How AI Is Transforming the Home Renovation Industry in Singapore

When it comes to home renovation, in the past, you would schedule consultations with multiple interior designers, wait weeks for proposals and eventually commit to a design based on 2D sketches and your imagination.

Imagine you’re sitting on your couch today with your phone in hand as you drag furniture across a 3D model of your home and adjust the colours of the wall with a few taps.

This could be the reality of home renovation in Singapore in the future. You will be able to visualise exactly how your space will look all before spending a single dollar on materials.

The Rise of AI-Powered Design Tools

Transformation is possible due to user accessibility of AI-powered design platforms. Here are popular platforms that are slowly reshaping the home renovation industry.

Planner 5D

It is a go-to tool for homeowners as they can create detailed 3D models with customised layouts, floor plans and wall colours.

The platform’s interface is so intuitive that you can input furniture dimensions, test arrangements and make real-time adjustments directly from your smartphone.

ChatGPT and Midjourney

The combination of these two powerful tools has opened new possibilities for design ideation.

You can just describe your vision using simple language like “a modern minimalist living room with Japandi influences for a 4-room HDB”, and voila! You get instant design concepts and recommendations.

RoomGPT

RoomGPT takes things further because with it, you can transform photos of existing spaces into newly designed interiors. For instance, you have a picture of your room. You can upload the photo and RoomGPT will help you visualise potential renovations before you finally commit to revamping your space.

Renderspace.co

Renderspace is a locally-based AI startup that creates interior design mockups specifically trained on Singapore homes.

Co-founder Raphael Yee notes that their AI models reflect what SG property buyers actively seek. Four generated styles mirror Singapore’s dominant design trends:

• Modern
• Minimalist
• Scandinavian
• Japandi

The Benefits of These Tools to Homeowners

These platforms that we’ve shortly talked about provide tangible benefits. Their appeal extends beyond novelty, amidst the rising renovation costs and space constraints.

Direct Reduction in the Costs

You can save a significant portion of renovation costs since you will handle the design work with the help of AI. The traditional interior designer fee, which is usually 5-20% of the total renovation budget, would be reallocated.

Eliminating Middleman Fees

Platforms like Homeez make it possible for homeowners to connect directly with suppliers and cut out intermediary markups.

Users can select pre-loaded floor plans, choose tiles and paints and either contact suppliers directly or hire project managers for transparent, one-time fees.

Smart Budget Tracking

AI-powered tools like SingaBytePlanner use chatbots to generate personalised renovation plans with tasks, timelines, and budget allocations.

The platform provides real-time expense tracking and alerts you when the costs exceed your set budget.

Quotation Analysis

IDIT Savings uses machine learning to scan renovation quotes and identify cost-saving measures without compromising quality.

You can expect to save S$100 to S$500 per quotation comparison. And when you’re comparing multiple contractors and suppliers, those savings can multiply quickly.

Faster Visualisation and Decision-Making

We all know that time is money, and AI can deliver both. What once took weeks of back-and-forth with designers now happens in minutes.

AI platforms can generate floor plans, colour schemes and photorealistic renders instantly. You want to see your living rom with beige walls? Change it with a tap. Curious how a different sofa layout would look? You can drag and rearrange in real time.

For furniture purchases, instead of buying pieces and hoping they fit, you can input exact dimensions into your AI-generated model and confirm everything works before heading to the store.

No more costly returns or awkward furniture placements because that ‘perfect’ cabinet turned out to be three inches too wide.

Enhanced Personalisation

These AI platforms can analyse your browsing history, social media activity and stated preferences to suggest design elements that align with your lifestyle and tastes.

If you consistently saved many images of minimalist Scandinavian interiors with natural wood tones, the AI learns and generates recommendations accordingly.

AI algorithms can optimise layouts for compact HDB units and consider factors like natural light flow and traffic patterns.

AI Applications in Home Renovation

Pre-Renovation Phase

Before you commit to a property, AI helps you see its potential.

Real360 by Real Estate Analytics pioneered dual-view virtual staging that displays original spaces alongside professionally staged versions on the same screen. With this technology, you can visualise how empty or poorly designed rooms could further be beautified.

This technology proves valuable when you are viewing older resale flats that need major updates as you can see past the dated tiles and imagine the renovated result.

Space Planning and Optimising the Layout

Once you have decided on a property, AI takes on the challenge of utilising optimal space.

Platforms like MRETTY’s proprietary DesignIQ use generative design to explore thousands of layout permutations.

For a typical 4-room HDB flat, AI can analyse traffic flow patterns and lighting conditions to suggest whether an open-concept kitchen makes sense, where to put the dining table to get as much natural light as possible, and how to arrange bedrooms to achieve maximum privacy.

Selecting Materials and Eco-Friendly Alternatives

AI-powered material optimisation tools cross-reference extensive dabatases so it can suggest appropriate materials that suit the climate and environmental goals.

An example is MRETTY’s lumber selection module which recommends FSC-certified timbre options and ENF-certified OSB panels that are suitable for the humid conditions in Singapore.

The system considers factors that human designers might overlook such as humidity resistance, maintenance requirements, cost comparisons across suppliers and availability timelines.

Budget Estimation and Quotation Comparison

This is perhaps the most practical advantage of leveraging AI tools when it comes to home renovation projects. AI can help you understand realistic costs before committing to designs.

Analysing and considering your floor plan, material choices and the complexity of the design, platforms can provide estimated budgets that will guide your decisions.

When the contractor quotes are available, AI comparison tools can suggest alternatives and flag potential areas of overcharging.

The Indispensable Role of Professional Designers

Cultural Sensitivity and Contextual Understanding

First point, design decisions carry cultural significance that AI may miss. 

Professional designers understand when certain colours, symbols or arrangements might have unintended cultural implications. We recognise how different ethnic communities use spaces differently and then tailor designs accordingly.

Feasibility Assessment and Practical Execution

AI might give you really stunning designs that are feast to the eyes, but these can be impractical or impossible to build.

Professional designers know what works structurally, what local renovation contractors can execute realistically, and how to stay fully compliant with building regulations and HDB guidelines.

We fully understand all the considerations that are not always visible in AI-generated renders.

Comfort, Wellness, and Safety

Designers consider your comfort, wellness and safety. We decide on the optimal lighting levels to care for your eye health, ventilation for indoor air quality, and safety features that are proven beneficial for families with young children/elderly residents.

Aside from that, we can also select formaldehyde-free adhesives, low-VOC paints, and materials that contribute to healthier indoor spaces.

Emotional Intelligence and Creative Intuition

There is an intangible quality to spaces that feel right — a sense of flow, proportion, and harmony that is only achievable with human intuition and extensive design experience.

Designers read subtle cues in how clients describe their needs and we can translate those into spatial solutions that clients might not have articulated explicitly.

As Fann Zhi Jie, first vice-president of the Society of Interior Designers Singapore, said: “The true value of an interior designer lies in professional expertise that AI cannot replicate.”

Long-Term Relationship and Accountability

Professional designers maintain responsibility for project outcomes, coordinate with contractors, troubleshoot problems during construction, and ensure that the final result matches approved plans.

We are invested in your satisfaction in ways that software can never be.

Make it Hybrid

The most effective strategy for homeowners would be using AI for exploration and visualisation and then engaging professionals for refinement of the preferred designs and styles and execution of home renovation.

• Use AI tools to materialise your preferences and test layouts. As you explore, you’ll get to articulate your needs clearly when you eventually speak with designers.
• Bring your AI-generated designs to experienced designers for feasibility review. We can point out which elements will work, which need modification, and which might cause problems. And because you have already done substantial groundwork, this consultation might be shorter and less expensive.
• Then, work together with your designer to refine the designs. The designer handles permits, coordination with the contractor and problem-solving during renovation work.

Conclusion

The home renovation journey has changed with the advent of AI and machine learning. AI makes it possible for homeowners to explore numerous possibilities and visualise their preferred outcomes.

But you should remember that AI is an enabler, not a replacement for human expertise. The most successful home renovations are due to homeowner- designer partnership. Connect to an interior design company in Singapore today.

Or you can show us at Style + Space Interior Design a sample of your preferred style and we will make your time worthwhile as we discuss your dream renovation project.