Colour plays an essential role in office interiors, speaking volumes with regards to business image. It reflects how a business wishes to inspire its customers, the functionality and flow of office spaces, as well as the energy sought to inspire employees. Due to the different nature of work, personalities, company culture and overall structure, a right mix of colour should be selected meticulously. Searching for colour inspirations for your office interior design? We have suggested five best colours for you to consider. After deciding on your colour palettes, it is best to consult an office interior design company in Singapore for professional advice.

 

1. Blue

Employees are among the most important business assets and a conducive working place helps to boost employee productivity and promotes effective communication. The use of colours is great for enhancing conduciveness. Blue makes for an ideal option as it empowers concentration, enabling employees to focus while working. You may choose between a lighter or darker shade of blue and the intensity depends on your office layout. Generally, lighter blues are more soothing, while the darker hues boost stimulation. 

 

2. Red 

A cool grey palette exudes moderness and sleekness. Nonetheless, a pop of vivid colour like red, motivates your employees and fuels empowerment. You may either bring in some red office furniture or incorporate red decorating details to your office interior. This vibrant colour can also be used in areas that require more physical exertion. Some offices even use red to make a statement wall stand out, or leverage it as a bold backdrop. If you need more suggestions on colour applications, feel free to seek assistance from professional office renovation companies in Singapore.

 

3. Yellow 

Representing optimism, confidence and creativity, yellow helps to create a fun and lively workplace by stimulating positivity. This kind of office atmosphere will encourage employees to be more productive, while a positive mindset can also be developed among them. As a result, employees will feel motivated, being able to work hard and cope with any job-related challenges. In short, yellow is the perfect colour to raise productivity in an office.

4. Green 

No doubt, green works the best when it comes to freshening up the workplace, accentuating tranquillity and uplifting employees. Choosing the right green shade yields even better results. Usually, green is either incorporated as a statement piece or as an accent. If you have employees working long hours, green is an ideal colour to use as it calms the mind.

5. Orange  

Orange inspires high-energy and happiness. It is proven to be one of the most effective colours to bolster productivity in the office. While orange brings energy to an environment, it may also solicit a negative reaction from some people. Therefore, it should be applied as an accent colour instead of a predominant one. Still in doubt? Reach out to an office renovation contractor in Singapore to make your dream office interior a reality. 

Regardless of your office space layout, colour is a significant design element that can influence the overall atmosphere. The five colours listed above should be incorporated appropriately to ensure the best outcome. After all, an ideal working space gives employees the best chance at achieving peak performance. 

CAD Associates provides interior design services for residential and commercial spaces. We work closely with our clients to create unique designs that surpass expectations. Call us now to get a quotation of our service.

No doubt, children’s safety is always a top priority for all parents. That is why childproofing your landed home is vital. Beyond providing an ideal space for your children to play and learn, childproofing also prevents them from getting injured. Childproofing is often associated with sturdy furniture, smart storage spaces and resilient fabrics. However, interior design matters as well. We understand how hard it can be keeping your little ones safe right from the moment they arrive at your home. Therefore, we have compiled a list of 5 useful ways to childproof your landed home through interior design, without compromising your design integrity. 

 

1. Opt for more built-in cabinets 

Adding built-in cabinets and storage spaces ensures a larger area of space for your child to move around, which prevents them from bumping into obstacles or falling over your little ones from toppling over. By eliminating the hassle of having multiple visible cabinets that may block narrow doorways, built-in cabinets fit your home space perfectly, blending seamlessly with the interior. Look for a reliable landed property interior design service provider in Singapore if you need help getting built-in cabinets that suit your home style.

 

2. Opt for vinyl floor tiles

Vinyl floor tiles can be an ideal flooring choice when you have children at home. They are durable, affordable and resistant to scratches. Most importantly, they are less slippery, minimising falls and other accidents. These tiles are available in a broad variety of designs and colours, allowing you to find one that complements your home aesthetics.

 

3. Keep electrical wires hidden 

Letting your children be in contact with electricity is extremely dangerous, hence, hiding electrical wires from reach is important. Moreover, your children may be at risk for falling if electric wires are left on the ground as a tangled, knotty mess. Since many of our daily essentials require frequent plugging in, it is critical to keep these wires hidden for a safer and more organised living space. 

Here are some suggestions to hide your electrical wires:

 

• Behind furniture.
• Electrical tape
• Feeding the cord through a wall.
• Flat wire covering.
• Electrical conduits
• Cord clips

 

 

With the greater availability of landed renovation services in Singapore, you could even opt for crafty cord management solutions to organise the sheer volume of wires in your home, while staying plugged in.

 

4. Use non-porous materials

It is perfectly normal to see kids accidentally spilling drinks or food on the floor. This not only creates stains but may also cause your little ones to slip and fall. Thus, flooring made from non-porous materials should be included as part of your efforts to childproof your landed home, as it is resistant to stains. These materials block liquid or air from passing through, making it generally easier to wipe clean compared to porous ones. With their wide networking and experience, a reputable landed property contractor in Singapore can help you to easily source for your desired flooring.

 

5. Ensure stairs in the home all come with railings

Another way to childproof your home is by ensuring all stairs come with railings. The main function of railings is for holding as support while people, especially children, are taking the stairs. Railings provide stability, preventing your children from sudden falls when they lose balance.

 

It may be impossible to avoid accidents but diligent childproofing can certainly help to ensure your child’s safety. We hope this article has served as a useful guide for you to childproof your landed home using interior design.

 

CAD Associates is one of the most sought-after landed interior design firms in Singapore. We strive to constantly provide friendly client service, a beautiful design, and a collaborative working experience. Contact us today to find out more.

 

Due to misleading information and unawareness regarding the field, interior design has often been plagued by myths. These myths revolve around different elements from budgeting and what you can and cannot do for interior design, to hiring a professional interior designer. To help you make more informed choices, we will be debunking 5 common interior design myths in this article.

 

Myth 1: You can’t mix different patterns 

 

Available in different shapes and forms, pattern refers to a repeating design that creates obvious directional movements. It crosses over multiple mediums. While some may harbour the misconception that mixing patterns may make a space look cluttered, this is not true. In fact, sticking to a colour palette even if different patterns are involved can still ensure consistency and accent your living space. Always use the right combination of colour, shape, shade, and size when you mix patterns. Here are some tips on how to play with patterns to create a harmonic vibe:

 

• Use similar colours
• Incorporate different sizes
• Combine simple and complex patterns 
• Choose up to four patterns 
• Use the right prints for balance

 

For example, you may use the same flooring pattern for your landed property interior design to create a clean, uniform, and continuous look.

 

Myth 2: You can’t use wallpaper in the bathroom

 

Bathrooms are often the wettest area in a house and because of this, some assume that it is not feasible to use wallpapers in bathrooms. Afterall, water splashes, heat, mould and other elements are unfriendly to the core material of wallpapers: paper. Nonetheless, using wallpapers in the bathroom is still a possibility if you prepare the right one. You may opt for solid vinyl, fabric-backed vinyl, or paper-backed vinyl wallpapers as they have high resistance to humidity and moisture.  

 

Myth 3: Interior design is only for the rich

 

Most of the time, huge organisations turn to commercial interior design professionals to create an ideal and stylish office layout. This may fuel the misconception that interior design is costly and only meant for those who can afford it. However, contrary to popular belief, there are many interior designers who can work within your budget. With a variety of budget-friendly interior design packages available today, sprucing up your space without spending a bomb is made possible. In the long run, you would also be able to save more as professional designers can source for more quality furniture. Quality materials and pieces tend to be more durable, making them worth the investment. 

Myth 4: Light paint colours are best for small rooms 

Paint colours play a huge role in impacting the illusion on your room size. For instance, light paint colours are usually leveraged in smaller rooms, making them look bigger than they actually are. With that being said, light paint colours can be used in larger rooms as well! You may also give the room character by incorporating furniture and accessories with bold pops of colour. When it comes to office interior design, light pink is a common colour of choice, accentuating peace and calm. This empowers employees to work more efficiently for enhanced productivity.

Myth 5: Best to follow trends 

No doubt, trends and commercialised products influence shopping habits. From the perspective of interior design, trends may inspire how you mix and match when styling your home interior. Going with the latest trends may sound like a good idea but ultimately, it is safer to opt for practicality as trends come and go. Keeping up with the latest trends also means spending large sums of money time and again to remain relevant.

Above are just some of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding interior design. By debunking these myths, we hope you gain greater clarity on how to design your space in the best way possible.

At CAD Associates, we offer quality interior design and client services. Call us today if you wish to remodel or redesign your space. 

Additional and alteration work (A&A work) may sound similar to reconstruction work in many ways. Nonetheless, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore distinguishes the duo significantly. To be specific, A&A refers to construction wherein the homeowner makes adjustments to a readily-available, furnished property. It is considered minor work that only involves repairs or renovations to weak areas, as well as customisations to existing aspects. On the other hand, reconstruction encompasses an entire change to the property, which includes decreasing or increasing story height or even converting a semi-detached house to a detached one. This article will share how A&A work and reconstruction differ from each other.

 

1. Extent of construction work

A&A 

• Covers changes made to an existing property without involving alterations that risk its structural integrity. 
• Changes are minimal.
• Some common A&A works in Singapore include construction of a swimming pool, interior changes, addition of verandas and balconies, as well as space allocation for a garage, among others.

 

Learn more: Additions and Alterations to Landed Housing

 

Reconstruction

• Occurs when significant changes are made to a substantial part of a property.
• It covers the removal, replacement of the structural elements of a current property, or addition of new components to the real estate.
• Some examples of reconstruction include development of a household shelter, adding more floors to a property, significant landed renovation in Singapore, etc.

 

2. Criteria

 

A property project must fulfil the criteria below in order to qualify as an A&A proposal:

 

• Proposed additional gross floor area shall not surpass 50% of the approved gross floor area;
• External walls that are to be removed and replaced with new walls shall not be more than 50% of the approved external walls;
• Structural changes to the current landed dwelling house (for instance, replacing or building new columns/beams and reconstructing existing floor slabs) shall not be over 50% of existing building;
• Changes/replacement of the whole roof (with/without resultant increment in height) shall not come with another new storey;
• If you engage builders in Singapore to add an attic, the rise in GFA shall be below 50%.

 

Meanwhile, proposals that do not follow the criteria for A&A shall be considered as reconstruction proposals. Works yielding the following outcomes shall also be part of reconstruction, regardless of whether the works top 50% of the existing building GFA:

 

• Increment in storey height (covering changes/replacement of any part of the roof involving an additional storey);   
• Change in landed dwelling housing form (for instance, from a semi-detached house to a bungalow).

 

3. Processing fees

 

• The URA charges A&A projects a processing fee of $3210 with GST.
• The processing fees for reconstruction costs $6420 with GST.

On the other hand, for existing landed housing that are given the green light under previous landed housing guidelines, new A&A works shall be compliant with the permissible building envelope in the Envelope Control guidelines.

 

Where the current building already tops the permissible building envelope, the new A&As shall not further expand the building bulk. Such applications will be reviewed by the URA by referring to the merits of the proposal. This is to ensure that the result to be carried out later by builders in Singapore is not worse off.

 

At CAD Associates, we strive to offer customised interior design for your residential or commercial space. Call us today to get a quotation for our quality service!

The nature of your business pretty much determines your office’s appearance. Beyond aesthetics, a good office design should also enhance employee productivity and happiness. Incorporating a conducive environment that values employees’ privacy, ability to concentrate, and work attitude is key. No doubt, choosing a suitable layout for your office can be quite the challenge. There are many factors to be taken into consideration and the most crucial one involves the personal wellbeing of your employees. 

 

Here are five main principles to follow for an ideal office design and layout:

 

1. Space management 

Proper space management minimises clutter and creates the illusion of spaciousness even for smaller offices. As decluttered spaces contribute to more organised minds, employees are able to work better, which in turn boosts their job efficiency. Prior to office renovation, do establish a space management plan to evaluate the available layout of your office. This will help you make more informed choices when it comes to maximising the best use of space. 

 

Techniques to improve organisation: 

 

• Avoid placing printers right in the centre of walkways.
• Place equipment used by the same departments in the same area.
• Ensure close proximity of departments that regularly liaise with each other.
• Use soundproof partitions between employees’ seats to promote privacy and focus.
• Set up some basic zones (a conference room, reception area, working space, etc).
• Consider locating your workspace away from the reception area to minimise noise.
  

2. Colour Play

Colour plays an essential role in office interior design as it can affect employees’ productivity and mental health. It also determines how your customers perceive your business. Instead of using your brand colours on just the office walls, try incorporating suitable shades for your furniture, soft furnishings, or decorations too!

 

Five recommended colours to create a sophisticated office layout: 

Red

• Raises alertness
• Helps your workers stay energised the entire day

Green

• Creates a peaceful environment.
• Enhances concentration and sense of well-being.

Blue

• Promotes calmness.
• Stimulates clear thinking.

 

Yellow

• Elicits confidence. 
• Stimulates creativity. 

 

White

• Makes your office look more spacious.
• Minimises power consumption from artificial lights.

 

In short, ponder over whether you prefer an office that is warm and cosy or light and airy. Darker colours produce the prior effect while lighter colours accentuate the latter.

 

3. Lighting is key

When planning an office layout, always look for sufficient natural light sources. Natural light can help reduce headaches and eye strains, enabling your employees to stay alert and minimise task errors. In terms of business costs, greater savings is made possible as energy consumption is reduced. Additionally, natural light also makes your office look bigger and brighter.

 

Factors to consider when using natural light in your office:

• Avoid placing seats in front or behind natural light as this can cause glare on display screens.
• Place your office equipment away from direct sunlight to avoid overheating.
• Prepare suitable window coverings if your workers are not a fan of natural light.

 

4. Build breakout spaces

A breakout space allows your employees to eat, relax and interact with each other. While some may harbour the misconception that such spaces are a waste of resources, that is certainly not true. In fact, offices with breakout spaces can encourage collaboration, innovation and engagement of employees. Purpose, theme colour, company culture, and furniture are key elements that contribute to an effective breakout space.

 

5. Open space design

Leveraging an open office space design helps to boost flexibility of the work process. It allows your employees to communicate effectively, without the barrier of cubicles. As a result, a collaborative and engaging work environment can be established. Office renovation contractors tend to favour and adopt this design in co-working spaces.

As one of the most sought-after interior design firms in Singapore, CAD Associates delivers quality results in remodelling or redesigning your space. Call us now and get started on your office design today!