FAQ: Your Space = Your Vibes 🏠

159

Scandinavian
HDB (BTO)
~1,000 sqft
3 br
Couple Living

How would I describe my home’s personality? It’s a blend of whimsical charm and Nordic simplicity. Light wood tones dominate the design, paired with decorative elements that reflect Nordic influences. At the same time, we’ve incorporated whimsical touches. After all, with a café-inspired theme, the space is meant to exude happy, welcoming vibes! Sentimental pieces also play a big role in our home’s design. For instance, the sewing machine table is a repurposed antique gifted by my maternal grandfather to my mother for her wedding. Now, it’s been lovingly refurbished as a unique piece in our home. Another part of this special piece is the solid marble tabletop, originally part of an oval coffee table that’s been with me since childhood. It was custom laser-cut and polished with beveled edges to fit the sewing machine stand, carrying forward its history into our space.
Is it a bit of a maintenance chore to have more decorative items around the house? Absolutely—but it’s worth it. During cleaning, whether with our part-time cleaner or on our own, each item has to be individually removed, cleaned, and put back. But even after three years, we still feel that without these personal touches, the space would feel sterile and less like a home. Coming back to a place that truly reflects us makes the extra effort worthwhile—that’s just a personal story, make your home your own, above all, enjoy the journey!
How do you start adding personal touches to your space? I’d suggest beginning with items that bring you joy and curating them around a common theme, vibe, colour palette, or style. For example, our love for cafes, coffee, and tea inspired us to incorporate a café theme into our home design—we even personalised a café name , menu and signboard! When curating pieces, we look for items that not only reflect our personalities but also align with the overall aesthetic we’re going for—whether it’s café-themed, Nordic-inspired, woody tones, or gold accents. Don’t forget to leave some negative space to let your key pieces breathe and truly stand out. But above all, follow what makes you happy—it’s your home, so let it reflect what brings you joy.
Where do you start sourcing items to personalise your space? We believe that filling up a home is a journey to be enjoyed, not rushed. Take your time to find pieces that stand out, hold meaning, or represent special moments in your life. For variety, we find that online platforms offer an easier way to curate our style, as you can search for specific keywords like ‘Nordic home decor’ or ‘wood clock.’ Popular platforms like Hipvan, Shopee, Lazada, Taobao, and Amazon are great starting points to explore and discover home items that represent your style.
What are some tips you would share with homeowners who are ready to start painting their home personalisation canvas? We recommend keeping the structural elements of your home as timeless as possible—think built-ins like cabinetry, flooring, tiles, and backsplashes. Then, inject personality through soft furnishings and loose furniture, such as cushions, throws, artwork, chairs, rugs, and decorative pieces. This approach allows for flexibility, giving you the freedom to update and change out soft furnishings as your style evolves, while maintaining the timeless integrity of the structural elements and investment pieces that are more difficult and costly to replace.