HDB Kitchen Design: Layouts That Work in Singapore Flats

Good HDB kitchen design begins with accepting the constraints. The kitchen in a Singapore flat has fixed gas, water and drainage points, a household shelter or structural wall that may sit alongside it, and in many cases a service yard that doubles as a laundry. Within those limits there is a surprising amount of freedom, but the best results come from working with the flat rather than against it.

This guide looks at the layouts that suit HDB kitchens, the question of open versus enclosed cooking, ventilation and storage in a humid climate, and the regulatory points that should be settled before a single cabinet is drawn. It complements our broader guide to kitchen renovation in Singapore.

The fixed points: what shapes every HDB kitchen

Before considering layout, identify what cannot move easily. The gas supply, if your flat has piped gas, enters at a defined point and can only be extended or relocated by a licensed gas service worker. The sink sits close to a drainage stack that serves the floors above and below. The refuse chute in older flats, the service yard opening and the windows also fix positions on the plan.

Walls around the kitchen need particular care. Some are non-structural partitions that HDB may allow to be removed under a permit. Others are structural walls, and in many flat types one side of the kitchen adjoins the household shelter, which must not be hacked or drilled. Whether a wall can be touched is a question for the approved plans and HDB, not for appearance or a knock test.

Once these points are mapped, the realistic layout options become clear. Moving the sink a short distance along the same wall is often feasible. Moving it across the room usually is not worth the cost and the risk to waterproofing and drainage falls.

HDB kitchen design: layouts that suit flats

Most HDB kitchens fall into a handful of shapes, and each suits a different way of cooking. Our article on kitchen layout ideas covers the principles in more depth; the summary below focuses on what tends to work in flats.

Single-wall

All appliances and cabinets along one wall. This suits narrow kitchens in smaller flats and leaves the opposite wall free for a tall pantry or a washing machine. The limitation is counter length, so plan the space between sink and hob as the main preparation area.

Galley

Two parallel runs with a corridor between. Galley kitchens are efficient because everything is within a step or two. The corridor should be wide enough for two people to pass and for oven and dishwasher doors to open fully.

L-shaped

Cabinets along two adjoining walls. This is common in mid-sized flats and creates a natural working triangle between sink, hob and fridge. The corner is the weak point, so use a corner carousel or accept it as deep storage for seldom-used items.

U-shaped

Cabinets on three sides. This gives maximum storage and counter space in larger kitchens but can feel enclosed. It works best when one arm is kept lower or opened to the dining area.

Open, enclosed, or wet and dry

Open kitchens are popular for the light and sense of space they bring, especially in newer flats with compact living areas. The trade-off in Singapore is cooking style. Frying, stir-frying and deep-frying produce oil mist and odour that travel through an open plan and settle on soft furnishings and nearby surfaces.

A wet and dry arrangement resolves much of this. The dry kitchen, often open to the dining area, handles preparation, beverages and light cooking. The wet kitchen, enclosed by a partition or glass sliding doors, handles heavy cooking and washing. In a flat this does not need to be two rooms; a glass screen between the hob area and the rest of the kitchen achieves most of the benefit. Our guide to the wet and dry kitchen explains the options.

If you plan to open the kitchen by removing a wall, confirm first that the wall is non-structural and that HDB will permit the works. Where a wall cannot be removed, a wide opening is sometimes not an option either, because cutting a structural wall is itself a structural alteration. A glazed partition within an existing opening may be the realistic alternative. If the plans are unclear, our structural engineering consultancy can review the wall before you commit to a layout.

Ventilation, heat and humidity

Ventilation is the single most under-designed part of many HDB kitchens. A cooker hood should be sized to the hob and the way you cook, mounted at the height the manufacturer recommends and, where possible, ducted to the outside through an existing opening. Recirculating hoods with carbon filters are a fallback where ducting is impractical, but they rely on regular filter changes.

Natural ventilation still matters. Keep the kitchen window and service yard openings usable, and avoid blocking them with tall cabinets. In a humid climate, moisture-resistant materials pay for themselves: cabinet carcasses in moisture-resistant board, sealed edges, and countertops and backsplashes that clean easily.

Heat and gas safety deserve attention too. Keep clearances around the hob as specified by the appliance manufacturer, and do not enclose gas meters or valves in a way that prevents access. Gas works must be carried out by licensed gas service workers.

Storage and appliance planning

Storage is what makes a kitchen pleasant to use every day. Deep drawers for pots and pans are more usable than base cupboards with shelves. Tall pantry units make use of height in kitchens with limited floor area. Pull-out bins under the sink keep waste out of sight.

List every appliance you use, including the rice cooker, air fryer, kettle, coffee machine and any steam or combination oven, and give each a home with a power point. Retrofitting sockets after tiling is awkward and expensive, so plan them on the drawings. Ensure circuits are sized for the load, especially where an oven, induction hob and dishwasher may run at the same time.

If the washing machine sits in the kitchen or service yard, plan for the water supply, drainage and a level base. A stacked washer and dryer saves floor area but needs a secure stacking kit and adequate ventilation.

Materials that last in a flat kitchen

Countertops take the most punishment. Quartz and sintered stone are hard-wearing and easy to maintain, solid surface offers seamless joints at a lower price, and laminate remains the most economical. For backsplashes, tiles, tempered glass and sintered stone panels all clean well; avoid porous finishes near the hob.

For flooring, porcelain tiles remain the practical choice in wet kitchens because they resist water, grease and heat. Overlaying existing tiles is sometimes permitted, but kitchen floors in HDB flats are wet areas, so follow HDB’s guidelines and keep the falls to the floor trap.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have an open kitchen in an HDB flat?

Many HDB flats can accommodate an open or semi-open kitchen, but it depends on whether the relevant wall is non-structural, the location of gas and services, and HDB’s approval of any hacking, so the wall should be confirmed from the approved plans before the design is fixed.

Can I move my sink or hob in an HDB kitchen?

Short relocations along the same wall are often possible with the appropriate permit, but large moves are constrained by drainage stacks and floor falls, and any change to gas pipework must be done by a licensed gas service worker.

What is the best HDB kitchen design for heavy cooking?

For frequent frying and wok cooking, an enclosed wet kitchen or a glass partition around the hob combined with a properly sized, externally ducted cooker hood works best, because it keeps oil and odour out of the living areas.

Which kitchen walls cannot be hacked in an HDB flat?

Structural walls and the walls of the household shelter cannot be hacked, and since these can look identical to non-structural partitions, the only reliable check is the approved plan and HDB’s records for your unit.

Is quartz or sintered stone better for an HDB kitchen?

Both are durable and low maintenance; sintered stone generally tolerates heat better while quartz offers a wider range of finishes, so the choice usually comes down to cooking habits, budget and the look you prefer.

Want to open up your kitchen but unsure about the wall? Talk to our consultancy or get in touch.