Collecting the keys to a BTO flat means a long list of decisions, and curtains tend to sit near the end of it. Yet the choices you make during renovation, such as where the track goes and whether there is a curtain box, decide how the curtains look and work for years. Each room in a new HDB flat also asks for something different, from a dark master bedroom to a service yard that gets rain and laundry.
These ten ideas go room by room through a typical BTO flat. For the timing and order of works, see our BTO curtains checklist. To look up your own project’s flat types and estimated completion, see our upcoming BTO projects page.
1. Plan ceiling tracks or curtain boxes during renovation
The most important curtain decision in a BTO flat happens before any fabric is chosen. If your interior designer or contractor is building a false ceiling, ask for a curtain box or a recessed track pocket at each window you plan to dress with curtains. If you are keeping the original ceiling, plan ceiling-mounted tracks instead of wall rods.
Tracks at the ceiling make the room look taller and reduce light leaking over the top. A curtain box hides the track and gives a clean line. Tell the carpenter how many layers you want, because a day and night pair needs a deeper box than a single curtain. Our guide to curtain pelmets and boxes covers the depths to discuss.
2. Living room: sheer and dim-out on a double track
The living room is where you spend the most waking hours, so it needs both daylight and evening privacy from the block opposite. A sheer curtain on the window side of a double track softens the light and lets you see out in the day. A dim-out curtain on the room side closes for privacy at night and reduces glare on the TV.
This pairing suits the wide living-room windows common in new HDB flats. Choose an S-fold or ripple-fold heading for an even, modern look, or pinch pleats for a more tailored finish. Our guide to day and night curtains explains how to combine the two layers.
3. Living room: Korean combi blinds behind the TV wall
If the TV sits against or near a window, a curtain can bunch awkwardly behind the console. A Korean combi blind, with alternating sheer and solid stripes, fits inside the window and adjusts light and privacy without taking floor space.
In the day, align the sheer stripes to let light through and keep a view. In the evening, close the stripes to block the view in. Combi blinds will not fully darken a room, so they suit a living room better than a bedroom. They also leave the window ledge clear for speakers or plants. Combi blinds come in a range of fabrics and stripe widths.
4. Master bedroom: blackout curtains that cover past the frame
Bedrooms in a high-floor BTO flat often get early morning sun and light from corridor lamps or the next block at night. Blackout curtains block most of this, but only where they cover the window.
Hang the track at the ceiling, extend it past the window on both sides, and ask for a centre overlap or magnets so the panels close without a gap. A return at each end, where the curtain wraps back to the wall, cuts side light further. This combination does more for sleep than the fabric alone. Our blackout curtains page explains the fabric and lining options.
5. Master bedroom: a blackout roller behind a sheer curtain
If you prefer a lighter look in the bedroom, a blackout roller blind inside the window recess can do the darkening while a sheer curtain in front gives softness during the day. This keeps heavy fabric off the room and lets the curtain act as a decorative layer.
The blind should fit snugly inside the recess to limit light at the edges, and the curtain track needs enough clearance in front so the sheer does not rub the blind. Some light may still leak around a roller blind, so this suits people who are less sensitive to light at dawn. Ask to see the blind fabric with light behind it before choosing.
6. Common bedroom for a child: cordless and simple
Children’s rooms need curtains and blinds without loose cords or chains that a child can reach or pull. Choose a curtain on a ceiling track with a draw wand, or a blind with a cordless or motorised mechanism.
Blackout fabric helps young children nap in the afternoon, when Singapore sunlight is strong year round. Washable polyester suits a child’s room better than delicate linen, since it will be cleaned more often. Choose a neutral or simple pattern that can stay as the child grows, rather than a theme they may outgrow in a few years. Keep furniture that a child could climb away from the window.
7. Common bedroom as a study: venetian blinds for screen glare
Many BTO owners turn one common bedroom into a study or work-from-home room. Here, glare on the screen is the main problem, and venetian blinds give the finest control. Angle the slats so daylight bounces up to the ceiling while the direct sun stays off the monitor.
Aluminium or PVC slats cope well with humidity and are easy to wipe. Place the desk side-on to the window where possible, since facing or backing onto a bright window makes glare harder to control with any blind. A sheer curtain in front can soften the look if the room doubles as a guest room.
8. Kitchen: aluminium or PVC blinds instead of fabric
BTO kitchens are usually compact, and the window may sit close to the hob or face the corridor. Fabric curtains near the stove absorb grease and can be a fire risk. Aluminium or PVC venetian blinds, or a roller blind in a wipeable fabric, handle steam and oil better and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
For a window over the sink or away from the hob, a short café curtain can work if you want something softer. Our guide to kitchen curtains explains safe placement and washable fabrics.
9. Service yard: blinds that cope with rain and laundry
The service yard in a BTO flat gets rain blowing in, laundry drying and often afternoon sun. A blind here protects clothes from fading and gives some privacy. Aluminium venetian blinds or sunscreen roller blinds tolerate damp and dry quickly.
If the yard has an open area rather than a window, an outdoor zip blind with side channels keeps the fabric steady in wind and rain. Anything fixed to the outside of the flat may need approval, so check HDB’s renovation guidelines before ordering. Keep the blind clear of the laundry rack.
10. Full-height and wide windows: split or motorise
Some BTO designs include full-height windows or wide panels in the living room or master bedroom. A single long curtain on a wide span is heavy to pull, and one large blind is awkward to raise.
For curtains, a ceiling track with a centre split or a one-way draw to the open side keeps the stack off the glass. For blinds, splitting the window into two or three blinds makes each one lighter. If you are likely to want motorisation, ask your electrician for a power point near the top of the window while the ceiling is still open. If a window has a deep ledge or recess, blinds inside the recess with a curtain in front often work better than one long curtain.
Room by room at a glance
| Room | Main need | Idea to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | Daylight and evening privacy | Sheer and dim-out on a double track, or Korean combi blinds |
| Master bedroom | Darkness for sleep | Blackout curtain past the frame, or blackout roller with sheer |
| Child’s bedroom | Safety and naps | Cordless blackout with a wand or motor |
| Study | Screen glare | Aluminium or PVC venetian blinds |
| Kitchen | Grease and steam | Aluminium or PVC blinds, wipeable roller |
| Service yard | Rain, laundry, sun | Venetian or sunscreen roller, zip blind if open |
| Full-height windows | Weight and width | Split blinds, ceiling track, motorisation |
Common questions
When should I plan curtains for my BTO flat?
Plan curtain boxes, track positions and power points during renovation, before the false ceiling is closed. Measure for the curtains themselves after the carpentry and ceiling are finished.
Do I need curtains or blinds in every room of a BTO flat?
Not necessarily. Bedrooms and the living room usually need curtains or blinds for privacy and light control. The kitchen and service yard often suit blinds, and some rooms with no overlooking neighbours can wait until after move-in.
Which curtains suit a BTO living room?
A sheer and dim-out pair on a double ceiling track suits most BTO living rooms. It gives daylight with some privacy in the day and full privacy at night.
Are blinds or curtains better for a BTO bedroom?
Both work. A blackout curtain that extends past the window gives the darkest result, while a blackout roller blind behind a sheer curtain gives a lighter look. The choice depends on how sensitive you are to light and the look you want.
Can I install outdoor blinds on a BTO service yard?
Often, yes, but external installations may need approval. Check HDB’s renovation guidelines before ordering, and choose an outdoor blind designed for rain and wind.
BTO Curtains Checklist: What to Plan Before and After Key Collection
15 Living Room Curtain Ideas for Singapore Homes
8 Kitchen Window Ideas for HDB and Condo Kitchens