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Products and easy DIY methods to block out noise and interruption for offices at home
Why soundproofing your office at home is so important
Recently had the opportunity to start working from home? Love the added flexibility of staying in your pyjamas, or not having to catch the train every morning to work? Whilst working from home has it’s benefits, it can be difficult to stop outside noise penetrating your workspace. Cars speeding up the street, kids playing, dogs barking or construction are just some of the sounds that can cause disruption during a productive work session.
Many people don’t realise that sound can be just as distracting as visual distractions. That’s why learning how to soundproof a room is highly recommended for those planning to spend any time working from home. Of course, hiring a professional to soundproof the office would be nice, but it can be an extremely costly venture. Which is why we have put together some easy DIY soundproofing tips for your office at home, so that you can focus on your work without distraction!
Soundproofing a room
The very first step to soundproofing a room is to find all the cracks and holes throughout the office that allow air and sound to enter. Making sure to check around the door, cracks in the wall, around windows and the ceiling. This will give you a good idea of where the main issue lies.
As sound travels with air, plugging any holes will reduce sound penetrating into the office.
Absorbing sound with furniture
Another way to plug holes and block sounds is by using furniture. One way to do this is to place a bookshelf, couch, filing cabinet or any other big object, against the walls. This will help to plug any cracks, absorb sound and create a barrier between the office and the rest of the house.
Not only do they look great, but Rugs also help to absorb noise. If you have hardwood floors, consider adding a rug or two to your home office. Rugs with a thick pile are the best at absorbing sound.
If you have carpet, make sure it is tightly pulled against the wall so that there are no gaps.
Soundproofing a door
The next object to assess in the soundproofing process is the door.
Depending on the make of door, gaps between the floor and bottom of the door will be fairly minimal or quite large. Irrespective, even the smallest gap will allow sound to penetrate into the home office.
How to fill the gap under the door?
Towel roll
The quickest way to fill this gap and soundproof a door is to roll up a towel and use it to plug the hole under the door (see below). This will assist to reduce sound from others areas in the house from seeping into the room.
Door Snake
But if you are after something purpose built that doesn’t get stuck under the door each time you move it, try a door snake. This particular product is weighted, and even fastens to your door. Allowing you the freedom to be able to move the door easily, without having to pull away a towel roll each time you leave the office.
Door Sweeps
If the first two options aren’t working well, or you are wanting a more effective and aesthetically pleasing product to fill the gap under the door, door sweeps are the answer. These products are cheap and an extremely effective way of minimising sound travelling into the office.
Although there are many different types of door sweeps, with many different purposes, these are the two we recommend for noise cancelling. An added bonus of these door sweeps are that they also protect against moisture, dust and insects.
The MAXTID Soundproof Door Sweep
This draft blocker has a velcro attachment which connects with one side of a door and can be purchased in 3 sizes; 32, 34 and 36 inches long and 1.3 inches in diameter. In addition to noise reduction, this door sweep effectively reduces outside smells and light.
Ohuhu Door Draft Stopper
The ohuhu’s door stopper has a specifically made 3 layer design for soundproofing doors. It has a flexible and durable composition which also consists of flexible adhesive to keep it in place from environmental conditions. This door sweep has been created in a universal size, and can fit most doors – 100 x 5cm.
Weather stripping
In order to completely soundproof a door, it is important to seal any areas that air travels through. This involves the space between the door and the frame itself when the door is closed. A good product to use to seal areas around the frame is the CIKKIIO Weatherstrip.
CIKKIIO – Weatherstrip
This stripping is made of an adhesive foam seal combined with a soft brush which can be used to fill gaps between the door and the frame. It stops air and sound entering into a room by blocking any small gaps surrounding door frames. In addition, this stripping also works on windows, sliding doors and cabinets to prevent sound travelling in.
Door cover
To ensure the door and frame are covered completely, you could try a door cover. This should assist to cover any holes that may be in or around the door and frame.
Horve – Thermal noise reduction door cover
The Horve door panel is made of soundproofing material and insulation which helps to save energy whilst reducing noise. This door cover uses velcro and hooks to attach to the door frame and remain in place. It is a great energy saver as it helps to minimise the flow of air into, and out of the room to help maintain room temperature (especially when heating or air conditioning is in use). If you do not have a door at all, this product can be used to create a ‘door-like’ barrier and helps to block out noise, light, wind and water.
| Product dimensions: |
| 90cm Wide x 220cm High |
| Soundproofing material and insulation: |
| PU leather, silk cotton liner insulation |
| Installation: |
| Loop & hook + velcro |
Solid core wood door
Most exterior facing doors are solid, however many internal doors such as the home office have a hollow core. Hollow doors amplify sound and are lightweight in comparison. Although replacing hollow doors with a solid core wood door is expensive, the difference in noise reduction is obvious. You will notice an immediate difference with sounds being dampened as they come through to the home office.
Soundproof a window
It may sound simple but ensuring that windows are closed tightly and that there is no space around the edges is crucial. Windows are often the weakest spot in a wall when it comes to soundproofing. If possible, upgrade your windows to double or triple-pane windows as they will do a better job at blocking out noise.
Insulated curtains
If replacing windows is not an option, you can hang heavy curtains over the windows to help dampen sound. Insulated curtains contain a layer of fabric that helps to block out noise.
RYB Home 3-in-1 curtain set
The RYB 3 in 1 curtain set are made of felt liner, blackout material, and are machine washable. The reason they are so highly regarded is that they boast 3 selling points; thermal insulation, blackout abilities, and of course, sound reduction abilities. Being curtains, this product helps to reduce noise, but are not as effective for soundproofing as some other products which target filling the gaps. However if you are needing a versatile product to soundproof windows, these will be beneficial and also come in a range of different sizes to fit any door, hallway or window.
Soundproof blinds
Another way for sound to be absorbed from outside is to install soundproof blinds. Through the use of soundproofing material, blinds helps to provide another sound barrier after the window.
Soundproofing a wall
Imagine you are standing on one side of a wall and your neighbour had music playing loudly on the other side. You would barely be able to hear it, if at all. Now envision a few holes in this imaginary wall. The sound would be extremely loud, as if the wall was non-existent. This is the first step to soundproofing a wall – plug all holes and cracks.
Acoustic sealant
Acoustic sealant is a soundproofing material that is used to seal gaps between ceilings, floors and walls to minimise sound transmission. It is typically latex based and flexible when dried to reduce airflow and sound in comparison to silicone caulk, which may harden when it dries and thus causes more cracks.
Soundproofing foam
Although soundproofing foam is an easy and effective way to reduce noise within offices at home, it does not actually block sound from entering the room. However, if the sound of your noisy neighbours or traffic does enter the room, these foam panels absorb sound by reducing noise reverberation between hard surfaces such as the ceiling or floor. In doing so, it helps to reduce sound within the room by removing echoes and background noise. This could make it a good option for those with a home office studio.
KUCHOOW – Acoustic foam
Soundproofing paint
There are other accessories to soundproof your home office such as Soundproofing paint. This is a type of paint that contains sound-absorbing materials. It is important to note that these products will not completely eliminate all noise, but they will significantly reduce the amount of noise. Alternatively you can also try soundproofing wallpaper.
Soundproofing the ceiling
Not many people realise that you can soundproof your ceiling. This is because sound waves travel upwards, so if you can block them from going through your ceiling, you will notice a significant difference. There are two main ways to soundproof your ceiling:
One way is to add mass to your ceiling. This can be done by adding insulation or placing Heavy objects on the floor above (such as a piano) if you have a multiple storey residence.
The other way is to add decoupling. Decoupling is essentially separating two parts of a wall with insulation, adding extra layer as a sound barrier. In this case, ceiling insulation batts or acoustical mineral wool are recommended to be added in the ceiling or wall to stop sound from easily passing through.
Acoustic ceiling baffles
Another way to reduce noise in your office is to use sound baffles. Sound baffles are panels that are hung from the ceiling. They absorb sound and help to reduce echo in a room.
White noise
If you have tried many of these other steps, and are still getting distracted from outside noise, you might want to try a white noise machine. A white noise machine emits sounds that masks other noises, like traffic, making it easier to focus on work.
Noise cancelling products
If these options are not enough or may not be feasible, a simple yet cost effective way of blocking out noise is to use noise cancelling headphones. These headphones work by emitting sound waves that cancel out other noise. This is a great option if you live in a particularly noisy area or have neighbours that are loud. Noise cancelling headphones are not fool proof and will not completely eliminate all noise, but they will significantly reduce the amount of noise you hear.
There are many different ways to soundproof your home office. By following these tips, you can create a quiet and distraction-free work space whilst also saving you money on air-conditioning and heating, as many of these tips help to promote energy saving.
Happy soundproofing!