It took him a whole year to renovate his brand new three-room Housing Board flat — a timeline that may seem lengthy to many.

However, for Den (not his real name), renovating his Build-to-Order (BTO) flat was a slow and steady labor of love rather than a frustrating process.

He and his wife were staying with his parents during the renovation, so there was no rush to complete the project.

One reason for the extended timeline was Den's decision to do all the renovation work by himself.

A YouTube video showcasing his renovation journey garnered close to 450,000 views within two weeks, earning praise and admiration from netizens.

Many were astonished by the scale of the project and how he managed to accomplish it solo with a modest $12,000 budget.

Realizing a Childhood Dream

Den, in his 40s, shared with AsiaOne in January that building his own home from scratch was the realization of a childhood dream.

Instead of constructing a house in a distant land as he had imagined, his home turned out to be a modern, pre-fabricated HDB flat in Singapore.

He emphasized practicality, durability, and quality in his design choices, focusing on minimum maintenance while creating a warm and cozy living space.

By taking the DIY route, Den managed to save costs without compromising on quality.

Not 100% DIY

While Den handled most of the renovation tasks himself, he did hire contractors for certain specialized jobs such as installing the kitchen countertop and backsplash.

He also left the base screed for the bare BTO flat to professionals due to the risk involved in attempting it himself.

Despite the challenges, Den's renovation efforts were met with admiration from viewers.

Not from Renovation Industry

Den clarified that he is not working in the renovation industry but described himself as a "solopreneur in the creative industry."

His passion for carpentry and DIY projects led him to architecture school and visual merchandising work before embarking on his solo renovation journey.

DIY Home Reno Not for Everyone

Den cautioned that hands-on DIY projects, especially on a large scale, may not be suitable for everyone and should not be undertaken solely for cost-saving purposes.

He emphasized the importance of researching HDB renovation guidelines and being considerate to neighbors during the renovation process.

Tips for New Homeowners?

Den advised new flat owners to reconsider popular home finishes and prioritize reliability, durability, and ease of maintenance over short-lived aesthetic appeal.

He shared his personal preferences against extensive storage spaces, glass partitions, full-height mirrors, and wet-dry segregation for bathrooms.

Den's innovative ideas and meticulous approach to renovation have earned him praise and recognition from viewers.