Lighting is integral in how a space looks and feels, yet it’s often treated as an afterthought during HDB renovations. Many homeowners place a lot of emphasis on built-ins, flooring, and cabinets, but they often overlook the fact that bad lighting may negate the effects of even the best restoration and interior design projects.
Discover the most frequent lighting mistakes made during HDB renovation in Singapore and learn tips for avoiding them.
1. Relying Solely on Downlights
A typical mistake in many HDB renovation projects is the overuse of downlights. While recessed lighting provides a clean aesthetic and general illumination, it often fails to provide functional or ambient lighting in specific zones. Kitchens, for example, need task lighting under cabinets. Living rooms benefit from layered lighting, like cove lights or floor lamps. Bedrooms should include warm-toned lighting at eye level for winding down. Sole reliance on downlights flattens a room and leads to poor visual comfort.
2. Ignoring Natural Light Orientation
Many homeowners ignore how natural light behaves in their flats throughout the day. Overlooking window orientation and how much daylight a space gets often leads to lighting plans that are either insufficient or overly harsh. If a room receives direct sunlight, it may not require strong overhead lighting during the day. On the flip side, a dim corridor or windowless bathroom will need enhanced artificial lighting. An efficient lighting plan always considers the flat’s orientation and daylight conditions before finalising fixture placements.
3. Poor Colour Temperature Choices
Another overlooked issue in HDB renovation is mismatched colour temperatures across different spaces. Installing bright white lights in the living room while using warm lights in the bedroom can create a jarring contrast. Worse still, using daylight-temperature bulbs (5000K–6500K) throughout the entire flat can make the space feel clinical. A well-balanced interior design & renovation approach uses warm white (2700K–3000K) in living and rest areas and cool white (4000K) in functional zones like kitchens or workspaces.
4. Lack of Lighting Zoning and Control
Modern HDB renovation should go beyond a single switch per room. Yet many homes still operate on outdated, binary lighting setups. There’s little to no zoning, dimming, or layering of light levels. This instance results in either overly bright or under-lit areas. Incorporating multiple circuits and dimmable switches in your lighting plan gives better control over mood and energy efficiency. A well-lit home doesn’t mean every bulb is on at full brightness—it means having the right light at the right time.
5. Decorative Fixtures Without Function
It’s tempting to install statement pendant lights or chandeliers as part of the interior design aesthetics. However, the form should never override the function. Installing low-hanging pendant lights in small dining areas or fitting overly large fixtures in narrow hallways can make the space feel cramped and awkward. Lighting fixtures must be scaled to the room’s dimensions and installed in a way that complements the space’s function, not just its look.
6. Neglecting Future Flexibility
Homeowners sometimes plan lighting strictly around current furniture layouts, ignoring potential future changes. This approach creates limitations when furniture is rearranged or the function of a room changes. Fixed lighting locations without flexibility can leave seating areas in the dark or workspaces under-lit. Incorporating flexible lighting solutions like track lights or movable lamps gives homeowners long-term adaptability.
Lighting is more than just a visual accessory—it directly affects how your HDB flat is lived in day to day. Give lighting the attention it needs, particularly if you’re planning on investing in interior design. Review how light moves through the space, prioritise function, and create flexibility for future use. These steps will ensure your HDB BTO renovation avoids common lighting pitfalls.
Contact Hamid and Sons Interior Design to gain expert advice on how to integrate lighting into your renovation plan.
