Quiet Luxury, Who? These 6 HDBs are all about Dopamine Decor

Not into quiet luxury AKA boring-ville? Try dopamine decor

One of the latest interior design trends to hit our sunny shores? Dopamine decor. An anti-thesis to the more muted quiet luxury, a look we’ve been seeing ALL of last year, this feel-good style is all about bright hues, quirky objets d’art, and stuff that makes you happy. What I really like about dopamine decor is that anything goes really, and there’s no absolute rules to how you apply this style to your space. It’s loud, maximalist, outrageous and every synonym in between. To get you inspired, we compiled some Singapore HDBs that will definitely fit right in with this theme:

1. Tampines HDB by Knock Knock Studio

Stuffed floor cushions, a daybed for lounging, a moroccan style bench and a Ligne Roset ploum couch all come together in this conversation-first, relaxing-second living room, tied together visually by a large area rug. Talk about hodgepodge! But it works, because there’s some repeated colour accents like that delicious hot pink.

The rest of the home is similarly assorted. Gorgeous pendants help to create visual statements around the house. Then there’s the open plan. Thick curtains—which actually look like corrugated metal—divide up the different zones, but most of the time, things are kept free-flowing so there’s a lot of versatility in the use of space.

 

2. Punggol HDB by BuildBuilt

I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the viral ‘unexpected’ red theory. It’s essentially adding a pop of red to a space, where you least expect it. And in this home, that built-in shelf is it. That strong bold hue stands out in the sea of more muted hues and vintage-y tones, and it pairs really well with that calming shade of green seen in those dining table legs.

Elsewhere, yellow makes a bold statement in the kitchen and the bathroom. We really like how handcrafted and unpolished the entire cooking space looks. They did away with closed cabinets, and instead kept everything open. Might be a nightmare for cleaning, but that kitchen screams cosy weekend dinners, y’all.

 

3. Marsiling HDB by Ascend Design

This home feels a bit sweeter, using a contrast of pastel and bold hues together in the dining/kitchen space. The arched window adds a quirky touch while mirroring the shape of the dining pendants. Speaking of quirky, we also spotted some unconventional decor. Check out that bench in the home office that’s crafted from a skateboard or that pair of plastic yellow chairs reminiscent of the ones you see in public spaces.

There’s also a bit of a retro theme going on here, as you’ll see in the rest of this apartment. You see it in the wavy patterns, choice of furnishings and tile selections. Rounding it all off with a clean white backdrop to make everything pop.

 

4. Sengkang HDB by OftheBox

Like the other homes we’ve seen here so far, this HDB isn’t short of colours! I like the colour-blocking effect done in the living room, which helps to frame the window and creates a sort of balcony effect. Notice how those wall hues are also seen in the floor rug! How clever.

More colour blocking is seen in the bathroom. Same tiles are used to define that built-in bathtub (how luxurious!), just in three different colours that feels almost like they were going for an ombre effect. And then that lovely soft gold finishing and terrazzo flooring (the same one in the rest of the home) to sum up everything together.

 

5. Tampines HDB by Knock Knock Studio

This flat is perhaps best described as zany. The kitchen’s one of our favourite spaces, anchored by a generous island that also doubles as a casual dining spot and a refrigerator that looks at you whenever you are prepping overnight oats. But what I really want to draw attention to is that original terrazzo flooring that the homeowners decided to retain after polishing, and that transition border made up of old-school tiles that we usually see in older flats. It also draws attention to the original floor tiles all while adding a touch of vintage charm.

The burst of colours seen in the kitchen is also everywhere in the house. With so many colours in play, it takes a level of skill to make everything work so well together. The key? Drawing visual continuity with similar elements. So for instance, the same hues are also seen in the bathroom, with the orangey-ceiling reminiscent of the terrazzo tiles in the kitchen. The backsplash also mirror one another with the same tiles, differentiated only by a different grout colour.

 

6. Ubi HDB by Ascend Design

The original (and super gorgeous) pink-hued marble floor was what kickstarted this apartment's aesthetic. And what better way to update this retro surface than to pair it with bright, bold hues. We see oranges, greens, reds, purples and blues coming together in a colourful cacophony. Due to the striking contrast this creates, the pale flooring becomes the star of the show. 

A love of cinema and a keen eye for style permeated the homeowners' space, evident in the film posters and luxurious fabrics, while curved and rounded furnishings offer a touch of retro flair. The showstopper might just be the bathroom. Black and white checkered tiles create a bold statement, while retro glass blocks ensure privacy and bathe the space in soft light.