Roller blinds and blackout blinds
A bedroom in a new BTO flat often has a window right beside the bed and a corridor or neighbouring block outside. You want it dark for sleep, private in the evening, and tidy when the blind is up. A roller blind does that with one sheet of fabric and a slim head rail. Curtains SG supplies roller blinds in sunscreen, dim-out and blackout fabrics, measured and fitted to each window.
Get a quoteHow roller blinds work
A roller blind is a single panel of fabric wound around a tube at the top of the window. Pull the chain or cord and the fabric rolls down; pull again and it rolls up into the head. There are no slats or folds, so it looks flat and plain, and it takes up very little space when raised.
Because it is one flat sheet, the fabric decides almost everything about how the blind performs. The same mechanism can give you a see-through screen for a living room or a blackout blind for a bedroom.
Sunscreen, dim-out and blackout fabrics
Most choices come down to how much light and view you want to keep. We bring samples to the home visit so you can hold each one up to your window in daylight.
Blackout window blinds and light gaps
Blackout fabric stops light through the cloth, but a roller blind still leaves small gaps at the sides and around the roll at the top. Inside a window reveal, those side gaps are usually a few millimetres wide on each side, and morning sun will show as thin lines of light.
There are ways to reduce this. Mounting the blind outside the reveal so it overlaps the frame cuts the side gaps. Side channels can close them further on some windows. For a bedroom that needs to be as dark as possible, many homes pair a blackout roller blind with a blackout curtain on a track in front. We will look at your window frame and explain which option fits.
Rooms, motorisation and care
Roller blinds work in almost any room. They are a common choice for bedrooms, studies and kitchens, and for windows where a curtain would bunch against a bed, desk or wardrobe. On wide living room windows, two or three blinds side by side are often easier to use than one very wide one.
A motorised roller blind runs on a small motor inside the tube, controlled by remote, wall switch or phone app. It helps with high windows, several blinds in a row, or anyone who finds chains awkward. Tell us early if you want motorisation, because we need to plan for power or a rechargeable motor before the fitting.
For cleaning, dust the fabric with a soft brush or a vacuum on low with a brush head every few weeks. Spot clean marks with a damp cloth and mild soap, testing an unseen corner first. Do not soak a roller blind or put it in a washing machine, as it can crease and stop rolling straight.
Roller blind prices by window size
Roller blinds cost $5 to $6.50 per square foot, installed, with a 20 sq ft minimum per blind. Because of the minimum, most HDB bedroom and kitchen windows are charged as 20 sq ft, about $100 to $130 each.
Larger blinds are priced on width times drop. A motor adds $150 to $250 per blind. Use the blind size calculator to work out the area from your own measurements before the visit.
- Blind size calculatorTurn your measurements into square feet.
- Blind prices guideAll blind types priced side by side.
| Blind size (W x H) | Area | Installed price |
|---|---|---|
| 90 x 120cm | 20 sq ft (minimum) | $100 to $130 |
| 120 x 150cm | 20 sq ft (minimum) | $100 to $130 |
| 150 x 150cm | About 24 sq ft | $121 to $157 |
| 180 x 160cm | About 31 sq ft | $155 to $202 |
| Two blinds, 120 x 150cm | 40 sq ft | $200 to $260 |
| Motor | Per blind | $150 to $250 |
Roller blinds compared with other blinds
If a roller blind does not quite fit how you use the room, these are the usual alternatives, with our installed prices per square foot.
For most HDB bedrooms and studies, a roller blind is the simplest and lowest cost option. The others earn their place where a room has a specific need, such as grease in a kitchen or rain on a balcony.
- Korean combi$6 to $8. Sheer and solid bands let light in without raising the blind.
- Aluminium venetian$5 to $7. Tilting slats for kitchens and studies, wiped clean.
- Wooden venetian$10 to $13. A warmer look. Keep away from wet areas.
- Roman$14 to $17. Soft fabric folds, closer to a curtain.
- Vertical$4.50 to $6.50. Suits wide sliding doors and offices.
- Outdoor zip$18 to $22. For balconies and yards exposed to rain.
Inside or outside the window reveal
Most HDB windows sit in a reveal: the recess between the wall face and the window frame. A roller blind can be fixed inside the reveal, which looks tidy, or on the wall or ceiling above, overlapping the opening.
Inside fixing needs enough depth for the roll and clearance for the window handles. Many HDB casement handles stick out, and the fabric can catch on them as it comes down. We measure the reveal depth and handle positions at the visit before deciding.
Outside fixing suits shallow reveals, windows with grilles inside, and bedrooms where you want the blind to overlap the frame. Fixed higher than the frame, it also makes the window look taller.
Tell us which side you want the chain on. Beside a bed or in a child's room, keep the chain out of reach or choose a motor.
Roller blinds room by room
Choose the fabric by when the room is used. A study used in the day needs glare control more than darkness, while a bedroom needs night privacy and darkness more than a view. Kitchens and bathrooms need fabric that copes with steam and can be wiped down.
Where one room has two windows facing different ways, the blinds do not have to match in fabric. A sunscreen blind on the north window and a dim-out blind on the west window can share a colour so they look the same from inside.
- BedroomBlackout fabric fixed over the frame for windows beside the bed.
- StudySunscreen fabric cuts screen glare and keeps the view.
- KitchenEasy-clean fabric away from the hob, or aluminium venetian beside it.
- BathroomMoisture-resistant fabric for a window above the vanity.
- Kids' roomBlackout for naps, with the chain out of reach or a motor.
- Living roomSunscreen blinds behind curtains handle glare while curtains add softness.
Pairing roller blinds with curtains
In a living room, a sunscreen roller blind handles midday glare while sheer or night curtains in front add softness. On cloudy days you can raise the blinds completely and keep the curtains as the main look.
Costing it out: a 120 x 150cm bedroom window with a blackout roller blind is about $100 to $130. Adding a 1.8m blackout curtain on a new single track adds about $158 to $216.
If you are choosing between the two for a room, the curtains or blinds guide compares them room by room.
- Curtains or blinds?Which suits each room in a Singapore home.
- Blackout curtainsFor the darkest bedroom, in front of a blind.
Blind ideas for your home
Blinds in kitchens, studies, living rooms and balconies. Tap a photo for more on each.
Common questions
Do blackout roller blinds make a room completely dark?
The fabric blocks light, but small gaps at the sides and top let some light in. Mounting the blind over the frame, adding side channels, or pairing it with a blackout curtain gets a room much darker.
Can people see in through a sunscreen roller blind at night?
Yes, when the room is lit and it is dark outside. Sunscreen fabric is for daytime glare and view. For night privacy, choose dim-out or blackout fabric, or add a second blind or curtain.
Can roller blinds be motorised?
Yes. A motor fits inside the roller tube and can run on remote, switch or app control. Tell us at the start so we can plan for power at the window.
How do I book a measurement visit?
Send photos and rough sizes through the contact page, or WhatsApp +65 9071 3976. The home visit needs a $50 deposit, which is credited to your order when you buy.
Tell us about your windows
Send photos and rough window sizes on WhatsApp for an early quote. When you are ready, we measure at your home and bring fabric and blind samples. The visit needs a $50 deposit, credited to your order. Found a lower quote for the same curtains? We price match. See the price match terms.