HDB Open Concept Kitchen: Rules, Costs & Design Ideas for 2025

The Open Concept Kitchen Craze in Singapore HDB Flats

Nothing has transformed the look and feel of Singapore HDB homes more dramatically in the last decade than the open concept kitchen. By removing the kitchen wall and creating a seamless flow between kitchen, dining, and living areas, homeowners have turned compact HDB flats into airy, modern spaces that feel significantly larger than their floor plans suggest.

But the open concept kitchen in an HDB flat is not as simple as "just hack the wall." There are HDB rules to navigate, practical considerations around cooking fumes and fire suppression, and significant costs involved. This guide covers everything you need to know before committing to this popular design choice.

HDB Rules for Open Concept Kitchens: What's Allowed

Contrary to what some contractors claim, HDB does allow open concept kitchens — but with specific conditions. The kitchen wall that divides the kitchen from the living or dining area is typically a non-structural partition wall, which can be removed subject to an HDB Renovation Permit. However, these conditions must be met:

• A kitchen door or barrier must be maintained to contain cooking fumes. A sliding glass door, bi-fold door, or sliding panel meets this requirement. The door does not need to be closed during cooking but must be installed and functional.
• The kitchen must have an exhaust hood venting to the outside or a recirculating hood with a high-efficiency grease filter, to manage cooking fumes.
• If structural walls are involved (some kitchens are bounded by RC walls), those cannot be removed.

Wet Kitchen vs Dry Kitchen: The Singapore Solution

A common approach adopted by Singapore homeowners to satisfy both HDB regulations and the desire for open living is the wet kitchen / dry kitchen concept. The wet kitchen (where heavy cooking with the wok happens) is enclosed behind sliding glass doors — this is the "official" HDB-compliant kitchen. The dry kitchen is an open-plan peninsula or island counter that sits in the open living/dining space, used for lighter prep, breakfast, and socialising.

This dual-kitchen setup solves the fume containment problem elegantly while giving homeowners the open, social cooking space they desire. It does, however, cost more: a combined wet and dry kitchen renovation for a 4-room flat typically runs S$20,000–S$40,000 depending on materials and appliances.

"When we removed the kitchen wall, the whole flat felt twice as big. We cook Asian food every day so we kept the sliding glass door — we just use it when we're doing heavy frying. The rest of the time it's fully open and the space is incredible." — Homeowner, 4-room BTO, Tampines

What It Costs: Open Concept Kitchen Budget Guide

Here is a realistic breakdown of what an open concept kitchen renovation costs in 2025:

Hacking the Existing Kitchen Wall

Non-structural wall hacking: S$800–S$2,000 depending on wall thickness, length, and disposal costs. RC box or structural beam exposure may add to this cost.

Sliding Glass Door (Wet Kitchen Separation)

A quality frameless sliding glass panel: S$1,500–S$4,000. Bi-fold glass doors: S$2,000–S$5,000. Budget for tracking systems that allow smooth operation and easy cleaning.

Kitchen Carpentry

The largest cost component. A full kitchen cabinet set (base and wall-hung units) in laminate: S$8,000–S$16,000. With solid surface or quartz countertop: add S$3,000–S$8,000. A dry kitchen island or peninsula in the living area: additional S$3,000–S$8,000.

Appliances

Built-in hob and hood: S$1,500–S$5,000. Built-in oven: S$1,000–S$3,500. Dishwasher: S$800–S$2,500. Refrigerator (freestanding): S$1,500–S$5,000. A fully kitted-out open concept kitchen with quality appliances can easily add S$10,000–S$20,000 in appliances alone.

Flooring (If Extending Living Room Flooring into Kitchen)

Many homeowners extend their living room timber or vinyl flooring into the open kitchen for visual continuity. This adds S$3,000–S$8,000 to the flooring budget but creates the seamless look that defines the open concept aesthetic.

Open Concept Kitchen Cost Summary

Design Ideas: Making Your Open Concept Kitchen Work

The Galley Kitchen with Island

For 4-room and 5-room flats, a galley-style wet kitchen (cooking and prep along one or two parallel walls) with a freestanding island in the open area is hugely popular. The island doubles as a breakfast bar, prep surface, and social hub. Heights: kitchen counters at 850mm, island at 900mm or bar-height 1050mm.

Colour Blocking

A two-tone kitchen — darker base cabinets with lighter upper cabinets, or bold coloured lower cabinets with white uppers — adds visual interest and depth to an open kitchen. Popular 2025 combinations: sage green lowers with white uppers; navy blue island with white perimeter cabinets; warm terracotta accents with natural oak veneer.

Statement Countertops

With an open concept kitchen, the countertop becomes a design focal point visible from the living room. Invest in a quality surface: Calacatta marble lookalike in sintered stone (S$400–S$600 per sqft), engineered quartz (S$150–S$350 per sqft), or solid surface (S$100–S$250 per sqft).

The Practical Reality: Living with an Open Concept Kitchen

Before committing to an open concept kitchen, consider your cooking habits honestly. If your household cooks Asian food daily — frying, stir-frying, braising — the smells and fumes will permeate your living and dining areas even with a good hood. Many families address this by always closing the sliding glass door during heavy cooking.

Open concept kitchens also mean kitchen mess is visible to guests. If you prefer to keep cooking chaos hidden, a well-designed closed kitchen might suit your lifestyle better. That said, for families who entertain frequently or for couples who cook together and enjoy the social kitchen experience, an open concept layout is transformative.