All the apartments are trending to be smaller and smaller,' says Cameron Woo, principal designer of Cameron Woo Design, Singapore.

'As a result, home spaces are required to be more multi-functional, with more people living under one roof because of affordability issues.'

Mr Woo says the use of moveable walls will allow for flexible floorplans. He also speaks of his 'great room' concept, in which the living room space will be combined with the kitchen or the balcony to create a larger living room.

'Bathrooms that can open into bedrooms through the use of glass walls, as well as combined living, dining and kitchen areas, will give the illusion of space,' Kelvin Gan, design manager at Elements ID, says.

Designers suggest that home owner also reinvents old furniture pieces with new uses, and combining new materials like high-tech fabric with traditional ones like wood.