For many, the home is a special place to relax. Unfortunately, in some instances, the outside world has a way of finding you. Loud sounds from angry honking drivers, nearby construction sites, or even noises from your child’s amateur rock band disturb the peace you get from your home. Moreover, a study showed that about 54% of the population is affected by noise pollution above the recommended levels. This only makes soundproofing your home an excellent option to wade off unwanted loud noises. So, how can you achieve this? Here are a few ways to consider.
Soundproofing your home – Insulate your walls
Insulating your home with mass-loaded vinyl has proven to be a more effective way of soundproofing your home. Although this is more effective than drywall, it requires layering the inside of your walls and ceiling. You might also want to consider acoustic panels to absorb the echoes instead of blocking noise. For instance, if you have your kid learning to blow the trumpet in her room, an acoustic panel will ensure sound is kept in her room. Regardless of the type of insulation you select, you don’t need to worry about its effect on your home’s overall appearance as there are various colours and styles to suit your home’s interior style and décor.
Weatherproof your door
If you can hear conversations going on in other rooms while you rest on your sofa in the living room, it may be due to gaps in your door. Sounds travel on air, and any gap in your front door will allow sound to pass through. At this point, it is vital to search for these leaks and seal them for quieter chatter. You can do this by adding a door sweep to muffle sounds coming from large spaces under your doors effectively. Commercial-grade sweeps feature thick rubber strips to seal the entrance. Sweeps aren’t only helpful in keeping out sound but can prevent specks of dust and bugs from entering your indoors. You might also want to consider sealing the edges and the top of your doors if it doesn’t close well against the door jambs, this is great for soundproofing your home.
soundproofing your home – Check your windows
Your windows aren’t designed to block external sounds effectively. For this reason, it can be helpful to install noise-reduction curtains to improve its sound insulation capacity. The thick curtains can muffle sound and light and be beneficial if you are a light sleeper. You can likewise benefit from installing secondary glazing inside your existing windows to reduce more external sounds. Your primary windows will remain untouched while the secondary glazing is fitted to mirror its design.
Consider rearranging your furniture
How you arrange your furniture can determine the amount of noise from the neighbours entering your space. Rearrange your furniture by placing the more significant pieces against shared walls. Upholstered furniture is best for stifling sound since the plush fabrics from your chairs and sofa, such as microfiber, suede, or chenille, can absorb the excess noise. Throwing in a few pillows to your sofa and chair can likewise improve your soundproof buffer even more.
Install a bookcase
When your bookcase is filled with books, it creates mass to absorb the extraneous sounds. It is helpful to install bookcases from your floors to the ceiling to absorb unwanted sounds effectively and improve your home aesthetics. If you have a thin wall, you can consider adding a built-in faux shelf to muffle noise from next door. This is to increase partition mass since massive materials and objects are vibration-resistant and reduce sound transmission. Ensuring your built-in faux edges fit your walls, ceiling, and floors is essential to leave no air gaps for sound trapping.
Fix cracks and holes in your walls
Even the smallest of cracks can allow outside sound into your home. It is vital to inspect your walls and focus on your ventilation grates, window frames, and electrical sockets. These are common areas for cracks and holes in your home. Immediately fix any hole or crack you notice using a caulker. While this can be a DIY project, it is best to get a professional to help with dealing with substantial cracks and holes in your walls.
soundproofing your home – Decorate with rugs
Your hardwood floors can transform your home into a loud echo chamber by reverberating sounds off its hard surfaces. You can place rugs in all your rooms to counter this. However, it is best to select thick carpets which absorb sound better than thin rugs. If you can’t swap your current carpet for a thicker rug with many fibres to trap sound, you can use thick pads by placing them underneath your rugs. This is also great for boosting insulation.
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