Debunking a Yee King Yuen Renovation Myth: Do Small Units Really Need Light Colours?

You have probably heard it a hundred times: “a small flat has to be all light colours or it will never look bigger.” Having spent well over a decade in design, including plenty of projects at Yee King Yuen, I would say that piece of advice is a bit too simplistic. Many owners let this kind of renovation “golden rule” box them in, losing sight of what actually suits how they live. Today I want to unpack a couple of common myths, not to overturn conventional wisdom for its own sake, but to give you a more objective angle to think from.

Myth One: Light Always Feels Bigger, Dark Always Feels Cramped?

The depth of a base colour obviously affects how a space feels, but what matters more is how you use it. Yee King Yuen units typically have a standard ceiling height of around 8 feet, and if you paint the whole flat pure white, the space can end up feeling flat and one-dimensional rather than more spacious. On the other hand, using a darker tone (deep navy or charcoal, say) on a single feature wall, paired with a mix of textures, can create depth and dimension that actually reads as more layered, not smaller. The key is balance: leave some areas open and uncluttered rather than going dark everywhere.

Myth Two: Small Units Must Use Every Last Inch?

Space is famously tight in Hong Kong, so many owners try everything to maximise storage: built-in cabinets wall to wall, floor to ceiling. But overdoing storage can make a space feel oppressive rather than comfortable to live in. In one Yee King Yuen project, the owner originally wanted an entire wall turned into cabinetry. We suggested doing it only partially instead, keeping some of the wall open and supplementing storage with freestanding furniture. It was only after moving in that they realised: leaving space empty is sometimes the most luxurious design move of all.

An Honest Look at Common Material Trade-offs

All of this only scratches the surface. Every unit’s conditions and every resident’s habits are different: there is no single design that suits everyone. If you are planning a renovation at Yee King Yuen and wrestling with similar dilemmas, please reach out and talk it through with us. We are always happy to share more from our hands-on experience.