What's the difference?
In Singapore, most “interior designers” work in design-and-build firms. They design your home, then manage the contractors and sub-contractors who build it, under one contract. A renovation contractor mainly does the building works, and expects you to know what you want.
| Interior design firm | Renovation contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Design and 3D drawings | Yes, usually included | Limited or none |
| Material and colour advice | Yes | Some |
| Coordinates all trades | Yes | Usually for their own scope |
| Typical price | Higher (design and management are built in) | Lower for the same works |
| Your time and effort | Less | More: you make most decisions |
| Best for | Full renovations, layout changes, busy owners | Clear, simple scopes you can describe precisely |
What applies to both
- For HDB flats, the renovation contractor you engage must be listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors
- CaseTrust accreditation, if the firm has it, caps the initial deposit at 20% and adds a deposit performance bond
- You should get an itemised quote, a timeline and clear payment stages in writing (CCCS fair trading guide)
- Payments should go to the company account only
Choose an interior design firm if…
- You want a full design, not just repairs
- You're changing the layout or doing lots of carpentry
- You don't have time to coordinate trades and deliveries
- You'd like one party responsible for the whole job
Choose a contractor if…
- You know exactly what you want, with sizes and materials
- The scope is simple: e.g. flooring, painting, a bathroom
- You're comfortable checking the site and making quick decisions
- You want to keep costs down and can manage the details
Hiring separate contractors for each trade saves money but puts the coordination, and the risk of gaps between trades, on you.
Questions to ask either one
- Who supervises the site, and how often?
- What's included, and what's not?
- Which works are subcontracted?
- What's the workmanship warranty?
- What are the payment stages?
Then use our ID checks and quotation checklist.
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