With all the hustle and bustle in the outside world, soundproofing is a great way to ensure peace and quiet in your home. It helps to dampen any kind of noise coming from outside, be it traffic, airplanes, nearby establishments playing loud music, or any other external ruckus. Soundproofing is also instrumental in keeping your sanity intact when you’re in parts of the home where utter silence is a requirement (e.g., your bedroom, the baby’s quarters, a study area).
If you wish to soundproof your entire home or sections of it, here are some great ideas.
SEAL OUT SOUND LEAKS
Depending on the material, some walls and doors might already have soundproofing qualities – it’s just that they might have tiny crevices and openings that allow sound to leak through. If this is the case, you can attach weather stripping or a door sweep to the bottom of doors and plug up any cracks in the wall with sealant.
USE CURTAINS AND PANELS
Without getting into the hard science behind it, curtains and other thick, fabric-like materials such as tapestries and foam absorb sound and prevent it from bouncing around and getting amplified. Add heavy drapes or tapestries along the height of your walls. For a sleek look, you can mount noise-dampening panels such as cork, foam, or wooden acoustic panels that give off a more stylish and elegant vibe. For windows, inserts can be mounted on existing panes to significantly reduce noise.
USE CARPETS
While hard flooring has become one of the popular design trends in recent years, it cannot contain sound and, in fact, does the exact opposite. One simple fix to dampen noise is to install carpeting or place a thick area rug on the floor. The thicker the carpet, the better the sound insulation. For soundproofing areas with heavy equipment, such as a home gym, rubber mats can be used instead.
SOUNDPROOF WITH FURNITURE
Large pieces of furniture can actually soak up sound. Particularly impressive in the soundproofing department are storage solutions like shelves and bookcases. Place an armoire or a tall bookshelf against the wall to dampen the noise in a room. Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books work best as they provide more material for absorbing sound.
INSULATE THE WALLS
Because noise mostly travels through walls, especially when the walls are paper-thin, the best way to soundproof a room is to add extra insulation to your walls. One way is by removing the existing drywall and adding a layer of insulation specifically designed for soundproofing before returning the drywall. This method, however, takes up more steps. An easier alternative is to cover the existing walls with another layer of soundproofing drywall, and then secure it with a special caulk that helps to dampen sound.
Are you on the hunt for a luxury home in Boston, Massachusetts with features such as smart technology or built-in soundproofing? Let me, Seydyss Barreto, help you. My team and I will provide you with tailored services to ensure that your real estate journey is as smooth as can be. For more home remodeling ideas and neighborhood guides and tips, check out our blog. Get in touch with me today at 978.590.8918 or send me an email.