These Cafe-inspired HDB Flats are Super Aesthetic

Cafe-hopping may be our nation’s pastime, but let's face it: that gets expensive—fast. So why not go easy on your wallet and turn your home into a cosy cafe-inspired one instead? Forget FOMO, create perpetual brunch vibes and enjoy that latte all without having to step out of the house. 

A kitchen pass-through is the key to this HDB’s cafe atmosphere

Wood-framed windows inside a home just instantly scream ‘cafe' to me. I'm loving these ones designed by Doubble Interior Associates. They lift and fold up, creating a connection between the inside and outside of the kitchen. The table at bar height wrapped around it allows room for two to enjoy a laidback weekend brunch.

The rest of the home’s just as serene. Another bar-height table is wall mounted by the window, allowing the homeowners to take in the verdant greenery, all while nursing a cup of joe.

A labyrinth of colours and textures in this Northshore home is reminiscent of a high-end cafe

Authors Interior & Styling decided to walk on the quirky side with curvatures, unconventional lighting and unique textures in this BTO, so the space almost feels like a commercial one than a residential. With its dedicated coffee peninsula counter (clad in the loveliest of tiles!) and ample seating, you’ll be forgiven for mistaking this home for a cafe.

What I really want to draw attention to you though is that walk-in wardrobe by the primary bedroom. That kaleidoscopic moon gate-style arch is just an absolute feast for the eyes. And it draws a visual connection to the tiles in the bathroom too, which is luxury personification in itself.

A soothing sanctuary where serenity meets cafe-like charm

Perhaps you are more of a matcha than an espresso person. Then turn your home into a Japanese style cafe. Just like this Bedok HDB designed by AMP Design, opt for a platform, floor chairs, low table—the whole works! The tatami style rug is a nice nod to the style, while the display wall with uneven recessed shelves pays tribute to the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection. 

The kitchen island’s also pretty unique, lined with curved open shelves decorated with Japanese pottery. The bedroom too, sits on a low platform, drawing a divide between the ‘private’ and ‘public’ space.

Hipster-cool Bukit Timah home comes with a built-in beer tap

If hipster joints are your thing, then this cafe-inspired home in Bukit Timah done up by Fifth Avenue Interior will be right up your alley. Retro shades, a mix of vintage and industrial furnishings, and a laidback mood set the tone in the home.

A wood slatted ceiling defines the main dining area, with shelves built close to the ceiling framing the view of this cosy gathering space. You’ll also want to check out the home bar, which comes installed with a beer tap for 24/7 refreshment.

Industrial leanings in this bright and open BTO

Industrial themes and coffee shops go together like butter and kaya. So it’s definitely an interior design style to consider if you’re thinking of a cafe-inspired home. 

In this Punggol HDB designed by The Interior Lab, adopting an open floor plan and using glass dividers to segregate spaces that need privacy (home office) allows the home to feel extra commodious. With fewer walls, the light coming in through the windows still manages to brighten the space, alleviating the darker hues and cement screed surfaces used here as part of the industrial theme.

Texture-filled Moroccan style Maisonette feels like a upscale yet laidback joint 

Coffee station? Check. Bar counter? Check. Cool windows with etched details, natural elements and a laidback vibe? Check, check and check. This Moroccan style Tampines maisonette designed by AMP Design ticks all the boxes of a cafe-inspired HDB. Framing the kitchen for instance is a coffee bar on one side and a kitchen window bar on the other, with brassy, rose-gold metallic details lending a touch of old-world elegance. 

The laundry yard features the most adorable arched window. Look closely and you'll see the detailing on the panes that bring to mind the scallop motifs seen in Moroccan architecture. Bathed in natural light and anchored by dark flooring, the open-plan dining area exudes a cosy ambiance like that of a communal dining cafe, perfect for sharing plates and laughter.