It could be the usual buzz of the traffic outside the windows, the squealing garbage trucks, and also the blaring car stereos, the city noises can get draining. In case you feel all this noise is making you feel disturbed, you aren’t alone. For several apartment dwellers, the unwanted and disturbing noise is considered a fact of life. It seems to be unavoidable.
However, irrespective of where you stay and the kind of space you occupy, there are a few ways to soundproof. And this might make you think about shelling ample money and several renovations. But the truth is, you don’t need to spend your savings or get your house reconstructed. The process of soundproofing doesn’t have to get costly or complex. You can deploy the easy methods which will make a difference.
1. Weatherproof the front door
In case you hear about all the conversation spoken to the building hallways from your comfortable space, there are scopes that you have huge air gaps close to the front door. It’s essential to seal these leaks which will bring down the chatter. Sound travels through air and any gap will make the sound travel through it. In case you have a huge gap beneath the apartment door, you can get a door sweep. Opt-in for a commercial-grade sweep from a thick rubber strip that gets sealed against the threshold. It enables to keep the drafts, bugs and dust out, and the noise. If the door fails to close tightly against door jambs, you can seal the sides and the door top using a foam weather spring.
2. Soundproof the bedroom door
If there is a front door, the gaps beneath the interior door enable soundproofing, as if the door is partly opened. You can fill the gaps using a draft stopper. One of the convenient versions stays attached to the door, so that you don’t need to set it in place.
3. Hang the door curtains
You can attain another stage of soundproofing in the front door using heavy blackout curtains. When it stays closed, it can enable in retaining the noise that leaks via the door.
4. Opt-in for a thick rug pad
You might know that nothing brings out a pesky sound in high-traffic places such as a carpet. Hence, in case you possess hard floors, it can make complete sense to throw down a thick rug. Here’s a suggestion you can use. You can slip the density rug pad beneath and it will enhance the noise of the rug with a squashing potential.
5. Bring down reflected noise
The noise reflects off from the hard surface, such as ceilings, walls, and floors, which adds to the total noise level within the room. To bring down the reflection, you can cover the bare walls and the ceilings with anything soft, for the sounds not to get reflected. Here, you can use a thick rug in your ceiling and textile mats made of rubber on walls that can soften the irritating noise inside the apartment while absorbing the racket from adjacent units.
6. Opt-in for acoustic panels
The acoustic panels are available as the fabrics and boards which you hand on the walls. Even though most types get designed to halt noise from bouncing the hard surfaces, others are efficient in blocking the racket from getting inside the window or door.
7. Use a bookcase to muffle sounds
Do you have a thin wall? If yes, you can add a wall-to-wall faux built-in. It is a trick that helps to muffle the noise from your apartment door. The objective is to add some mass to the divider. The massive object and materials can resist the vibration and bring down sound transmission. Ensure that the edges of the in-built area fit well to the floor, walls, and ceiling so that there are zero gaps.
8. Adding window inserts
In case you are searching to block the external noise and not the apartment view, you can opt-in for the window inserts. It is usually clear panes of acrylic or glass which you install on the current windows. They get designed for creating an airtight seal which brings down the external noise by about 50% or even more. Some get designed to move out when it’s not required, thereby making it easy to open your window when you want to get fresh air.
9. Mount soundproof curtains
A strong soundproofing window dressing enables in averting the noises from hampering anyone’s sleep. Hence, an acoustic curtain that fits an average-size window will weigh about 15 pounds and will lay flat against the window trim or wall to block out the sound and deflect it outside. A few noise-reducing curtains glide along the tracks for simple closing and opening.
These are some of the ways in which you can soundproof your room or your apartment. You can use any of the ideas that you like best based on your home condition.
