How To Soundproof A Room For A Quiet And Serene Home

Nothing is worse than trying to spend a quiet night at home only to realize that you can hear every sound coming from traffic and your neighbors. But with a little soundproofing, you can make your space that much more enjoyable, and it doesn't need to break the bank. There are plenty of simple ways to soundproof your home that will keep out noise without turning into a demolition project.

The first step is identifying the sources of the noise. It can be a finicky project to tackle, but it's important to understand exactly which areas need a bit of soundproofing. Pay close attention to shared walls or rooms that face a busy street, as these are the primary culprits in producing noise pollution in your home. It can be something as small as sound coming through a loose electrical outlet, so give your home thorough inspection before addressing any soundproofing.

Soundproofing your home doesn't require you to make massive changes to your space — instead of cracking open your walls to beef up the insulation, you may just need to do a bit of rearranging your furniture. Try moving a piece of bulky furniture, like a bookcase, dresser, or upholstered sofa or chairs with plenty of pillows, in front of the spot. This can help reduce vibrations and echoes from outside, absorbing the sound instead. 

Tackling noise pollution in your home is not always as simple as strategically moving a piece of furniture. Instead, you may need to address small gaps and cracks that can be the primary culprits for unwanted sound, letting it travel straight into your home unobstructed. 

If you notice that sound may be traveling in from your doors, they can be a great place to start. A draft stopper or door sweep can make the difference between a quiet night in and listening to your neighbors' conversation. And for a bit of added soundproofing, you can secure your doors' frames with an acoustic sealant. An added benefit of sealing your doors? You can keep your home warmer during the winter, giving you a two-for-one solution.

Don't overlook electric outlets and light switches as the sneaky source for your unwanted sound. If they're located on a shared wall or aren't properly sealed, these home essentials can easily let sound travel between rooms with little resistance. But how do you fix it? Well, grab yourself a putty pad or a bit of acoustic sealant and apply it to the edges of your outlets. This can block the sound right at the source.

If you've tried every other approach and noise still seems to be an issue, it might be time to break out the big guns. Shared walls and doors can be another source for unwanted sound, especially if they aren't properly insulated. A simple wall-hanging fabric on your shared wall can help muffle the noise that normally fills your space. If that doesn't quite fit your home's aesthetic, you can always hang a rug on your wall as artwork or use wall-mounted soundproofing sheets. They come in a host of materials, colors, and styles, letting you perfect the way noise travels in your home – a great renter-friendly DIY for sound dampening.

Doors can be a trickier fix, especially if you can't upgrade to a solid-core version. Hollow-core doors can be any renter's nightmare, as their lightweight design makes it easy for sound to travel through. Hanging a thick piece of fabric on the back of your door can help mitigate a bit of the sound traveling in and out, but you may need to buy sound-dampening fabric or panels if you're looking to make a major difference. In combination with an under-door sweep, you can use these techniques to turn your noisy home into a peaceful retreat.