Window Treatments

Buying curtains in Singapore comes down to four decisions: what each room needs from its windows, which fabric will cope with the climate, how the curtain is lined and hung, and how it is operated. Curtains suit most living rooms and bedrooms because they soften a room and close fully. Blinds suit kitchens, studies, bathrooms and tight window bays, where a slim profile matters more than drape. This guide covers each choice, with indicative local prices.

Curtains or blinds in Singapore: choosing room by room

Start with the room, not the product. Ask what the window must do at 7am, at 3pm and at midnight.

• Living and dining rooms. Usually curtains: a sheer for daytime and a heavier layer for evening privacy. Our day and night curtains pair both on twin tracks. Floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains make a low ceiling read taller.
• Bedrooms. Darkness first. Blackout curtains close fully and cover the gaps around the frame better than most blinds.
• Studies and home offices. Glare control at a screen. Venetian blinds let you angle light away from a monitor; roller blinds in a screen fabric cut glare while keeping the view.
• Kitchens and bathrooms. Moisture and grease. Choose aluminium or PVC slats or a wipeable roller fabric, not loose fabric near a hob.
• Bay windows and small openings. Roman blinds sit neatly within a recess and keep the window seat clear.
• Wide glazing and offices. Vertical blinds stack to one side and handle tall, wide spans well.
• Balconies, patios and pool decks. Outdoor blinds, including zip-track systems, or bamboo blinds for a softer, natural shade.

Curtain fabrics and linings for Singapore humidity

Fabrics

Singapore's air is rarely dry. The Meteorological Service puts mean relative humidity at around 82%, often above 90% before dawn. That shapes fabric choice more than any trend.

• Polyester and polyester blends hold their shape, resist mould and wash well. They are the practical default for bedrooms and west-facing rooms.
• Linen and linen blends give the soft, irregular texture many clients want. Pure linen creases and can drop or shrink slightly as humidity changes, so specify a blend or allow extra length at the hem.
• Cotton takes colour beautifully but fades in strong sun. Line it, and avoid it on unshaded west glass.
• Velvet and heavy weaves suit air-conditioned rooms with good airflow. In a closed, humid room they can develop mildew.

Our journal piece on choosing curtain fabrics for a humid climate goes deeper on fibre behaviour and care.

Linings

A lining protects the face fabric from sun, adds body to the folds and controls light. The main options:

• Standard lining. Protects colour and gives the curtain a fuller hang. It is the minimum for a dyed or natural face fabric.
• Dim-out lining. Darkens a room without full blackout. A good fit for living rooms used for film in the evening.
• Blackout lining. A coated layer for bedrooms. One local guide lists a blackout or thermal lining as adding about S$30 to S$80 per window.
• Interlining. A soft middle layer that gives a heavier, more tailored drape. Best kept for formal rooms.

Tracks, pleats and motorisation

The track decides how the curtain moves and how it looks at the top. A ceiling-recessed track in a pelmet or cove gives the cleanest line, but it must be planned before the ceiling is built. A surface-mounted track or a pole is simpler to retrofit.

Pleat style changes the fabric quantity. Pinch pleats give a structured, classic head. Ripple-fold or S-fold headings give soft, even waves and suit modern rooms. Eyelets are the simplest and least formal. As general practice, workrooms allow roughly two to two and a half times the track width in fabric, depending on the heading.

Motorisation is worth considering for tall or wide windows, heavy curtains and rooms you want to close on a schedule. Plan the power point early. See our page on motorised curtains for motor types and wiring.

How to measure for curtains and blinds

Measuring is where most made-to-measure mistakes begin, which is why we have our partner workroom survey the site before anything is cut. If you want a working estimate first:

1. Decide on mounting: inside the window recess (common for blinds) or outside it, on the wall or ceiling (common for curtains).
2. For curtains, measure the width you want to cover, then add about 15 to 30cm on each side so the open curtain stacks clear of the glass.
3. Measure the drop from track or ceiling to floor at three points. Floors and ceilings are rarely level.
4. For a recess-fit blind, measure the recess width at the top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest figure.
5. Note obstacles: window handles, aircon units, sockets and sprinkler heads.

Indicative prices for curtains and blinds in Singapore

These indicative ranges come from recent local cost guides and supplier pages, and include installation where the source says so.

For a whole home, the same guide puts mid-range custom work for a three-bedroom condo at S$10,000 to S$22,000, and landed homes higher. Prices vary with window size, fabric, specification and site conditions such as ceiling height and access. They are not a Keneki quote.

Our process

Keneki manages window treatments end to end as part of a wider interior, or as a standalone package.

1. Brief. We look at how each room is used, its orientation and the existing architecture.
2. Samples. We bring fabric and slat samples to the site, so you see them in your own light.
3. Survey. Our partner workroom measures every opening and checks the fixing surfaces.
4. Specification. We confirm fabric, lining, heading, track and controls, window by window, in writing.
5. Making and installation. Our partner workroom makes each piece; our partner installers fit and dress it. We check the result before handover.

To talk through your windows, arrange a consultation.

Frequently asked questions