• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • Costa Rhu: Jyoti’s spacious & central Tanjong Rhu condo
        • Shop dress shoes for men in SingaporeDress shoes for men – finding the perfect pair in Singapore
        • living in singapore demographics expat living reader surveyEXPAT LIVING READER SURVEY 2023
        • Forex trading for beginnersHow to start forex trading in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Image of cool things to do for kids in Singapore, watching white tiger in Singapore ZooWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • Sailing Yacht Charter in SingaporeLuxury yacht rentals in Singapore
        • Where to watch the F1 2023 and party!
        • One Rishta - a website for happiness and culture in Singapore from Rituparna senguptaA new way to access creativity and culture in Singapore!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Centre Stage performing arts and drama classes in SingaporeTop ballet, dance and drama classes in Singapore
        • agora colearning inclusive learning environmentThis new preschool has a personalised learning environment
        • learning journey community SASMaking the student learning journey exciting
        • Yellow Aliens mascotWhere to rent costumes for Halloween in Singapore & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • Looking for the best outdoor furniture?
        • Where to buy antiques or vintage furniture – Reviews
        • Modern interior design with a touch of tradition!
        • Singapore home decor by Originals7 best furniture stores for home décor in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • Indonesia travel - where to stay in BaliIndonesia travel – Where to stay in Bali & island resorts
        • Sailing Yacht Charter in SingaporeLuxury yacht rentals in Singapore
        • Beach Villas Wakatobi Indonesian island resort6 Reasons to Book These Beach Villas!
        • The Latest Travel News & Hotel Deals
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Oktoberfest 2023 singapore - the places for food and beerHow to celebrate Oktoberfest 2023 in Singapore
        • Deviate wine bar in Dempsey Hill - we chat to owner Joe Keats of Petersons WinesThis Dempsey bar is a best-kept secret!
        • Crossroads cafe at Orchard - where to eat in Orchard Road - alfresco dining SingaporeTry alfresco dining & happy hour at this café at Orchard Road
        • The best birthday cakes in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Shop dress shoes for men in SingaporeDress shoes for men – finding the perfect pair in Singapore
        • Six shades full set Bigen Men Beard ColorDye your beard like an expert – at home!
        • Tiffany Cook and Caroline Chin Geyler from T&C Gemstones and JewelleryBespoke jewellery created by a pair of gem lovers!
        • Try the best Spas in Singapore for some pampering!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • allergic rhinitis, allergy medication and insuranceFast facts about allergies, their symptoms and insurance
        • art therapy depression treatmentNavigating depression with Experiential Therapy
        • The best personal trainers and personal training gyms in SingaporeWhere to go for personal trainers in Singapore
        • Sport clubs in SingaporeWant to join a sports team?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

At home … again!

11th December 2021 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/life-in-singapore-lydia-elder-influencer/

Born and bred here, but living in England for the past 13 years, a returning expat shares with us how she’s settling back into life in Singapore, this time with husband, sons and a cat in tow!

LYDIA ELDER left our shores at the age of 19 to read English and Sociology at the University of Leeds. She returned this April when her husband was offered a job here.

An influencer and digital content creator for property, interiors and DIY, Lydia’s Instagram feed (@lydias_layton_life) is updated daily with photos of how she has put together her rental home in Singapore and her new build home in Kent in the UK. Her sons Teddy (6) and Arlo (4) often make appearances too! We chatted with Lydia about her story.

life in singapore Lydia Elder

Tell us about life Singapore when you were here before.

My parents have lived in Singapore for 35 years – they still live in my childhood home, a black-and-white bungalow in Alexandra!

My best memories were around school – I went to Tanglin Trust School from nursery until Sixth Form. My mum still teaches Secondary English there and both my boys now go there too! It was surreal seeing them put on their uniforms for the first time.

I also have good memories of running around with my brother in what we called “The Valley”, which was a vast expanse of tropical parkland right outside my parent’s house. We would build dams in the drains, hunt lizards and take the dogs for walks. It’s amazing seeing my boys enjoy doing the exact same things today, with me watching over as the adult.

life in singapore Lydia Elder

What did you miss most about life in Singapore when you were away?

Two things – the food and weather! In the UK, I would dream about wonton noodles, chicken rice and dim sum. (My favourite restaurants and hawkers are Crystal Jade, Sushi Tei, Samy’s Curry Restaurant and Food Republic @ VivoCity!)

I’m also definitely a tropical climate girl and my first winter in the UK was a real shock to the system.

We’re big fans of the Singapore Zoo, too – the first thing we did when we moved here was buy Friends of Wildlife passes.

I love that you can sunbathe by a pool, hike in the jungle, eat a Michelin-starred meal and have cocktails overlooking the ocean, all in one day! I love how genuinely friendly and considerate Singaporeans are and how family-friendly the city is.

The only thing I wish I could change is how expensive it is!

life in singapore Lydia Elder

How did you become a property influencer?

I started my Instagram when we bought our new build family home in Kent. It was a “blank, white box” and I began to share the process of putting my stamp on it through affordable and imaginative DIY projects.

A lot of people came to me for advice on their home purchases, using government-backed homebuying schemes and asking about my experience with newbuild homes.

My Instagram has evolved into sharing all aspects of my life with my followers – from parenting to fitness and travel.

What are the pros and cons of being in the limelight?

I’ve been able to build a career that’s very flexible and allows me to spend almost all my time with my children. I feel very fortunate that I haven’t experienced any of the “trolling” that can sadly be a by-product of this line of work. I really enjoy the conversations I have with people who have been engaged with and inspired by my content.

However, it’s hard to have an “off” day as social media is set up to be 24/7. It can be exhausting meeting the expectation of constantly churning out innovative content daily! It’s important to stay grounded and not get too caught up in “likes”. I have breaks and days where I’m present and spending time with my family, rather than doing something “for the gram”!

While I’ve turned this into my business, much of what I do is incredibly personal and so it can be hard to separate that.

life in singapore Lydia Elder

What tips can you give to new expats about living in Singapore?

Location is key when setting up a home and making new friends. There are definitely expat “pockets” around the island, and depending on your life stage, certain areas will suit you more than others.

If you have a young family, I recommend that you house-hunt around your kids’ school; that’s a great way to find a ready-made circle of friends for both your children and you. If you’re living in a house, then joining a club such as The British Club is a brilliant way to meet people and get into sports and activities. While a landed property gives space and privacy, there are loads of benefits to condo living; the communal areas such as the pool and gym are often very social spaces.

For furnishing your home, Facebook Marketplace is a great place to find real gems, as people are constantly moving and looking to sell their furniture, sometimes practically new! Singapore also boasts two IKEA stores for essentials, and there are some brilliant and reasonably priced online furniture shops, too, such as Cozymatic, Castlery, FortyTwo and HipVan.

lydia elders children
Lydias bedroom
Lydias living room

What about tips or advice for anyone who wants to be an influencer on social media?

Find your area of expertise – what are you passionate about? You need to have something to share that is authentically you and gives people a reason to keep coming back for more.

Consistency and creativity are key, so post new content regularly and build up a story for your audience to follow.

The most important thing when starting off is engagement. Network with other accounts in a similar niche as you and interact with your followers – be approachable!

This article first appeared in the December 2021 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

 

For more home décor and furniture in Singapore – read this huge guide!

Categories: Homes Living here Living in Singapore Real Homes Tags: lydia elder

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

homewares and home decor

10 great homeware stores for home décor ideas & gifts!

Cool living room furniture – over 20 ideas!

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.