How to Soundproof a Room

For some areas of your home, doorways are the place where sound is most likely to travel from room to room, as sound vibrations can move along floors and walls and enter through the cracks around doors as well as the space underneath. To solve this problem and soundproof a room, installing vinyl, polyester or rubber door sweeps can create a sufficient barrier to keep noise transference to a minimum.

If you’re trying to figure out how to soundproof an apartment, adding a door sweep to the front door will reduce noise from the hallway or breezeway, help insulate from drafts and air leaks and help keep out pests. Adding weatherstripping on top and around the sides of the door can also make a noticeable difference.

Although one might think that ceilings and walls are the primary sound reflectors in a room, certain types of flooring can also be a great contributor to excess noise and echo, as hard surfaces such as tile, hardwood or laminate can greatly amplify sound in a room. If you want to soundproof a room, adding thick carpet is one of the most effective solutions. But if you have especially beautiful flooring that you don’t want to permanently cover up, adding stylish area rugs and mats to the space can have a modest sound-dampening effect while still allowing some of the flooring to show. It also helps to place a thick pad under an area rug for an added sound buffer and to prevent slippage.

When trying to soundproof a room, the type of window treatment used can also make a difference. Hanging thick curtains or even ones specifically designed for reducing noise won’t completely block sounds from a busy street, for example, but can soften them to the point that they seem like mild background noise. You can also purchase window inserts or storm windows, which are thick panels of acrylic or glass that dampen noise pollution and increase insulation. See our Storm Window Buying Guide for more.

If sound resonance is a serious problem in your space and your budget allows, you may want to consider adding an additional layer of soundproofing drywall over existing walls (or choosing this type of drywall if you’re building a new home or completely renovating an older one). When installed with an acoustic putty, soundproof drywall will offer the same benefits as acoustic wall panels but in a more seamless application.

Another way to make a room soundproof when building or renovating a home is to install a gypsum wallboard between wall studs and ceiling joints. This involves using special metal structures called resilient channels to hold the boards in place behind the wall or ceiling. This configuration is one of the most effective ways to soundproof a wall if you don’t like the idea of adding visible, external soundproofing to the space.

If you don’t like the look of commercial sound-reducing products and have extra space, adding large furniture, such as a bookcase filled with a combination of books and décor, can also help soundproof a room. As a general rule, thick wood works best as opposed to thin metal, such as steel or aluminum. Also, choose a design that sits tightly against the wall and floor to minimize spaces that could unintentionally function as a resonating chamber.

Acoustic panels, rolls and foam are designed for a specific purpose and work well, but they can look out of place in rooms with certain types of décor. If your sound problems aren’t too severe and you want a more stylish aesthetic, take your inspiration from medieval castles by hanging wall tapestries, rugs or other wall accents. Or you can choose a blended approach by installing commercial acoustic panels in less visible places, such as corners, and use tapestries and wall hangings in spaces where the eye naturally gravitates.

Also, hanging large wall art or groups of smaller wall art over a barren wall can not only beautify the space and add color but also slightly reduce noise. While perhaps not a primary solution, it’s a step worth considering as a part of a multi-faceted noise-reduction approach.