Four Easy Ways to Soundproof a Room
Your home is a peaceful and quiet respite from the chaotic world outside. One of the most significant contributors to this chaos is noise. The noise is an accumulation from all the vehicles, construction, and people passing by. Noise-canceling headphones work well to block out noisy intrusions, but most of us are not fans of wearing them all day.
To silence the commotion, you may consider soundproofing your room. This will effectively dampen the sounds of airplanes flying overhead, police sirens, and even honking horns.
Let’s delve into advanced methods of soundproofing a room.
1. Door Weather Stripping
Inside doors usually do not have weather stripping; however, adding it around the doorway will muffle most sounds. Instead, look for peel-and-stick rubber foam weather stripping. This is an excellent product that is easy to apply. It has a tight seal and is simple to install.
Felt is another type of weather stripping that can block out sounds. It is available in rolls. Again, you may opt for with or without adhesive backing.
Install an under-door draft stopper or door sweep at the bottom of your door to plug the gap between the floor and door.
2. Rugs
Sound bounces off walls and even hard floors. So if you have a room with flooring made from laminate, wood, or tile, you can expect to hear a lot of noise. The best solution to counter the noise is laying an area rug. Whether it’s a Persian rug, area carpeting, or a simple floor runner, you’d be surprised by how much sound it can absorb.
When selecting rugs, opt for thick pile rugs as they will buffer more sound. Also, do not forget to get thick padding to place under the carpet. This will offer additional soundproofing.
3. Floor-to-Ceiling Bookcases
As odd as the idea sounds, bookcases work wonders when it comes to keeping the room quiet. Walk into a library, and you will be surprised by how quiet it is there! That’s because bookshelves stacked with books have mass. This mass is an effective barrier against sound.
To apply this solution to your room, opt for floor-to-ceiling bookcases. Stack your favorite novels, journals, encyclopedias, magazines, and other reading favorites. Depending on the size of the room, you may choose either one or two walls to erect the bookcases. In addition, the material of the bookcase will block some sound. For instance, if you select hardwood, you can expect a quieter room compared to plastic or metal shelves.
4. Wall Hangings
Is your room covered with plaster, tile, or drywall? If so, you can expect it to bounce and amplify sounds. Therefore, it makes sense to install soft surfaces that will absorb external noise. Wall hangings are an excellent option. You have many options when it comes to wall hangings. These are:
- Tapestries
- Paintings
- Thick blankets
- Afghan
- Quilts
- Special table runner, etc.
Wall hangings absorb much of the sounds bouncing off hard surfaces. Keep in mind, the thicker the wall hanging, the better the sound absorption.
Are you tired of hearing street noise inside your home? Consider the different ways to soundproof a room mentioned in this blog.
