Are you struggling with noise or sound reduction all the time? Cannot tolerate more sound in your room! Is there more unwanted noise outside your room?
Here, I will say that you are now the right place to collect your required information. Just keep reading to remove noise from your life.
You are also searching on,
a. How to soundproof a room (reduce noise) from outside noisy neighbours for private living. You are also thinking that is it possible to do it scientifically?
b. How to soundproof a personal bedroom from outside noise?
As the research of science, soundproofing experts say that noise-proofing a room is possible.
Don’t worry, In the last part of this post, I will also tell you about a soundproofing project with some important notes that will help you to set up your room more silently in a quick way.
But before that, I want to introduce you to some terms. In the past, I didn’t believe that it was possible to soundproof any living space.
My question was that is the soundproof really working? So I started to study and saw the practical system.
Note: Noise controlling elements should be implemented in residential places carefully. Otherwise, you may fail to gain noise reduction. (source)
Finally, I am able to find effective ways (soundproofing techniques) to noise-proof any area. At first, I thought that the setup of this system was complicated.
But after finding a way, now I want to say that this system is easy to set up with less time.
Here, I will tell you the full process step by step.
You should concentrate on this full process. By following all these steps, you also can set up this system for proper soundproofing of your private room or your required place.
Suppose, you are staying in your room and don’t want to hear people’s shouts and industry sounds that come from outside of your living room. It is also an excessive noise.
As a theory of science, noise can be removed with the help of sound-absorbing material. It is possible to insulate any room area by soundproofing insulation.
You should also focus on thermal insulation too. For better knowledge, you should learn the difference between soundproof and sound-absorbing.
If you want to set up light fixtures, there will be no problem in this area. You should also be concerned about NRC (noise reduction coefficient) and STC (sound transmission class) rated accessories before implementation.
If you want to know how to set up soundproof accessories, you should learn all the notes (soundproofing ideas) that I will give you. Now let’s start to find the way.
Why We didn’t Like All Sounds
You know that there are multiple waves in the world. Only, we can hear some limited range of sound among all existing sounds. Some frequencies are useful to our brain.
On the other hand, some unwanted sounds are not useful to our health. Such as, waves of loud noises of bass music are not good for us.
Here, these bad (annoying) sounds are called noises. To remove structure-borne noises (impact sounds) and airborne noises (ambient sounds) you should take some steps that are given below.
How to Soundproof a Living Room
Before starting the work, at first, you need to know the location where you should work. You also need to know the problems that you need to solve.
Well, if you don’t know where you should work, then you cannot complete any task. So to reduce noise levels from inside your room, you should know the location point where you need to work.
Now, you may have a question: what are the location points that can be found easily for starting soundproof settings?
The answer is easy.
Noise can easily come through some location points that you already know. However, I am telling you about these location points.
A sound source, entry point, and reflection are the main location points where you should focus first.
To silence your room better, you should know the details about these points.
Point One: Sound Source
All sounds that we cannot hear for a limited range. Because there is a fixed sound range that is 20 to 20000 Hz. We can hear only the sound that is in the range of 20 to 20000 Hz. According to our hearing sound range, there are two types of noise (sound) sources. They are manmade and natural.
Examples of some man-made noise sources are street noise, road vehicles, traffic noise, air vehicles, industry, shouting, loud parties, soundboard, air conditioners, crying, etc. On the other hand, examples of some natural sound sources are animals, wind, air, sea sound, volcano, storm, natural yard noise, etc. Here, you need to identify the source that comes into your room so that you can remove that sound level easily.
Point Two: Sound Entry Point
Though there is a door and window in your house, some noise may come to your house without a window or door. There are some ways by which door and window noise can come to your room. Yes, only the entry points are the ways that help the noise to enter a room.
Now you may have a question: what are the entry points that are easily found?
There are many entry points that you should find to stop the movement of sound in the room. Door holes, door gaps, window holes, window gaps, ceiling holes, apartment through gaps, etc. are the main noise entry points.
Besides, some other entry points may be available according to your home condition. For airborne sound isolation, it is important to fill all these gaps in a house.
Point Three: Sound Reflection
Before knowing noise reflection, at first, you should know the sound reflection. According to science, a sound wave changes its direction for a logical cause. This changing direction of an indoor sound is called sound reflection.
There is an internal sound that exists in a room. It may be created by shouting or falling onto the floor. When any sound reflects inside the room, then it grows louder and makes more noise.
If you can identify the sound reflection, then you can remove it by following some steps I will tell below. For this, you will need very less investment.
Just keep reading on!
You should read carefully above all three points because these points are required to soundproof a room. If you have a big room or small room, there is no need to worry.
Below are suggestions that you will need to get a better solution even if your room is small or big.
By setting hanging acoustical clouds, acoustical issues can be reduced. (source)
So ceiling clouds (panels) can also have a positive impact on noise absorption. To remove noise pollution from your room, you should also remove the echo (sound reflection) that is created inside your room.
At first, to start the installation process, you should mark some portions and now I am also telling you how to set up these portions step by step. Let’s start.
1. Soundproof the Door
We all know that there is a way where the maximum sound wave can easily pass. You should stop this noise transfer as early as possible.
Yes, I think you got it. The big way of noise entry is the interior and exterior doors of a room.
Solid doors and solid hollow core doors are also the main sound passing source when there is no window in a room.
Here, I want to tell you that at first, you should try to stop the noise which comes from outside of the room. So if you can soundproof apartment doors, maximum sounds cannot come inside the room.
The first solution is that you should replace internal doors with soundproof doors. You can get this type of door easily in any marketplace.
So there is also a second solution for those of you who do it easily. At this moment, you are thinking that does the second solution work?
Yes, I want to tell you that the second solution works because the setup for the second solution is scientific. So for knowing the second solution, you should do the below tasks.
- Task one is that you should fill cracks or gaps of the door with acoustical caulk sealant or green glue. Unused Doors may have many cracks that should be filled.
- Task two is that you should set up the weather stripping (foam tapes/rubber gaskets/airtight seals/acoustic door seal kits) according to the given method
- Task three is that you should set up blackout and acoustic blankets or door curtains if it is needed. Besides, you can also use these soundproof curtains as decorative fabric in the window.
- Task four is that you should set up a rubber-type door sweep with a given method.
All these four tasks are so easy that you can easily install them.
If you don’t know the detailed process step by step, then read this article about how to soundproof a door with guides.
2. Soundproof the window
Now, you will agree with me about the second area where noise can enter your room. Yes, you are thinking right. The window is the second source of noise entrance into the room.
You need to take action about window setting tasks by applying window plugs or inserts.
For window setting tasks, you should find out all cracks and gaps around the door window panes or paned windows.
So concentrate on filling those holes as soon as possible. The noise that is created in the room, reflects in the window glasses and flat surfaces of building materials of the wall construction and turns to echo.
Here, you should know that window glass can absorb only 5% sound and reflects 95% sound. So after creating this echo, it is needed to block this echo.
For removing echo, use soundproof window curtains for bedroom windows. These sound-reducing heavy curtains can absorb inside sound and thus you can get better results.
You can collect noise-reducing curtains from the marketplace easily. But choose with the right curtain. You can also install triple-glazed windows if necessary.
Because this type of window can reduce noise. Other solutions that you may apply without the impact of the loss of space. Block the window by bookshelves, if you wish.
If you don’t know more about noise-proof window systems, then read the article about soundproof windows with guidelines.
Setup of Soundproof Window Curtain
When there is an internal sound reflection in the room, a soundproof window curtain absorbs this sound automatically. The main job of this curtain is to absorb noise but not to stop.
This type of curtain also helps to reduce echo. So my suggestion is that you should use this type of curtain in the window from bottom to top.
There are two types of window curtains. Type one is that you can manage that curtain horizontally. Type two is that you can close and open that curtain from top to bottom.
You can also remove this soundproof curtain when you want. So set your mind which one do you choose? More thickness of the curtain, the more the ability to absorb noise.
Before collection, you should check the best soundproofing curtains with reviews.
3. Soundproof the Floor
The floor can be a great reflection of sound. When anyone creates sound inside the room, it reflects the hard floor and goes back around the room wall.
On soft surfaces, noise can’t reflect. On the wall surface, the reflected sound turns into more noise. To stop the reflection on the hardwood floor, you should set up a special MLV or floor carpet that can absorb room sound.
Because of absorption, it can not reflect in the floor carpet. Use at least a rough surface carpet for more noise absorption.
So floor soundproofing is important to remove noise from your private room so that the specific noise can’t come from the downstairs neighbors and outdoors.
According to the friction coefficient, the rough floor carpet absorbs 60% sound. So using a rough carpet, you can get a good result to decrease noise.
There is more sound absorption if the thickness of the carpet is high. This type of carpet is useful if you set it near the door area.
Because in the door area there is generated more sound that comes from outside. So after setting this carpet in the door area, it absorbs more noise and decreases more noise.
Thus, you can minimize sound reflection by installing floor carpet. If you laminate this carpet on the floor, then you can remove maximum noise.
Keep in mind that the carpet that you will collect should have the ability to absorb moisture and vapor too.
So you should read the best soundproof and acoustic underlayment with the guide if you want to get it from the marketplace. Otherwise, you can use rubber mats in that condition. For getting the total guideline, read the article about soundproofing a floor step by step.
4. Setup Soundproofing Walls from Noisy Neighbours
You can hear your neighbors sound through your wall. If you are thinking about this type of question: how to reduce noise through walls? then the answer is that there are ways to remove noise from walls.
To know the answer, you should continue reading…
Two types of foam are available in the marketplace. One is acoustic grade foams (foam tiles) and the other is conventional foam.
Here, I am telling you about acoustic foam (open cell and closed cell foam) that is important for you to silence your room better. Soundproof curtain is thin compared to soundproof acoustic foam.
This foam is required when there is required to absorb heavy sound frequencies. It is also used in the drop ceiling too.
In simple words, I want to tell you that to prevent loud sound, this type of foam is required. According to the category, there are different types of acoustic foams.
Such as grid acoustic foam, pyramid acoustic foam, flat acoustic foam, and egg crate acoustic foam. They are categorized according to sound-absorbing frequency.
Normally, bass trap foam is used in the corner of the ceiling. This type of foam is used in low-frequency sound waves.
There is no rule to use this type of foam and you can use it according to your choice. For decoration in your room, you can collect colorful acoustic foam sets.
To know more you should read this guide about whether soundproof foam really works or not?
Didn’t know where to set up acoustic foam?
According to the rules of sound absorption, you should place the acoustic foams to the source of frequency noise.
If you have scientific knowledge, then you agree with me that the sound reflection rules follow the same rules of the reflection of light waves.
For example, suppose a baby suddenly shouts into your room. Then this sound immediately reflects the internal room wall and back the sound into the room and make the sound louder.
So to stop this sound reflection at first, you should set up sound-deadening materials to the internal room wall. You can also use acoustic wall art and acoustic tile if necessary.
Thus finding a sound source, you need to set up acoustic material as your required condition. Besides, you should block the wall cavity of interior and exterior walls for proper results.
The best soundproofing elements are required for the walls. So you should know how to make soundproof walls for getting acoustic wall solutions.
You can add the extra layers of drywall or acoustic grade standard plasterboard for creating large mass wall layers in the room wall. It will be better if you use ⅝ inch drywall than ½ inch drywall.
You can add additional plasterboard layers if required. You can also create fake walls, double walls, or party walls by using soundproof drywall if needed.
You can add a baseboard that should touch the floor. After doing all these things, you can also create soundproof stud walls too and increase the level of soundproofing.
5. Soundproof a Ceiling
If ceiling assemblies are not soundproof, the noise may come from upstairs loud neighbors. So it is important to do some work for soundproofing the ceiling section.
After doing that you don’t need to make noise complaints to your obnoxious neighbors.
You know that the ceiling part is the major issue to enter outdoor noises in your room.
For getting extra facility you can add resilient channels (acoustic hangers) in the ceiling part. This channel is designed according to scientific theory. If you don’t know about it, then you should read the resilient channel for knowing more.
However, I think you should concentrate on implementing soundproof accessories in the ceiling part. You can implement acoustic elements in the uneven ceiling joists.
For doing this you need to prepare some tasks and plan. So my suggestion is that you should read the article about the soundproof ceilings for knowing everything.
6. Setup of Soundproof Alternative (White Noise)
In the case of temporary noise, you can decide to implement a temporary solution. This will save your budget if you make a temporary decision like this. Now, the question in your mind is what is temporary noise. So here, I am answering for you.
There are many kinds of temporary noises. Such as construction noise, noise (humming sound) of neighbors, etc. The solution to this temporary noise is to use background sound with the white noise machine.
Using of Background Sound
Using background sound is a smart and easy way to mask all harmful sounds for a certain time. For example, when you go to a waterfall, then you feel better.
The sound of a waterfall makes you happy. So by using white noise, you can get well in existing temporary noise.
White noise is a specific sound wave and our brain easily catches that white noise and we feel better when we hear it. White noise has various sound waves.
The character of white noise is to mask all external noises and create a uniform wave that helps you to concentrate on any task and sleep better. The best examples of white noise are the sound of waterfalls and the sound of the sea.
They are also called natural sounds. Besides, white noise is not available for all areas. For using white noise anytime, you should collect a white noise machine. This device is also effective for noisy neighbors.
White noise machines can produce different sound waves that help us by masking all sound pollution. You don’t think that a white noise machine is an instrumental sound mp3 machine.
Here, I will tell you that this special machine is not a sound-producing mp3 machine. There is a fan system that produces white frequency waves. You can set that sound wave as your requirement.
Using background noise like a white noise machine, you can make a temporary solution to make a house silent. Now, in the last part of this article, I also want to tell you more things.
So, just continue reading. If you want to get a high noise-proof area, then you can set up soundproofing panels and sound booths.
7. Setup of Acoustic Panels
You can set up soundproof panels to the side of the noise source. It would be better if you would set it on the wall.
Also, you should need professional workers to set up the acoustic panel because you will need clips, a hammer, a cutter, etc. to add the acoustic panel to the wall.
The acoustic panel is large. It is also a fixed panel. But it is a lightweight version with different colors. So you can decorate your internal room by using this acoustic insulation.
So take measurements before adding this panel to the wall. Using this panel is also the best way to make a house silent.
I just said that you should use this type of panel if you have a high budget. Otherwise, you can use acoustic foam as wall hangings that I mentioned above.
8. Setup Other Accessories for the Help of Soundproofing
If you have done above all requirements, then you can think that you have done almost maximum tasks to make a room silent.
There is also unfinished work that you should do. Yes, now I am talking about some accessories that are familiar to you.
You need to set up these accessories in a proper way. Just think that when your room is empty, then the created sound will reflect the internal solid (brick) walls of a room.
For reflection, it creates a louder sound. If you want to minimize it, then you should place soundproofing or absorptive materials in front of the room wall.
You can place soft and rough things like upholstered furniture, sofa, bookshelves, couches, etc. near the room wall. As a result, room sound cannot reflect the internal wall at that time because of soft and rough things that you have placed to absorb noise.
This will be better if you will put soft and rough accessories near the door area. Because in the door area there is more sound.
After putting your selected home accessories near the door area, the door sound will be absorbed in a continuous process. Of course, you will set it all as your own choice. Thus, you can minimize internal room sound.
As a decorative view, you will set all soft accessories including carpet. One thing that you should know, is your bathroom soundproof?
Don’t forget to minimize it that may harm you and all. There are many activities in the bathroom. For this reason, there is a huge noise in the bathroom.
So I am suggesting that you should soundproof a bathroom for minimizing noise. If you don’t know the full process, then please read the guideline about easily avoiding bathroom noise.
9. Setup Sound booth
Here, I am telling you another setup of a higher budget if you have no problem. After finding a huge noise source, you can set up this sound booth there.
It blocks noise transmission to bounce in another area. It is available in different sizes in the marketplace. According to size, the budget range also varies.
You should choose what size of sound booth that you need. If you are living in a rental house or apartment building (apartment complex), you can think about spending less on setting up the acoustic instrument in the apartment layout.
On the other hand, if you are living in your permanent house, then you will think of a permanent solution to soundproof your house.
So I can say that house owners have better facilities than apartment dwellers for setting up structural accessories.
My Overall Viewpoint about Soundproof a Room
To soundproof a room is not a challenging way that most people think of. If you concentrate on all the points that I explained, then you will be able to make your room silent.
Most of the given tips are useful to all low-budget people like you. So start immediate action to keep your home soundless.
If you have a high budget, then set up a vacuum system around your house. An Airtight soundproofing apartment is not good all the time.
Sometimes outside fresh air is required in the room. This is the reason why you should focus on the acoustic element to make a room silent as required.
According to science, sound cannot pass through the vacuum. I don’t suggest this vacuum system for normal people.
It’s better to follow all those tips for noise-proofing your area. Finally, I want to say that you should plan the cost of soundproofing a room before starting it. You should also keep full concentration when starting the implementation of acoustic elements.
Before starting implementation, please collect all accessories you will need. Before collecting anything, please check customers’ reviews. Also, check the return policy of any collection.
FAQ: Soundproofing a Room
Does Soundproofing Really Work for Noisy Neighbours?
If you can collect acoustic accessories and install them in problematic sources, you can remove noise from home. But you should follow the guidelines before installing these acoustic elements. Otherwise, you won’t be able to reduce sound from a room.
How can I Make My Private Bedroom Soundproof?
You need to implement acoustic elements to the main noise entry sources such as door, window, ceiling, wall, and floor. After implementing these soundproof accessories, then you can make your room more soundless.
What Household Items Can I Use to Soundproof a Private Room?
Acoustic curtain, carpet, MLV, underlayment, resilient channel, drywall, door sweep, acoustic sealant, weatherstripping, soundproof blanket, acoustic foam, etc can be used in the room for making that place more silent.