How to Soundproof your Home Office?

📖 4 min read

The atmosphere defines the environment of sound.
Bill Laswell

Working from home provides the comfort and flexibility of being your own boss, but it can also be distracting and frustrating if you're surrounded by noise. For those who need a peaceful environment to focus and be productive, soundproofing the home office is a must. Whether it's the sounds of kids playing or pets barking, taking the necessary steps to eliminate distractions can lead to a more efficient and stress-free work-from-home experience.

But let's first examine your current situation.

The first question to ask is: Why is your home office plagued by noise? Noise often finds its way through hard surfaces that reflect sound, such as bare floors or uncarpeted walls. Hard materials like wood and tile floors cause soundwaves to bounce around, increasing the overall noise level in a room. This can contribute to noise pollution, a phenomenon defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as unwanted or harmful sound that disrupts normal activity and causes long-term health effects.

But don't worry; simple changes like adding soft, sound-absorbing materials such as rugs or acoustic panels can make a significant difference.

Identifying where the noise is coming from is the first step to a successful sound reduction project in your home office.

This will help you target the problem and find a solution that works. So, without further ado, let's get down to the most effective methods of soundproofing your home office.

1. Soundproof your windows

Windows are one of the most common entry points for noise in a home office. Soundproofing curtains are designed to block external noise while also improving the room’s acoustic quality. These curtains are made of dense, thick fabric, often layered with materials like mass-loaded vinyl to effectively reduce noise. According to scientific studies, adding mass to windows reduces sound transmission by up to 30-50%, depending on the materials used.

Additionally, they also provide privacy and insulation, helping to regulate temperature and keep the room more comfortable.

Overall, incorporating soundproofing curtains in your home office can lead to a more productive, comfortable, and peaceful work environment.

If the soundproof curtain does not provide sufficient sound insulation, you can consider replacing the existing windows with ones that have a better sound insulation index, or you can double your windows. In most cases, the installation of a second window will give a much better result in terms of sound insulation and thermal insulation than the replacement of the original window. Research shows that well-installed double-glazed windows can reduce outside noise by 20 to 40 dB.

A tip from us: most of the studios are done with double windows and doors, so you can learn from the professionals and install a second window as well.

2. Soundproof your doors

The next significant source of noise leakage is doors. Sound can easily slip through gaps around door frames. A simple but effective solution is installing weatherstripping, which blocks gaps with noise-absorbing materials like rubber or silicone. Studies indicate that sealing air gaps can reduce sound transmission by up to 10 decibels, depending on the thickness of the weatherstripping used.

Additionally, installing a soundproof blanket behind the door can further reduce noise, particularly if you're looking for a quick and inexpensive solution. For more serious soundproofing, adding a second door, similar to what’s done in recording studios, can be effective. The extra layer helps block airborne noise and vibrations.

Last very effective option is to install a second door, similarly to the example with the windows.

By taking these simple steps, you can create a peaceful and productive work environment in your home office.

3. Soundproof your walls 

If you experience noise coming from the neighboring room, soundproofing your wall is the simplest solution. Effective soundproofing requires using specific materials that prevent noise transmission. When searching for soundproofing systems and materials, consider those specially designed for this purpose and developed by acousticians to ensure maximum effectiveness. 

For example, using a system like DECIBOARD, which incorporates high-density gypsum fibre panels with a 9-point contact system, can reduce airborne noise by 15-30 dB.

Avoid using systems that consist of multiple components like metal studs, hangers, wool, gypsum board, etc., as incorrect installation can lead to errors. Keep in mind that gypsum board and wool on metal studs were initially created for internal thermal insulation.

After installing the soundproofing, it's recommended to finish the wall with acoustic panels for even better results. Integrating soundproofing and acoustic treatment yields optimal results. 

4. Add rugs and carpets to soundproof floors

Hard floors like wood or tile contribute to noise reflection, which amplifies sound within a room. Using rugs or carpets is a cost-effective way to dampen sound. Thicker materials, like wool, provide better absorption, reducing noise transmission between floors and improving the room's overall acoustics. A study on textile materials' sound absorption properties found that carpets with dense fibres can reduce airborne sound by 20-30%.

In addition to absorbing noise, rugs and carpets also help to improve the acoustics of the room by reducing echoes and improving sound clarity. Consider placing a rug or carpet under a desk or in areas where you do a lot of work to help reduce noise levels and improve the overall sound quality of your work space.

Remember, a rug or a wall to wall carpet is not a complete floor soundproofing solution, but can be very effective for taming down some decibels that might trigger you. It is also effective to insulate the noises from furniture movement and light steps.

5. Soundproof your ceiling

Soundproofing your ceiling should be the last thing on your list to soundproof because it requires investment and time. If you’re getting noise from the room above then you need to soundproof the ceiling.

To soundproof your ceiling, it's advisable to install a soundproofing system specifically designed for ceilings. The challenge is to securely connect the system to the ceiling with minimal contact points to prevent noise transmission and ensure safety during earthquakes. Drywall systems with metal studs are not effective, as metal studs easily transmit both structural and airborne noise.

Look for systems that have special installation anchors that do not transmit vibration and sound, such as C- MUTE SYSTEM.

Our pro tip will be to  finishing off the soundproofed ceiling with acoustic panels for even better results. Acoustic panels will dampen any reverberation left and can add up to 3, 4 decibels of additional soundproofing which in some cases might be just what you are left off to treat in order to achieve your personal optimal quietness.

So there you have it, some practical tips on how to soundproof your home office and make it a productive and peaceful space to work in. By identifying the source of the noise and implementing some simple solutions such as soundproof curtains, weatherstripping, rugs or carpets, and even soundproofing your walls and ceiling, you can create a quieter and more comfortable environment for you to concentrate and be more efficient. With the right tools and techniques, you can say goodbye to distractions and hello to a more focused and stress-free work-from-home experience.

Happy soundproofing!

Suggested Bibliographic Sources for Further Reading:

• Schulte-Fortkamp, B., & Fiebig, A. (2016). Soundscape and the Built Environment. CRC Press.

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region. WHO Regional Office for Europe.

• Crocker, M. J. (2007). Handbook of Noise and Vibration Control. John Wiley & Sons.

• Rychtáriková, M., & Vermeir, G. (2013). "Sound Transmission and Sound Insulation in Buildings: A Practical Approach". Building Acoustics, 20(2), 85-104.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (1978). Levels of Environmental Noise Requisite to Protect Public Health and Welfare with an Adequate Margin of Safety.

• Basner, M., Babisch, W., Davis, A., Brink, M., Clark, C., Janssen, S., & Stansfeld, S. (2014). "Auditory and Non-Auditory Effects of Noise on Health". The Lancet, 383(9925), 1325-1332.

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2011). Burden of Disease from Environmental Noise: Quantification of Healthy Life Years Lost in Europe. WHO Regional Office for Europe.

• Kang, J., & Schulte-Fortkamp, B. (2018). Soundscape and the Built Environment: Theories and Applications. CRC Press.

• Ising, H., & Kruppa, B. (2004). "Health Effects Caused by Noise: Evidence in the Literature from the Past 25 Years". Noise and Health, 6(22), 5-13.