11 ways to conceal your bomb shelter

According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the bomb shelter or "the Household Shelter" (HS) in a dwelling unit is typically the store cum pantry with its walls, floor and ceiling strengthened with increased thickness. The walls are set back by specified distances from the building exterior and the entrance to the HS is installed with an SCDF-approved light protective steel door. The HS gives protection to the shelterees against weapon effects such as blast and fragments during an emergency."

While bomb shelters promise to ensure safety in times of crises and emergencies, they are not exactly design-friendly.

"The clunky doors tend to disrupt the aesthetic of a home-the paint used on standard-issue bomb shelter door is typically an enamel paint, which creates a more industrial and hardy finish. As a result, the doors tend to look bland and feel rough," says Dominic Neo, Business Development Executive of Performance Coatings International, a 17-year-old paint specialist company that provides environment-friendly and high-quality designer coatings in Singapore and in the region.

Decorative paint, Neo explains, can make bomb shelters look less utilitarian and more stylish. "Even your bomb shelter can be converted into a unique and gorgeous feature," adds Neo. Here are 11 ways to do it:

1. Concrete Finish

"While this project involved a bedroom door, we could easily accomplish the same effect on the bomb shelter door. The painted concrete finish is raw and edgy. This is a great [way] to conceal your steel bomb shelter door: make it look like a concrete door," says Neo. This is ideal especially if you're set on having the industrial theme for your home.

2. Red Brick

If your home is done in retro industrial style, then you may want to cover your bomb shelter with red bricks. "This finish is classic-think New York City chic," says Neo. With the richness and depth of the finish, this bomb shelter door convincingly looks like it's part of a red brick wall.

3. White Bricks

For those who prefer the minimalist industrial or Scandinavian look, white bricks can be used to deck a wall and conceal a household shelter. "The finish is clean, understated, and versatile, comfortably complementing an eclectic mix of furniture, installations, and artwork," says Neo. The White Brick finish from Performance Coatings comes in three designs: 3D, wavy, and plain. Other than white and brick, other colours are available as well-and you can customise the brick sizes, too!

4. Black Block

"In this design, the bomb shelter door has been completely transformed. It looks more like an entrance to an exclusive, high-end restaurant or bar, rather than a plain bomb shelter. It's also a great example of how our decorative paint complements the furnishings; the light installation above the door is a bold feature that juxtaposes nicely against the black brick finish," says Neo.

5. Pearly White

Cover the bomb shelter door and the surrounding wall with this tasteful alternative to a plain white finish. Pearl White breaks the monotony of a single-colour finish, thanks to its soothing grey accents.

6. Rustic Chic

You can add depth and sophistication to your bomb shelter door via this off-purple-and-gold finish. The careful brushstrokes and rich colours have transformed the bomb shelter into an exquisite feature wall.

7. Chalkboard Door

Here's a cool and practical idea for a bomb shelter door: convert it into a chalkboard. "We carry Krylon products in our store. This can be a great DIY home project, too," says Neo.

8. Raffaello Stucco

Go for a luxe look-use the glossy Raffaello Stucco, which is smooth to the touch and is stunning under the spotlight. This gives your bomb shelter door an attractive sheen.

9. Whiteboard Door

Performance Coatings International carries a diverse range of interesting paint brands, including the Sherwin-Williams' Dry Erase Coating. "This clear gloss easily creates an erasable surface on interior substrates and over any paint colour, converting your bomb shelter door into a message/doodle board! It's a great creative and functional outlet, especially for young families and creative professionals," says Neo.

10. Kreos Criss-Cross

Perfect for glam-contemporary homes, the Kreos Criss Cross is a highly textured finish that is elegant yet subdued. "The criss-cross finish is meticulously crafted, creating a layered and tasteful look," adds Neo.

11. Magnetic Paint Wall

Here's another cool paint finish from PCI's portfolio: magnetic paint. Transform your wall into a practical and creative platform to display Post-it notes, bills, cards, and photographs. Show off your whimsical touristy magnets or embellish the magnetic wall and/or bomb shelter door with beautiful sketches.

Neo clarifies that their work goes beyond restyling the bomb shelter door. "The door blends into the overarching design concept of the home. Of course, the door can certainly be a standalone feature, in and of itself. The colours and designs are customisable as well-at PCI, we want to create bespoke, unique works for our clients," says Neo.

Rates range from $10- $18 per square feet (Note that the aforementioned rates are not applicable for the dry erase paint and chalkboard paint, and there is also a surcharge for areas under 150 sq. ft.). Rest assured that you're guaranteed nothing but high quality decorative paint performance since PCI only uses premium Italian decorative paint. Their chief designer even went all the way to Italy to learn design techniques from expert Italian craftsmen.

"Using paint allows us to be very flexible with the colours, design and coverage, unlike tiles and wallpaper. The paint is very durable. We have a 1-year warranty on all our feature walls," concludes Neo.

Performance Coatings International

32 Old Toh Tuck Road #3-13 I.Biz Centre Singapore 597658

Tel: 6334 3200

Email: amanda@performancecoatings.com.sg, dominic@performancecoatings.com.sg, zhengyi@performancecoatings.com.sg, or info@performancecoatings.com.sg

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PCISingapore/?fref=ts

Instagram:@mrpci

Creating better homes and family.