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Should Interior Designers Charge a Design Fee? Singapore Renovation Reality 

Every few months, the same debate surfaces in the interior design community. Should designers charge a design fee, or should design be bundled into the renovation package? In Singapore’s renovation industry, the answer is rarely as straightforward as it seems. 

Should Interior Designers Charge a Design Fee? The Reality Behind “Free Design” in Singapore Renovation 

Global tensions, shipping costs and housing policies can all influence renovation costs in Singapore. Here’s how geopolitics and the HDB wait-out period affect the renovation industry. 

Why Renovation Costs Are Rising in Singapore: War, Supply Chains and Housing Policies 

There are moments in the renovation industry where you realise it is not just about tiles, paint, and carpentry. Global tensions, supply chains, and housing policies can all shape renovation costs and activity in Singapore. 

Between War, Waiting Periods, and Wrenches in the Wall: How Global Events Affect Renovation Costs in Singapore

Why isn’t interior design tightly regulated in Singapore? Explore how HDB, affordability and mass housing shape renovation governance. 

Why Interior Design Is Not Regulated in Singapore 

Interior design in Singapore sits at the intersection of housing policy, affordability and mass participation. To understand why interior design is not tightly regulated here, we must first understand how HDB transformed renovation into a mass-market ecosystem. 

Why Interior Design Is Not Tightly Regulated in Singapore 

Planning a budget renovation in Singapore in 2026? Learn how Budget 2026 affects renovation cost, hybrid sourcing and smarter planning. 

Budget Renovation Singapore 2026: Smart Planning Guide 

In a year shaped by caution and calibration, renovation decisions require more than aesthetics. They require financial clarity. 

Budget Renovation Singapore 2026: What Budget 2026 Means for Homeowners 

There are very few renovation items that homeowners think they understand, but actually don’t. Sound insulation is one of them. 

Sound Insulation: Why Sound Insulation Is Often Neglected in Renovation 

1. &nbsp; &nbsp;It&rsquo;s Sizzling HotWell, well, well, it looks like Singapore has turned up the heat for the past two months! With temperatures soaring higher than the tallest building (we&rsquo;re exaggerating) in the city-state, it&#39;s safe to say that we&#39;ve been sweating more than a politician during an election campaign. From ice cream trucks working overtime to air conditioning units struggling to keep up, it seems like everyone is feeling the burn. So grab a cold drink, find some shade, and let&#39;s talk about this sizzling hot heatwave that just won&#39;t quit! 2. &nbsp; &nbsp;Why Is It So Hot?<img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527299672-Image+1-01.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">According to Wikipedia, Singapore reached a whopping 36.1&deg;C in Admiralty on 14th April, the highest temperature recorded in the country since the start of 2023. But in May, that record was broken when the temperature reached 36.2 &deg;C in Choa Chu Kang on 12th May. (Source:&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Asia_heat_wave#:~:text=Singapore%20reached%2036.1%20%C2%B0C,Chu%20Kang%20on%2012%20May" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2023 Asia Heat Wave, Wikipedia</a>)&nbsp; While we had some short showers recently, it did not help much as pedestrians crossing the roads in the day, can still feel the punishing heat from the relentless sun. Managing Director, Mr. Jonathan Tan of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sixides.com/vendors/brands/prism">Prism+</a>&nbsp;shared that they had seen a significant spike and demand in their range of cooling devices over the past month.&nbsp; <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527349457-Aircon-Image1.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-zero" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ ZERO Smart Air Conditioner</a> &ldquo;Orders for our smart air conditioner system, the&nbsp;<a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-zero" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ Zero</a>, have gone up over a hundred percent in April compared to previous months! Even our Oasis Ceiling Fans have seen a fifty percent increase in orders!&rdquo; Said Mr. Tan.&nbsp; Mr. Tan added, &ldquo;We have seen an increasing urgency from consumers opting to purchase without waiting for site surveys, further amplifying the current state most users are in.&rdquo; Experts are saying that all this heat is due to El-nino but no one has come out to talk about how we can heat-proof our spaces or our homes. &nbsp;Therefore, and as usual, we at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sixides.com/">SIXiDES</a>&nbsp;are taking the lead to talk about how good passive design combined with mechanical cooling can play a part making you cool, literally! 3. &nbsp; &nbsp;What Is Passive Design Or Cooling?<img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527404707-Image+1-02.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> As an advocate of sustainability, I am a firm believer of employing passive methods to cool down a space. This refers to the use of natural elements and features to maintain comfortable temperatures within a home, without the need for active cooling systems such as air conditioners or fans. This approach to design takes into account factors such as, to create a living space that is naturally cool and comfortable in hot weather. By reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems, passive design can help to lower energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, and create a more sustainable and eco-friendly home. But let&rsquo;s assume your home is facing the west sun, a lot of shading is not available, many of the ID and renovation work had been done long ago, what else can we do to beat the heat? 4. &nbsp; &nbsp;Methods To Keep CoolHere are some passive design/d&eacute;cor suggestions combined with mechanical methods to keep cool and still lower your electrical bills.&nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Choose light-colored materials: Light-colored materials such as cotton, linen, and silk reflect light and heat, making them cooler to the touch and more comfortable to sit or lie on. As such if your sofa is in a dark coloured fabric or leather, consider getting a white silk or chiffon sofa cover or drape it in a light colour cotton fabric. This will make the sitting more bearable as the sofa fabrics tend to trap heat and especially more so if they are darker in colour. &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Optimize your room layout: Rearrange your furniture to optimize the flow of air in your space. This is to encourage cross ventilation. Many HDB dwellers always like to open their main door and windows, this helps the wind to travel into the space. As such look at whether you have big furniture obstructing this cross ventilation from happening. If so, try shifting them. To optimise even further, you can also tap on ceiling and floor standing fans to circulate and boost moving air throughout the room. <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527444084-top-view-boards-mdf-material+%281%29.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; Use natural materials: If budget allows and you are also looking at changing your furniture, consider natural materials such as wicker, rattan, or bamboo for your new furniture. These materials not only will help you achieve the &ldquo;Japandi&rdquo; look, (<a href="https://www.sixides.com/articles/why-is-everyone-trending-japandi">Read More</a>) but it can also help you keep your space cool. These materials are porous and allow air to circulate, which helps to lower the temperature. <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527484120-woman-wore-orange-gloves-planted-trees-house.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp; Add plants: Believe it or not plants can help regulate the temperature in your home by absorbing heat and releasing moisture into the air. You can choose plants that are known for their cooling properties such as monstera, snake plants, ferns, and aloe vera. However, don&rsquo;t expect one small table sized pot of money plant is going to help bring the temperature down a few degrees. For this to work, you need quite a few pots of mid-sized plants to dress up the space. If you have a green thumb, consider this option as it will also enhance the visual appeal to the space as well! &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Add shades: If your current windows are dressed in roller blinds or venetian blinds, these blinds will not perform much in blocking the heat away. Consider changing them by using light-colored curtains, drapes, or shades. If you have a balcony, you may consider zip track blinds or bamboo chick blinds. Balconies are already designed to give you that extra shade, when you add another layer of shading using the chicks, the temperature will drop even further. If you are gunning for the tropical look in your balcony, try using large potted plants to create more natural shade. <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1685527499809-Image+1-03.jpg" style="width: 100%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;&bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Air Con and fans: The ideal sustainable temperature for your AC should be set at 25 &deg;C if you want to be prudent with your AC bills but we all know this is hardly a comfortable temperature and almost all of us are guilty of dropping the temperature as low as possible. One way we can make 25 &deg;C bearable is to consider placing a standing fan in an oscillating mode directly below the path of the AC&rsquo;s air flow coming from the vent. As cold air settles and lands near the back of the fan, the fan intervenes and acts as a &ldquo;boost&rdquo; to push the cool air further as opposed to letting the cold air settle on the ground. If you have a ceiling fan, this method will be even better as the circulation combined with the AC will help make the space cool down faster without the need to lower the temperature below 25 &deg;C! Brands like Prism+ has features on their Smart Air Conditoners (<a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-zero" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ Zero</a>) and their Smart ceiling fans (<a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-oasis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ Oasis</a>) such as a &ldquo;Routine Feature&rdquo; to help users schedule their cooling devices to tun on/off. This means users can plan to stay ahead of the heat curve. There is even a &ldquo;Geolocation&rdquo; feature that allows the device to detect the user if they are within the facility or leaving it to make sure to never forget to power off the device/s. Such a useful tool to deal with costs while keeping cool! 5. &nbsp; &nbsp;Heat Is A State Of Mind!I used to recall my friends telling me that feeling hot is a state of mind. The true meaning to this is not about feeling chill or calm. That is utter nonsense. In truth, there are many ways we can innovate and think of how to keep cool even with the current conditions of your home. Think creatively and try ways to beat the heat using passive cooling ideals. This is definitely a &ldquo;cool&rdquo; idea! Now if you want to adopt all the above strategies and still have some mechanical cooling devices, you can approach Prism+ for a friendly consultation in many of their experience centres popping up in Singapore! Their Smart AC and Smart Ceiling Fans are on promotion now with substantial warranties. There are free gifts and purchase on purchase deals, right now! (<a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-zero" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ Zero</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://prismplus.sg/products/prism-oasis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prism+ Oasis</a>)

Well, well, well, it looks like Singapore has turned up the heat for the past two months! With temperatures soaring higher than the tallest building (we’re exaggerating) in the city-state, it's safe to say that we've been sweating more than a politician during an election campaign.

Beat The Heat With Interior Design

1.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Yes I Am A Feng Shui Practitioner!Before anyone flags me and call me a con-man, I am truly a certified Feng Shui practitioner and here is my certificate of practice that I graduated from since the Singapore Feng Shui Centre, under the tutelage and mentorship of Grandmaster Vincent Koh, (one of the few Grandmasters in the world!) in 2010. As such, I have more than a decade of experience and practice in combining this ancient wisdom with our modern interior design living. In fact, I had come up with a modern way to fuse modernity into the classical art of Feng Shui. In this &ldquo;WORD FROM THE NERD&rdquo;, let me share how you can &ldquo;Huat&rdquo; a little bit more with 3 simple ways to activate or find the wealth spots in your home! <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673573492888-article74-1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Astley&rsquo;s Certificate of Practice for Feng Shui 2.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Huat Is A Wealth Point?Simply put, in Feng Shui, a wealth point/location/spot/sector is an area of a home or shop or office that is associated with wealth , prosperity and abundance. You may be asking,&nbsp;&ldquo;How can a single location or spot in a space bring in luck or wealth? It does not make scientific sense at all!&rdquo;Let me try to explain this in the easiest and most modern way. Imagine you are a caveman now, and your residence is literally a cave. And in a cave, there are dark spots, dry spots, damp spots, airy spots and warm spots. Which means if you, the caveman, were to bring in firewood, would you place the woodpile at the dry spots or the damp spots? Would you start the fire at the dry spot or the damp spot?&nbsp;It is actually quite logical that if we want the best possible result for starting a fire, we would place the wood in the correct environment and yield the best possible outcome.&nbsp;Have you noticed that in restaurants, the cashier counters may have a tipping box for you to drop the spare coins in? If you just happen to not want to carry the coins, or you really want to tip the waiting crew, the tipping box will remind you to tip them. Or when you are making payment in Don Don Donki, they have a &ldquo;snaking&rdquo; pathway that they are lined with goods like titbits and snacks, for the purpose of making you do a last minute impulse purchase? <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673573533110-article74-2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Payment at typical Don Don Donki stall So the idea of a tipping box, a bunch of impulse buying displays and a &ldquo;wealth spot&rdquo; acts in the same way. They are symbolic and are there to communicate a purpose like tipping or impulse buying. If used in an appropriate location, they can be very effective, for the same logic that you should start a fire on dry ground. The theory is similar.Hence in Feng Shui, many people take the symbolic aspects quite literally and place piggy banks or water features or even FU LU SHOU figurines at these wealth spots to activate the luck. Personally, I prefer that we take a modern approach and activate in the most subtle way like plants or decoration items to activate the wealth spots as opposed to putting figurines. It has to feel homogenous with the design and theme of the home. Remember that just like the wind, good Qi (luck energy) is not seen but felt. Therefore, it should be subtle and non-intrusive.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673573555814-article74-3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Tips for a Scandinavian styled home: FU LU SHOU and a designer, Scandinavian design piggy bank. Ideally use elements or d&eacute;cor items that gel into your home design. If it sticks out like a sore thumb, then it is the wrong approach. 3.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;The 3 Theories For Locating The Wealth PointsThere are many theories to locate your wealth points, but from this article, we&rsquo;ll be sharing 3 and they are:&nbsp; THEORY 1: HOME/SPACE BAGUA Simply locate the southeast location of your home. You do this by standing in the center of the home and using the compass to determine the location of the southeast. If it turns out that southeast happens to be a bathroom or a bedroom, then use the spot just before the bathroom or bedroom. However if the location is too crammed and not suitable to place any objects, move on to theory 2. <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673587574164-article74-4.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Location of Southeast is in the bedroom and the exterior of the bedroom is actually the entrance of the bathroom, therefore this is not suitable to use theory 1 THEORY 2 &ndash; SELF KUA&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673574660127-article74-5.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Self/life Kua number chart &ndash; find your name and note your Kua number &nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673574675346-article74-6.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">East and West House Group Chart This one is actually quite easy too. Just take reference to the 2 charts above. Find your personal Kua number. Assuming you are a female born in 1999, then your Kua number is &ldquo;8&rdquo; and for you, the wealth area is Southwest (SW). THEORY 3 &ndash; VISIBLE WEALTH POINT <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673587877282-article74-7.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Visible wealth point (明财位) reference guid For Visible wealth point, it is very straightforward too! If your entrance is on the left, the right most corner is your wealth spot. If it is center, then it is actually the 2 corners. If the entrance is to the right then the opposite left is the wealth spot.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="https://s3-us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sixides-us/uploads%2F1673615061312-article74-8.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib froala-align-middle">Wealth spot is opposite the main entrance 4.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Simple And Easy Way to Use Feng ShuiOf course, there is a whole lot more to Feng Shui than just these 3 theories. This is just a simplified explanation of how you can bring in more luck for the new year, especially since the GST got increased by another percent, we need all the wealth we can get!Keep in mind these are just general guidelines and the specific enhancements will depend on individual needs and circumstances. My advice is to still consult a professional Feng Shui practitioner if you want a comprehensive audit of your home. But if you just want to experiment and have some fun, you can try these theories out and who knows, maybe you will huat nonstop after deploying these enhancement techniques! Happy New Year to (兔) you! Huat ah!

Before anyone flags me and call me a con-man, I am truly a certified Feng Shui practitioner and here is my certificate of practice that I graduated from since the Singapore Feng Shui Centre, under the tutelage and mentorship of Grandmaster Vincent Koh, (one of the few Grandmasters in the world!) in 2010.

Feng Shui Your Home For The CNY 2023!

Word From The Nerd