Blinds vs curtains, room by room
You do not have to pick one for the whole flat. Match each window to the way you use the room, and mix the two where it helps.
| Room | Often suits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | Curtains, or day and night curtains | Softer look and layered light |
| Bedrooms | Blackout curtains or blackout blinds | A dark room for sleep |
| Kitchen and service yard | Blinds that wipe clean, hung away from the hob | Less fabric near cooking and grease |
| Bathroom windows | Blinds that cope with damp | Less fabric in a humid room |
Living room. Curtains give a softer look. Day night curtains hang two layers on the same window: a light day layer that lets daylight in while keeping some privacy, and a heavier night layer you draw in the evening.
Bedrooms. Here the choice is mostly about darkness. Blackout curtains suit you if you like a soft finish and want to draw the whole window closed. Blackout blinds suit you if you prefer a neat, flat finish.
Kitchen and service yard. Fabric close to cooking picks up grease and smells, so it needs washing often. If you are weighing up roller blinds, HDB kitchens and service yards are where a wipe-clean surface helps most, as long as the blind hangs clear of the hob.
Bathroom windows. Steam reaches the window every day, so choose a blind made for damp rooms rather than a fabric curtain.
Heat, light and energy
Curtains and blinds both help keep heat out of a room. The National Environment Agency (NEA) suggests in its energy saving tips that you close curtains or blinds during the hottest part of the day, or use solar window film.
For light, think about how each room is used by day. A sheer day layer softens light and keeps some privacy. A blind can be lowered part of the way. A blackout layer shuts light out for sleep, a nap or a screen.
If you would rather treat the glass itself, HDB's renovation guidelines for window works say films over window or balcony door glass need no permit, as long as they are non-reflective or do not exceed 20% reflectance. Ask the installer to confirm the reflectance of the film before it goes up.
If you are also deciding how to cool the room, see the aircon or fan cost comparison.
HDB rules and drilling
You do not need a permit to hang blinds or curtains inside your flat. HDB's window works guidelines list blinds, bamboo chicks and curtain rails installed internally as works that need no permit.
The part that needs care is the drilling. HDB's important information on renovations asks you to take care not to damage any concealed electrical cables when drilling. For flats with concealed electrical wiring originally provided by HDB, refer to HDB's sketch before you drill into those walls. Heavy and excessive drilling is restricted (noisy) work, limited to 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, and HDB asks residents to keep DIY works to 7am to 10.30pm.
Before you book, measure each window and decide whether a blind should sit inside the window recess or above it. Then compare companies that offer curtain installation, and read the curtain installation cost guide before you ask for quotes.
Cleaning and child safety
Blinds are easier to keep clean from day to day, because you can wipe them down where they hang. Curtains need washing or professional cleaning, which means taking them down and rehanging them.
If you would rather not wash curtains at home, compare companies that offer curtain cleaning, and read dry cleaning or washing curtains to see which suits your fabric. Check the care label on each curtain before you decide.
Cords need attention whichever you choose. HealthHub's guide to common childhood injuries and a child-safe home lists strings and cords among the things to keep out of a child's reach, and notes that most common childhood injuries happen at home.
For other hazards around the flat, work through the childproofing checklist one room at a time.
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FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published curtain and blind installation rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published curtain and blind installation rates from 3 companies run from S$50 to S$80 per job (middle rate S$50), for one curtain rod or blind. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 3 published curtain and blind installation rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SG QuickFix | Curtain & Blind Installation | From S$50 per job | sgquickfix.com |
| Wefix4U | Curtain rod installation | From S$50 per job | wefix4u.sg |
| Handy King | Curtain rod installation | From S$80 per job | handyking.sg |
In the directory, 3 companies publish a curtain and blind installation line, and all 3 price it per job. Their published rates run from S$50 to S$80 per job, as printed, and S$50 is the middle company's published rate. The scope as printed is one curtain rod or blind, so check what each price covers. To compare more installers, browse handyman companies.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published curtain cleaning rates
For the most common unit (per piece), the lowest published rates from 6 companies run from S$10 to S$25. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a market average or a quote.
See 10 published curtain cleaning rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlphaKleen Services | Day/Sheer Curtain Washing | S$10 to S$30 per piece | alphakleen.sg |
| Cotton Care | Light Day Curtains (Less than 1kg) | S$10 per piece | cottoncare.com.sg |
| Clean Care Pte Ltd | Day curtains cleaning | S$13 per piece | cleancare.com.sg |
| Upward Cleaning Services | Curtain Cleaning Singapore | From S$18 per piece | upwardcleaning.sg |
| Scrubbys | Curtains (per piece) | S$20 per piece | scrubbys.sg |
| Singapore Carpet Cleaning Pte Ltd | Day curtains, on-site cleaning | S$20 to S$25 per set (2 pieces) | carpet-cleaning.com.sg |
| Three Butlers | Curtains Cleaning | From S$25 per piece | threebutlers.com.sg |
| Sureclean | Curtain cleaning | From S$35 per curtain | sureclean.com.sg |
| Detail Freak | Mattress/Upholstery/Curtain Steam Clean | From S$50 (the company does not state a unit) | detail-freak.com |
| CleanAxisCo. Pte Ltd | Curtain steam | From S$69 (the company does not state a unit) | cleanaxisco.com.sg |
For curtain cleaning, 10 companies publish a rate. 6 of them price it per piece, and those per-piece rates run from S$10 to S$25 per piece, as printed. The other lines are a multi-unit price per set of 2 pieces or are printed without a unit, so they do not compare directly. The table shows each company's lowest matching rate, so check what each price covers.
Questions
Are blinds or curtains better for the kitchen?
Blinds usually suit a kitchen better than curtains. You can wipe a blind down when grease and steam settle on it, and it keeps loose fabric away from the hob. Choose one that hangs clear of the cooking area, and tie up any cord so it stays out of children's reach.
Do blackout curtains keep a room cooler?
Yes, they can help keep heat out if you close them during the hottest part of the day. NEA's energy saving tips suggest closing curtains or blinds at that time, or using solar window film. Blackout blinds work the same way, so choose whichever suits the room.
Do I need HDB approval to put up blinds?
No. HDB's window works guidelines say blinds, bamboo chicks and curtain rails installed internally need no permit. Take care when you drill, and keep any cords tied up out of children's reach.
Are blinds easier to clean than curtains?
Yes, for everyday cleaning. You can wipe or dust a blind where it hangs, while curtains need washing or professional cleaning, which means taking them down and rehanging them. Curtains still suit rooms where you want softness and layered light, so you can mix the two: blinds in wet areas, curtains in living spaces.
Can I fix curtain rails to a bedroom wall in a new flat?
Yes, with care. HDB's important information on renovations asks you to take care not to damage concealed electrical cables when drilling, and to refer to HDB's sketch for flats with concealed wiring HDB provided. Bedroom walls in some new flats are Ferrolite partition walls, so ask the installer which anchors suit that wall.
Are blind cords a danger to young children?
Yes, loose cords are a risk for young children. HealthHub's guide to a child-safe home lists strings and cords among the things to keep out of a child's reach. Tie blind cords and curtain pull cords up high, or fit a cleat on the wall and wind the cord around it after each use.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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