory-of-renovation-contractors-drc
- https://www.case.org.sg/casetrust/casetrust-accreditation-for-renovation-businesses/
Written by
Terris
Founder & Lead Strategist
Terris is a Singapore-based web designer and digital strategist who has spent 8+ years building websites for local businesses. His Terris Recommends series shares personal picks for the best service providers across Singapore, informed by his experience working with businesses across industries.
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