How to Choose the Right Interior Designer in Singapore

Home renovation is one of the biggest investments a Singaporean homeowner will make. The interior design firm you hire dictates how smoothly that process goes but unfortunately, it’s an industry where things frequently go wrong.

According to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), renovation contractors were among the five industries with the most complaints in 2025. They accounted for 787 complaints and $190,667 in reported prepayment losses, according to CASE’s 2025 complaints statistics.

Because of this, choosing the right interior designer requires more than just finding a portfolio you like. Before handing over any money, you must confirm the firm is legitimate, financially secure, and capable of delivering what they promise.

This guide explains exactly which credentials matter in Singapore, how to vet portfolios and contracts, and the major red flags that mean you should walk away.

How To Choose The Right Interior Designer?

Start by shortlisting firms whose completed projects match your property type and brief. Then work through five checks before signing:

1. Confirm the firm can legally carry out your project. If you live in an HDB flat, that includes a listing in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors.

2. Verify its credentials on the official registers, not just on its website.

3. Review the portfolio for completed work, not only 3D renders.

4. Test how the designer plans, communicates and manages a project.

5. Read the contract in full, including the payment schedule, variations and warranty.

Step 1: Confirm the Firm Can Legally Carry Out Your Project

Design talent counts for little if a firm is not permitted to do the work. Singapore regulates renovation both by property type and by trade, so this is your first filter.

HDB Flats: The Directory of Renovation Contractors

The Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006 require HDB flat owners to engage only contractors listed in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC). HDB’s renovation guidance makes two points clear:

• The rule covers all renovation in your flat, including works that do not need HDB’s approval.
  
• You, as the owner, remain responsible for the works.

A flat owner who fails to engage a DRC contractor, or who breaches HDB’s renovation rules, can be fined up to $5,000 on conviction and face other penalties.

Before shortlisting a firm, search for it using HDB’s e-Service for renovation contractors. If your project includes new or replacement windows, the installer must also be a BCA Approved Window Contractor listed with HDB. If you have just bought a new flat, our article on what to check in a BTO renovation package explains how these rules apply to package deals.

Condominiums and Landed Homes: MCST Approval and Licensed Builders

The DRC does not apply to private homes, but other requirements do. Condominium owners need to follow their development’s by-laws and get approval from the management corporation (MCST) where required.

For more extensive additions and alterations, a further rule applies. Any builder carrying out building works whose plans need approval from the Commissioner of Building Control must hold a licence under BCA’s Builders Licensing Scheme. If a designer quotes for structural works, ask which licensed builder will carry them out.

Step 2 : Verify Credentials on the Official Registers

Credentials do different jobs. Some are legal requirements, some are voluntary consumer protection standards, and some recognise a designer’s training. Here is what each one tells you and where to check it.

Credential	Required?	What It Tells You	Where to Verify
HDB Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC)	Yes, for HDB flats	The firm is allowed to renovate HDB flats	HDB e-Service
CaseTrust or CaseTrust-RCMA	No, voluntary	The firm protects deposits with a bond and uses a standard contract	CaseTrust accredited businesses
BCA builder’s licence	Yes, where building plans need approval	The builder meets BCA’s financial and technical requirements	BCA Builders Licensing Scheme
SIDAS accreditation	No, voluntary	The designer’s accredited class	SIDAC accreditation scheme
ACRA registration	Yes, for every business	The company’s registration status and address	ACRA Bizfile

Step 3: Review the Portfolio for Evidence, Not Just Style

A portfolio shows whether a designer’s taste matches yours. Read it closely and it also shows whether they can deliver.

• Match your property type – Each property comes with different constraints. Ask for completed projects similar to yours in size and layout.
• Separate renders from finished work – 3D renders show design intent, while photos of completed homes show execution. Ask which images are which.
• Look closely at the details – Check carpentry alignment, edges and joints, tile lines and how the design works around fixed elements such as distribution boards and household shelters.
• Ask who designed each project – In larger firms, the portfolio may come from several designers. Ask to see work by the person who will handle your home.
• Visit a completed project or speak to a past client – A firm that is confident in its work will arrange this where its clients agree.
• Read reviews for patterns – On Google, look at how problems were resolved and whether the firm responded, not just at the star rating.

You can browse examples of our work in our residential and commercial portfolio here.

Step 4: Ask Each Interior Designer the Right Questions

Your first consultation is often where you can tell if you have found the right interior designer. Treat it as a two-way interview. A good designer will ask about your family, daily routine, storage needs and future plans before talking about colours and materials.

Use these five questions to check what they know and how they run a project:

• “Which works need approval?” – They should know what needs an HDB permit or MCST approval, and what is not allowed, such as hacking structural walls
  
• “Are there rules specific to my home?” – In a new BTO flat, the original toilet tiles cannot be replaced for three years after the block is completed. New floor tiles can still be laid over the existing ones with adhesive.

• “How will the renovation fit the permit timeline?” – HDB gives three months from the permit date to finish approved works in newly completed blocks, and one month in existing blocks.

• “Who will manage my renovation?” –  Get your main contact’s name, how often the site is checked and how updates are shared.

• “What do you do in-house?” – The more a firm does itself, such as carpentry or metalwork, the more control it has over quality and timing.

Start early, too. Give yourself time to meet a few firms and compare them properly, rather than rushing a decision close to your key collection or move-in date.

Step 5: Read the Contract Before You Pay Anything

Most renovation disputes come down to what was, or was not, written down. HDB is not a party to the agreement between you and your contractor, so a clear contract is your main protection. Before paying a deposit, check that the contract includes:

• the full scope of works, room by room, with drawings attached
• materials specified by brand, model, colour and finish
• a project timeline with key milestones
• a payment schedule tied to those milestones, rather than large sums upfront
• a written process for variations, agreed before any additional work starts
• the warranty period, what it covers and how defects will be fixed
• who is responsible for permits and debris removal
• how disputes will be handled if they arise

Even if your chosen firm is not CaseTrust-accredited, the terms of the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract are a sensible benchmark for what a fair agreement should contain.

Common Red Flags When Hiring an Interior Designer

Pause, or walk away, if you notice any of the following:

• The firm offers to renovate your HDB flat but is not listed in the DRC, or says a permit is unnecessary without explaining why.
  
• Credentials shown on its website or marketing do not appear on the official register.
  
• The company name differs across the quotation, the contract and the website.
  
• You are pressed to sign on the spot, or to pay a large deposit to secure a promotion.
  
• The quotation is a lump sum with no breakdown of works and materials.
  
• The designer cannot tell you who will carry out electrical and plumbing works.
  
• The portfolio is almost entirely 3D renders, and the firm cannot show you a completed project or put you in touch with a past client.
  
• Verbal promises are missing from the written contract.
  
• The firm appears on CASE’s Company Alert List, which records businesses that have drawn consumer complaints.

How JBYS Approaches Interior Design and Renovation

JBYS Engineering & Solutions is an interior design company in Singapore that combines creative design with engineering expertise. We handle residential interior design for HDB flats, BTO homes, condominiums and landed properties, as well as commercial spaces. Our work runs from concept development and space planning through to custom carpentry, finishing works and full turnkey delivery.

What sets us apart is the engineering behind the design. We also provide precision engineering and custom fabrication in materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and plastic, so the same team that designs bespoke elements can also engineer them. This capability is backed by experience supporting government sector projects, where quality, safety and timely delivery are essential. You can read more about our team and approach.

Planning to Renovate Your House or Office? Speak to JBYS

Now that you know how to choose the right interior designer, put these checks to work. Bring your questions to a first meeting with us, and we will walk you through our process, scope and timeline for your home.

Contact our team to arrange a consultation, or reach us directly:

• WhatsApp: +65 9100 9170
• Phone: +65 6749 4431
• Email: onestop@jbys.net
• Office: 33 Ubi Avenue 3, Vertex Tower B, #06-32, Singapore 408868 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)