“Acoustics” covers two different problems that are often confused. One is how sound behaves inside a room: echo, a harsh, hollow feel. The other is sound traveling between rooms or from outside: traffic, neighbors, a TV through the wall. The solutions are different.
Part 1: Reduce echo inside a room
Hard surfaces like bare floors, large windows, plaster walls and minimalist furniture reflect sound. The fix is to add soft, absorbent and irregular surfaces.
- Rugs: a large rug with a pad under it makes the most difference in rooms with hard floors.
- Curtains: heavy, lined curtains absorb sound and also help insulate windows.
- Upholstered furniture: fabric sofas and chairs absorb far more than leather or wood.
- Bookshelves: filled shelves break up and absorb reflections. See how to build a simple bookshelf.
- Wall hangings and acoustic panels: fabric-wrapped panels, felt panels or even large canvas art work well on bare walls, especially at the first reflection points around a TV or desk.
- Plants add a little absorption and visual softness.
In a home office, these measures make video calls sound clearer. In open-plan spaces, they make conversation easier.
Part 2: Block noise between spaces
Soft materials do little to stop noise passing through a wall. Blocking sound requires different strategies:
- Seal air gaps: sound travels through any opening. Install door sweeps and weatherstripping, seal around outlets and pipes, and caulk gaps around trim.
- Solid-core doors block far more sound than hollow-core ones.
- Add mass: a second layer of drywall, ideally with a damping compound between the layers, reduces transmission through walls and ceilings.
- Decouple: resilient channels or sound isolation clips separate drywall from the framing so vibrations are not transmitted. This is usually done during renovations.
- Insulate walls: mineral wool in interior walls helps reduce airborne noise. See how insulation types compare.
- Windows: laminated glass or secondary glazing (an extra window inside) reduces street noise.
Footsteps and floors
Impact noise from upstairs travels through the structure. Thick rugs with dense pads help, as do underlayments installed under new floors. Flooring options are compared in the different types of flooring.
Quick wins
Move noisy appliances away from shared walls, put rubber pads under washing machines and speakers, and position the bed or desk on a wall that is not shared with a noisy room. A quieter room is also a more relaxing one, as explained in how to create a cozy bedroom.
