How to Soundproof your Home Office

Working from home has become very common in today’s hyper-connected economy.

Most people need a home office when given tasks to complete from home.

And to work peacefully, you need to have a soundproof home office.

This article will help you decide how to soundproof your home office.

 

Seal holes in the walls

Solid brick walls are a huge barrier to noise.

But when the walls are damaged or designed so that they have holes in them, the noise will pass through them very easily.

Remember, if air can pass through them, so can the noise.

If you cannot find any holes but still want to inspect more, I have a technique for you.

Make your room fully dark from the inside.

Now place a big light on the outer wall you want to inspect.

Come inside the dark room and see if it passes through any area on the wall.

Any place from where you see the light coming in the hole.

This technique works very effectively when searching for holes in the wall, ceiling, window or door.

When you find the hole, fill it with acoustic glue or use weather-stripping tape.

They’re both cheap and easily available in the market.

You can do this task on your own without the help of any professional.

 

Solid core door

Solid core doors are better than hollow core doors.

They can absorb the sounds more and do not let the noise pass through them.

On the other hand, a hollow core door cannot absorb any sound and lets the noise pass through easily.

A solid core door may cost you a little bit more money and require you to call an expert for help.

Replacing your old door may sound upsetting to you.

But if you replace your hollow core door with a solid core door, it will be worth it.

You will notice a clear difference in the reduction of noise.

 

Door sweep

If you have any gaps in the door, they may be the biggest culprit in letting the noise into your home office.

Usually, you’ll find the gap between the door and the door frame.

Weather-stripping tape can fill this gap, which is not expensive and good at blocking the noise.

The gap between the door and the floor is the most important gap that lets the most noise in.

This horizontal space can be covered using a door sweep.

Attach the door sweep at the bottom of your door with the help of nails.

If you think nails are going to damage your door, you have the option to glue the door sweep to the door.

Along with blocking the noise, a door sweep also helps block all the dust and unwanted things that might enter even when the door is closed.

 

Install acoustic panels

Installing acoustic panels on the wall of your home office can make your home office more soundproof.

This strategy will reduce the room’s echo and help dampen most of the noise.

Acoustic panels or soft foam panels are good at absorbing noise.

But they alone cannot make your home office soundproof unless you combine this strategy with others.

You might also need to call an expert to fix these acoustic panels.

However, they are not very expensive.
Also, they don’t look ugly if installed on the walls because they are available in different colors as well as different shapes.

They will only enhance the look of your home office, making it more vibrant and colorful.

 

Add rugs

Adding rugs to a room gives your room a more comfy and cosy feeling.

If you can afford it, you can also get wall-to-wall carpeting done.

But only adding rugs can also help in reducing echoes.

This will also prevent the sounds from bouncing back as it does on hard tiles.

Rugs will add colors to your home office and enhance its look.

Also, if you have your home office on the first floor, rugs will help in reducing the sound of your footsteps that people downstairs might get to hear when you walk into your office.

The thicker the rugs, the more sounds they’ll absorb.

And if you opt for wall-to-wall carpeting, you can add an extra layer of thick pads under your carpet to make it softer.

This way, it will absorb more noise.

 

Wall hangings

Soft, thick wall hangings can make a big difference in your home office.

As insulation works, your wall hangings help block the noise that may pass through your walls and enter your home office.

Thicker they are, the more sound they will absorb and reduce the echo.

And the good part is you can go very creative with this technique.

Use vibrant colours or ones that go with the theme of your office.

Along with reducing the noise, wall hangings will also give your home office a classic look.

Installing acoustic windows

Installing acoustic windows can block a lot of noise that may enter through your windows.

Acoustic windows have a double or triple glass layer that helps dampen the noise.

Most noise is blocked when replacing single-pane windows with double-pane or triple-pane windows.

The noise which may enter from the outside will die before it can reach inside because of the air present between the layers of glass.

Most of the noise dies when it tries to pass through the air gap.

The sound waves get so weak before they reach the inside layer of glass that they find it unable to pass through the glass.

Acoustic windows may cost you more, but it’s worth spending on them if you want a peaceful home office where you can work without distractions.

You might also have to call a professional to install these windows.

 

Gaps in the window

You might find empty spaces between the window and frame if you look for air gaps.

These empty spaces bring in a lot of noise.

Even if you install the most high-quality window, if there are gaps, your window cannot block the noise.

You need to use acoustic caulk to fill in all the gaps.

And along with acoustic caulk, you should use weather-stripping tape to seal all the edges of your window.

Ensure you cover all the empty spaces between the window and frame.

You will notice a lot of noise reduction.

You need to buy weather-stripping tape and acoustic glue, and you’re all set to go.

You don’t need to call an expert for this purpose.

 

Noise proof ceiling

If your home office is in the basement or on the ground floor, you might hear too many footsteps from upstairs.

Noise can pass through the ceiling too.

For this, you need to make sure you have a drop ceiling.

Try to fill the space between the old and the new dropped ceiling with high-density insulation.

You will notice that this will help reduce the noise from upstairs.

You will enjoy the most peaceful home office than ever before.

But this might cost you a little more.

This strategy is the time comes consuming as well, as it requires help from a professional.

But if you do so, it will be worth it.

 

Shield air vents

Air vents have empty spaces that may allow sound vibrations to pass through them.

This will make your home office noisy even if you adopt all the other strategies.

Ensure you shield the air vents in your home office properly so they may not allow the outer noise to enter inside.

But also ensure you don’t block the air vents permanently because air ventilation is also important.

Air vents help us in improving the quality of the air.

So, you should place some soft materials like storage boxes or pull away furniture in front of the air vents.

This does not block them permanently and will also help reduce the noise.

 

White noise machine

A white noise machine is a great help to tune out unwanted sounds from your environment.

White noise is soothing, unlike all the other noise of cars honking, trucks roaring, and children screaming outside while playing.

White noise machine emits a continuous soft stream of sound soothing to the ears, like falling rain or the waves in the sea.

This machine is easily available in the market these days.

If you don’t want to invest in the white noise machine or your budget doesn’t allow you, you can play white noise on YouTube.

This is the most inexpensive and effective strategy that you can opt for.

Also, it will not require any help from an expert.

 

Conclusion

Your home office should be the most peaceful place to concentrate properly on your work.

Obviously, you would never want your work to suffer because of all the irritating noise that constantly comes from the outside.

So even if soundproofing your home office needs you to put your energy, time, and money into it, don’t hesitate!

After all, your work matters, and your peace of mind should be your priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do I need to soundproof my home office?

Soundproofing your home office can be helpful if you work from home and need a quiet and distraction-free workspace.

It can also prevent noise from your office from disturbing other people in your home or your neighbors.

2. What are the common soundproofing materials for a home office?

The most common materials used for soundproofing a home office include acoustic panels, soundproof curtains, soundproof foam, mass-loaded vinyl, and weatherstripping tape.

3. How do I soundproof my walls?

You can soundproof your walls by adding insulation, using acoustic panels or foam, or creating a second layer of drywall with Green Glue.

4. How do I soundproof my windows and doors?

You can soundproof your windows and doors by adding weatherstripping tape or seals, installing soundproof curtains or blinds, or upgrading to soundproof windows or doors.

5. Can I soundproof my home office myself?

Yes, you can soundproof your home office yourself using DIY techniques and materials.

However, for a more comprehensive and effective solution, it’s recommended to hire a professional soundproofing contractor.