When enjoying a relaxing day at home, the last thing you want is for your peace and quiet to be disrupted by noise. If you live near a busy street or have loud neighbors, you’ve likely become accustomed to dealing with higher levels of noise. However, that doesn’t mean you have to live with unwelcome and distracting sounds.
Whether your goal is to prevent outside noises from coming in, or to prevent your music from disturbing your neighbors, the following tips can help you find ways to soundproof your room.
Doors
Sound travels through the gaps around the edges of your door. To prevent noise leakage, you can install weather stripping and caulk up any cracks around the door frame. For the gap along the bottom edge of the door, use a draft stopper or door sweep.
You can use a door curtain to further limit the amount of sound that can travel past the door. These measures have the added benefit of increasing your room’s energy efficiency as well!
For an even higher level of soundproofing, hang sound reduction mats or acoustic foam panels on your door. You can even purchase a specially-made soundproof door, such as the ones in professional recording studios, and have it professionally installed.
Windows
Along with doors, most noise travels between the outside and your home via the windows. To reduce the levels of noise through the windows, make sure your windows are properly sealed and fitted to the wall. Thicker, heavier curtains such as blackout drapes will block the most sound.
Replacing single pane windows with double pane windows will not only prevent sound leakage, but are also sturdier and keep your home more insulated. Install window inserts for the highest level of soundproofing that still allows you to see out your windows. Window inserts are thick pieces of glass layered with plastic that fit into the window sill in front of your windows.
Floors
In general, the thicker your rug pad or carpet, the better it will soundproof your floor. There are floor coverings to suit every taste and budget, from thick commercial rubber mats to more elegant area rugs. Use rug liners and carpet padding for extra sound protection.
If you do not want to cover your hardwood floors, a soundproof underlayment can be installed below the boards.
Ceiling
Adding mass to your ceiling will make it better at preventing sound from traveling between floors. You can thicken your ceiling by adding additional drywall or a drop ceiling. For an easier solution, hang ceiling clouds from your existing ceiling. Ceiling clouds are available in an endless variety of shapes, colors, and textures, and are designed to dampen ambient sound.
Walls
Putting furniture, such as shelves and bookcases, against the walls will help absorb sound. To soundproof your room the way professional recording studios and practice rooms do, you should use acoustic foam.
Acoustic foam dissipates the energy from sound waves, resulting in excellent sound control. It comes in many textures and colors, all of which are equally effective. Thicker, again, is better. An easy and more affordable option would be using stick-on vinyl tiles.
Seal up Cracks
Check around doors, windows, and baseboards for any cracks in the frames or drywall. Use soundproof caulking to easily seal them up yourself. Replace broken windows and make sure doors and windows are able to create a proper seal when they’re closed.
Soften Hard Surfaces
Since sound waves bounce off of hard surfaces, any noise can be amplified in a room with smooth, exposed surfaces. Hanging tapestries on the walls and ceilings and covering tile floors with rugs are simple ways to reduce the levels of noise in your room.
Let Your Home Furnishings Do Double Duty
Though not as effective as professional-quality acoustic panels, furniture and decorative items such as curtains and rugs can help to control noise. Albarado’s Fine Furnishings carries an array of quality, unique home furnishings to add to the comfort and style of your home. Contact us or come in today to see why we are rated as the best home furniture store in Lafayette, LA.