6 Easy, Low-Effort Tricks To Soundproof Your Home

Your home - a place where you can unwind and concentrate in - not! If you have loud neighbours, noisy zooming cars or annoying background sounds disturbing the peace, we feel you.

Well, it can't be helped if you're living beside a highway, or if the family next door refuses to pipe down; But you can block those unwanted noises out of your home, with the right tweaks! Go one step ahead - here are 6 interior-designer approved tricks to reduce sounds inside (and outside) your home.

1. Carpeting

On top of bringing instant cosiness and warmth, carpeting can also be used to absorb noise! Implement it in noise-prone areas such as an entertainment or living room to draw in surrounding sounds and keep it from reverberating to other areas.

Interior Designer: Nice Style Refurbishment

Cut-pile carpeting is supposedly better for absorbing sound than loop-pile carpets.

2. Curtains

Heavy, pleated curtains in thick materials help to deflect mild outside noises and reduce echoes. Velvet, suede, wool insulation or acoustic curtains are preferable material options, especially when extended to floor length.

Some soundproof curtains also have a vinyl layer which is quite effective, but might place heavy strain on your railings; Make sure check your curtain railings' weight limit before committing to a purchase!

3. Wallpaper

Thin or hollow walls do very little to block transient sounds from the outside, causing noise to spread into your home in all directions. One simple DIY method for containing mild to moderate noise pollution is by applying special soundproof wallpaper or liners.

Another quick sound proofing fix? Using cork as a decorative wall treatment.

4. Furniture

Arrange your furniture in a way that it fills up empty spaces and act as a breaking barrier that absorbs and prevents sound waves from spreading to other areas.

Large bookcases (filled with books), heavy upholstered furniture and even decorative soundproofed wall panels can help to soften the noises in your home.

5. Sealing Up Cracks

Sound moves where it can and thus cracks and openings serve as gateways for noise. Check for chinks in your walls, floor and ceiling, then apply noise-proof sealant to fill it. This is a rather effective and affordable way to reduce the entry and exit of minor sounds. What’s more, it’s DIY-friendly!

6. Renovation Works

Still too noisy? If the sound levels in your home are more severe than expected, it might be time to think about getting some construction work done, stat.

Here’s are some renovation tweaks to help with soundproofing:

• Install acoustic materials to your windows (or replace them with dual-glass pane windows!)
• Fit soundproof tiles in certain rooms
• Replace your doors to ones made of heavy materials like solid wood or steel.
• Add insulation to your roof, flooring and the inside of your walls.

If you do indeed need renovation or minor reconstruction to help reduce noises from messing up your home's mojo, it’s time to call in the professionals. We can help - simply drop us a quote request, and we will match you up with 5 interior professionals, based on your budget and style, for free.

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