Away for the Year-End School Holidays? How to Leave Your Curtains and Blinds

The suitcase is half packed, the flight is at dawn, and someone asks the question every family asks on the way out: should we close the curtains or leave them open?

It matters more than it sounds. The Ministry of Education's calendar lists the Term 4 school holidays for kindergarten, primary and secondary schools as Saturday 21 November to Thursday 31 December 2026. For many HDB and BTO households, that means the flat can sit closed up for days or weeks, often over Christmas.

Here is a short, practical way to leave your curtains, blinds and windows so you come home to a flat that smells fresh and looks the way you left it.

Why a closed-up flat needs a little planning in November and December

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) describes Singapore as having "high humidity all year round", with a mean annual relative humidity of around 82%. Its 1991 to 2020 climate averages put November at 84.9% and December at 85.5%, the two most humid months of the year on average. MSS also notes that "November and December have the lowest" sunshine hours.

In plain terms: year-end is damp and often cloudy. A flat with every window shut and every curtain pressed flat against the glass for weeks gets little air and little light. Fabric that goes away slightly damp is the first thing to smell musty when you open the door.

Do the window check first

Curtains come second. HDB's guidance on window works is direct: "As a flat owner or occupant, you are responsible for the upkeep of the windows in your flat." The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) reminds owners that windows are "constantly exposed to weather elements like wind and rain".

Before you leave:

• Close and latch every casement and sliding window. Afternoon storms can arrive fast, and nobody will be home to shut them.
• Look for loose or missing rivets and screws on the window frame and handles. If something looks wrong, have it fixed before you go, not after.
• Wipe sills dry and move anything that should not get wet, such as cushions or paper, away from the window.
• Bring in anything on an open balcony or service yard that wind or rain could damage.

Curtains: closed, open or halfway?

There is no single right answer. It depends on which way the room faces.

• West-facing rooms. Draw the main curtain across. Even on cloudy weeks, afternoon sun through the glass can fade sofa fabric, rugs and timber flooring over time. A lined or blackout curtain does this job best.
• Other rooms. Leave the day sheer drawn and the main curtain open or halfway. The sheer softens the view in from the next block while still letting daylight in, which keeps the room from feeling shut up.
• Leave a small gap. Pull curtains so they hang straight with a little space from the glass, not bunched or pressed against a window that might fog up.

If your windows have a day sheer and a blackout layer on separate tracks, you can set each room differently. That flexibility is the main reason we suggest day-night curtains for HDB bedrooms and living rooms.

Wash or air curtains before the trip, not on the morning you leave

If the curtains are due for a wash, do it at least a few days before you fly so they are fully dry when you rehang them. Re-hanging them damp and shutting the flat is the quickest route to a musty smell. If you are not washing them, open the windows for an afternoon before the trip and give each curtain a shake and a few minutes of fresh air.

Blinds: what to do with each type

• Roller blinds. Lower them about halfway in sunny rooms. Fully up is also fine for rooms that get little direct sun.
• Venetian blinds. Lower them and tilt the slats so daylight comes in but the view in is broken up.
• Combi (zebra) blinds. Set them to the open-stripe position so some light still reaches the room.
• Corded blinds. Clip loose cords up and out of the way, especially if a relative or helper will pop in with young children while you are away.

Thinking of motorised curtains or blinds?

Motorised options are available on selected styles. Plan a power point near the track, ideally alongside other electrical work.

A ten-minute leaving routine

1. Close and latch every window. Wipe the sills.
2. West-facing rooms: draw the main curtain across.
3. Other rooms: day sheer drawn, main curtain open or halfway, hanging free of the glass.
4. Blinds halfway or tilted, not fully shut in every room.
5. Cords clipped up.

Thinking of new curtains before Christmas?

If you have been meaning to change curtains or blinds anyway, the weeks before the trip are a good time to get the measure done, so the order can be in progress while you are away. We make curtains and blinds to measure for HDB and BTO homes, which you can browse on our curtains and blinds page, and new flat owners can start with our BTO curtains guide.

Warranty and the measure

Our indoor curtains and blinds come with a 3-year warranty. The measure is free. Message us to book a measure at a time that suits you before the holidays.

FAQ

When are the 2026 year-end school holidays?

MOE's calendar lists the Term 4 school holidays for kindergarten, primary and secondary schools as Saturday 21 November to Thursday 31 December 2026.

Should I close all my curtains when I go on holiday?

Not necessarily. Close the main curtain in west-facing rooms to protect furniture and flooring from sun. In other rooms, a drawn sheer with the main curtain open or halfway lets in daylight and keeps the room from feeling shut up.

How do I stop curtains smelling musty while I am away?

Make sure they are completely dry before you leave, let them hang with a little space from the glass, and air the flat for an afternoon before the trip. Singapore's humidity is highest on average in November and December, according to MSS.

Sources

• Ministry of Education, School calendar (Term 4 school holidays, 21 November to 31 December 2026)
• Meteorological Service Singapore, Climate of Singapore (humidity and sunshine, 1991 to 2020 averages)
• Housing & Development Board, Renovation guidelines: window works
• Building and Construction Authority, Windows safety