Short answer: shortlist interior designers who are CaseTrust-accredited and, for HDB flats, listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC). Meet several of them (the Consumers Association of Singapore, CASE, suggests at least five), give each the same written brief, and compare how clearly they explain their design, pricing, payment terms and warranty. Choose the firm whose process you trust, not simply the cheapest or the most persuasive.

Start with your own brief

Before you look at portfolios, write down what you actually need. A one-page brief makes every meeting more useful and makes the firms easier to compare.

  • Who lives there, now and in five years (children, parents, helper, pets).
  • How you use the home: cooking habits, working from home, hosting, storage needs.
  • Must-haves and nice-to-haves, in that order.
  • Your maximum budget. CASE's homeowner guidebook recommends setting a maximum budget boundary and notes that renovation costs usually exclude furniture and appliances.
  • Your move-in date, so firms can tell you honestly whether it is realistic.

If you are still deciding whether you need a designer at all, read our comparison of an interior designer vs a contractor. CASE's guidebook puts it simply: if you are unfamiliar with space planning, materials or coordinating renovation works, engaging an interior designer is strongly recommended.

Check credentials before the first meeting

CaseTrust accreditation

CaseTrust is the accreditation arm of CASE. Accredited renovation businesses must buy a deposit performance bond to protect your deposit if the firm closes, use the CaseTrust Standard Renovation Contract, offer a workmanship warranty and attend mediation at CASE if a dispute cannot be resolved. You can check the CaseTrust list of accredited businesses on the CASE website.

HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors

For HDB flats, HDB requires owners to engage only contractors listed in the DRC, under the Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006. The DRC confirms the firm may carry out renovation in HDB flats. As CASE points out, HDB does not endorse or guarantee the quality of their work, so treat it as a minimum, not a recommendation.

Industry membership

Some firms are members of the Singapore Renovation Contractors and Material Suppliers Association (RCMA). According to CASE's guidebook, RCMA applicants must be listed in the DRC, have at least S$50,000 in paid-up capital, two years of audited financial statements and public liability insurance of at least S$500,000.

Use CASE's reliability checklist

CASE's guidebook suggests five checks once you have a shortlist:

  1. Check their reviews, and be sceptical. CASE warns that fake reviews are rampant and suggests checking reviewer profiles and account histories.
  2. Ask for past projects that match your property type and the look you want.
  3. See their workmanship in person: completed homes, showrooms or ongoing sites.
  4. Ask how they manage sub-contractors. Designers rely on carpenters, electricians, plumbers and tilers. A reliable firm is open about its regular team.
  5. Meet at least five firms. CASE notes that meeting only three can leave you with an unbalanced view of what a fair price looks like.

Questions to ask at the first meeting

  • Who will design my home, and who will supervise the site day to day?
  • What do I receive before I pay a deposit: layouts, 3D views, a material list?
  • How many rounds of design changes are included?
  • Is the quotation itemised, with quantities, materials and finishes for each line?
  • What is the payment schedule, and how much is due upfront?
  • How is my deposit protected if the company closes?
  • What is the workmanship warranty, and what does it exclude?
  • How are variation orders priced and approved?
  • Who submits the HDB renovation permit or MCST application?
  • Are electrical and plumbing works done by an EMA licensed electrical worker and a PUB licensed plumber?

Red flags

  • Pressure to sign today, usually with a discount that "expires" this week.
  • A large deposit before any work starts. CASE's rule of thumb is never to pay more than 20% upfront, except for minor single-task jobs.
  • Lump-sum lines such as "carpentry works" with no sizes or materials.
  • Verbal promises that never make it into writing. CASE advises documenting every promise in the contract.
  • No design to see until you commit. If you cannot review a layout before paying, you are choosing a firm on trust alone.

Comparing your final two or three

Give the finalists the same brief and the same floor plan. Then compare three things side by side:

  1. The design response. Did they solve your storage, layout and lighting problems, or simply restyle the space?
  2. The quotation. Are they pricing the same scope? Our guide on how to compare renovation quotations shows how to line quotes up item by item.
  3. The terms. Payment schedule, warranty, timeline, and how changes are handled. See our guides to payment schedules and variation orders.

Reliability should come before price or personal rapport. CASE's guidebook says exactly that, and its complaint figures explain why: renovation contractors were among the top five industries for consumer complaints in 2025.

How JIAHOME fits

If you want to see a full design before choosing who builds it, that is what we do. We design your home first for a fixed fee, with mood boards, 2D layouts and up to 10 3D views, then give you a quotation that lists every item without prices, so any contractor or ID firm can price the same scope. Your first consultation is free. See our services or book a chat.

Last updated 14 October 2026