Minimize Noise Pollution: Tips For A Quiet Room

Noise pollution is an undesirable sound that causes discomfort to the ears and can have a detrimental impact on health and well-being. It can interfere with sleep, peace of mind, and quality of life. While noise pollution is often associated with outdoor sources such as transportation and construction, indoor noise can also be a problem. Whether it's from footsteps overhead, loud TVs in the next room, or barking dogs outside, excessive noise can be reduced using various methods. Understanding how sound travels and taking steps to block, absorb, or cancel out noise can help create a quieter and more relaxing indoor environment.

Seal gaps and use noise-absorbing materials

Sealing gaps and using noise-absorbing materials are effective ways to reduce noise pollution in a room. Here are some detailed methods to achieve this:

Seal Gaps

Sealing gaps around windows and doors is crucial to prevent sound from entering or escaping the room. Weatherstripping is a simple and inexpensive method to block sound and air from seeping through windows. You can use adhesive rubber or plastic strips to seal the borders of windows. For doors, rubber or plastic door sweeps can be installed at the bottom to block sound and provide insulation. Additionally, door seals and weatherstripping tapes can be used to fill gaps between the door and the frame.

Use Noise-Absorbing Materials

Noise-absorbing materials are designed to reduce sound reflections and reverberations within a room. Acoustic foam, made from polyurethane, is a popular choice for recording studios and home theatres. It absorbs sound waves at mid and high frequencies. Acoustic panels, available as boards or fabrics, can be hung on walls to reduce noise. These panels come in different types, some designed to stop noise from bouncing off hard surfaces, while others block noise from entering through doors or windows. Mass-loaded vinyl is another effective noise barrier for walls and ceilings, especially in apartments and shared spaces. It is a dense, flexible material that reduces low-frequency noise.

By strategically placing these noise-absorbing materials and covering a significant surface area, you can effectively reduce noise levels in your room.

Soundproof walls, floors and ceilings

Soundproofing walls, floors, and ceilings can be done in several ways, depending on your budget and the level of soundproofing you require. Here are some methods to achieve this:

Walls

• Use a resilient channel: This is a thin metal channel that attaches to the framework of the wall, isolating the drywall and weakening the soundwaves.
• Choose a noise-reducing drywall: These consist of two dense gypsum cores separated by a layer of viscoelastic polymer, perfect for reducing interior noise.
• Insulate interior walls: Fill the wall cavity with sustainable insulation to stop vibrations and act as a muffler against unwanted noise.
• Acoustic wall panels: These are effective in reducing street noise or unwanted sounds from elsewhere in the house.

Floors

• Floating floors: These are installed using special adhesive instead of nails, eliminating creaks and preventing sound transmission between levels of your house.
• Joist tape: Applying joist gasket tape to each floor joist can reduce footfall and impact noise and prevent future floor squeaks.
• Rubber underlayment: Laying this before applying the finished floor can provide greater footfall sound control.
• Carpet: Carpets, especially with thick underlayment, can help to absorb sound and reduce reverberation time compared to hard flooring.

Ceilings

• Drop ceiling: Adding a second ceiling below the first allows you to incorporate soundproofing insulation.
• Hat channels: These are attached across the joists, and you can slip in soundproofing material above, adding weight and providing better soundproofing.
• Mass-loaded vinyl (MLV): MLV is a heavy vinyl sheet that blocks noise. It can be installed into your ceiling by fastening it to the inside of your new drywall or covered with tiles.
• Acoustic insulation: This can be installed in your ceiling to weigh it down and absorb vibrations.
• Sound dampening: Use materials like the isoTRAX® Soundproofing System, which features rubber pads that absorb vibrations on either side of the ceiling.

These methods can be combined or modified to suit your specific needs and budget. It is important to note that the best time to consider soundproofing is during the planning or construction phase of a project, as it can be more challenging and expensive to soundproof an existing space.

Install noise-cancelling solutions

Reducing noise pollution in a room can be achieved through various noise-cancelling solutions. These solutions can be implemented during the construction phase or as retrofits, and they aim to block, absorb, or dampen sound waves to create a quieter indoor environment. Here are some effective approaches:

Acoustic Panels and Wall Treatments

Acoustic panels are designed to absorb sound energy and reduce echo. They can be hung on walls, ceilings, or floors to block sound from entering or escaping a room. Modern acoustic wall panels incorporate technological advancements to effectively reduce noise pollution. For maximum sound insulation, consider installing independent acoustic wall linings. These linings use a timber or metal stud that is completely isolated from the wall, providing extremely high sound insulation but reducing the room's size slightly.

Soundproofing Floors

Acoustic flooring systems, such as floating floors, are effective in reducing noise transfer between levels of a building. Floating floors are installed using special adhesives instead of nails, eliminating creaks and preventing sound transmission through floor joists. Resilient acoustic underlay products can also be added beneath the floor covering to improve sound insulation. For example, SRS Acoustilay is a well-known acoustic underlay that reduces impact noises and, in higher grades, airborne noises.

Noise-Friendly Flooring

The type of flooring used can significantly impact noise levels. Carpeting is a straightforward way to reduce noise pollution, as it absorbs sound and reduces echo. However, for an even better result, consider using noise-friendly flooring like vinyl. Vinyl flooring has sound-absorbing qualities, making it a resourceful alternative to carpeting.

Sound-Friendly Furniture

Furniture can also play a role in reducing noise pollution. Soft furnishings, such as rugs, carpets, and wall hangings, can help reduce echo and absorb sound. Additionally, large pieces of furniture, such as bookshelves, placed against shared walls can act as sound barriers and absorb sound waves, creating a quieter indoor environment.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones

While not a room-specific solution, noise-cancelling headphones are effective in reducing noise pollution for individuals. They filter out unwanted noise before it reaches the ears, making them especially useful for industrial and construction workers exposed to high noise levels.

These noise-cancelling solutions provide various options for reducing noise pollution within a room. Combining these strategies can create an even more effective noise-reducing environment, improving health, wellbeing, and quality of life for those affected by unwanted noise.

Use soft furnishings and textiles

Soft furnishings and textiles are a great way to reduce noise pollution in a room. Sound is best absorbed by soft, plush surfaces, so thick blankets, pillows, rugs, and carpets are all effective sound absorbers.

Rugs and carpets are a stylish and easy way to implement sound absorption in a room. They are a flexible solution, as they can be placed and relocated as needed. Layering rugs is also a great interior design trend that works well for sound absorption. Large, plush area rugs can be placed around a room to help decrease echo and reverberation.

Thick blankets and pillows can also be placed around a room to absorb excess noise. The thicker the material, the better. Blankets and pillows can be easily added to a room, and they can be moved around to suit your needs.

Floor-to-ceiling curtains and woven wall hangings are another way to add soft furnishings to your space while reducing noise. Thick, soft fabrics on your walls will absorb and dampen sound. Acoustic curtains are specifically designed to absorb sound within a room and prevent outside noise from entering. They are made with thick fabric, typically velour, and they can be customised to fit your window size and colour preferences.

Upholstered seating with plush cushions and pillows can also add comfort and improve the acoustics in your room. Choose soft fabrics like boucle, chenille, or linen for the best sound absorption.

Move furniture against walls

Moving furniture against walls is a great way to reduce noise pollution in a room. This is because objects, particularly furniture, help to block sound. When moving furniture against walls, it is best to use the heaviest furniture possible, preferably with upholstery. Wardrobes, dressers, and armoires are good examples of furniture that can be used for this purpose. If there is no room for additional furniture, thick blankets and plush throw pillows can be used as substitutes.

To further enhance the sound-blocking effect, consider placing the furniture at the entry and reflection points of the sound. The entry point is where the sound enters the room, such as a window, door, or shared wall. The reflection point is where the sound reflects back at the same angle it came in. By placing furniture at these points, you can effectively reduce the amount of sound entering and bouncing around the room.

Additionally, when arranging furniture against walls, try to fill up empty spaces as much as possible. Empty spaces can amplify sound, causing it to bounce around more. By adding furniture and creating a cozier space, you can help to absorb sounds and reduce noise pollution in the room.

It is also important to note that the type of furniture and materials used can make a difference. Soft and thick fabrics, such as draperies made from heavy materials like velvet or wool, can aid in sound absorption. Similarly, rugs and carpets with sound-absorbing padding can help reduce noise reflections and create a quieter environment.

Frequently asked questions