How to Soundproof a Home Office: 10 Simple Ways That Work
Working from home gives you a freedom and flexibility you don’t have in a traditional office setting. You can be your own boss and set your own hours without anyone hovering over your shoulder.
However, any noises can be a huge distraction that pull you from your work. In order to get as much work done as possible while you’re at home, you should be able to block out as much noise as humanely possible. When I started working from home, the single biggest productivity challenge I faced was all of the noise in my home office.
From kids, pets, and everyday noise, I couldn’t block it out. This was the point I decided to soundproof my office. The outcome was amazing, and I wanted to give you a short guide to try it for yourself.
The best thing about my soundproofing guide is that it’s relatively cost-effective and it’s not a huge project to tackle. Take how much noise surrounds you and how much you want to block out when you start to soundproof your home office. We’ll go over the basic steps you can take to turn your home office in a noise-free haven for working or even giving a presentation if you need to. When you have clients come to your home, this may be very handy for your business.
We’re going to include the following materials in the article that you can use to soundproof your office. They are:
10 Steps You Can Take to Soundproof Your Home Office
As I mentioned, you can use whichever steps you like to soundproof your office. I’ll also link you to the products I used to get great results and the quiet I needed to complete my work.
1. Soundproof the Door
A soundproof door blanket is another option that you place behind your door to block a large majority of the noise. Combine this with a draft door stopper that glides along any carpeting or rugs and helps to block noise from coming in.
Finally, two more expensive and time-consuming options are either installing a second door or switching out your hollow door for a solid option. Both of these options give you more soundproofing capabilities into your office. You can go to your local home improvement store and pick out your door.
2. Seal Any Holes
3. Soundproof Your Windows
If you have windows in your home office, they can let noise through. This is a large problem if you live in a busy city or right next to loud neighbors. Just like you soundproof your doors, you have expensive and budget-friendly options available to try.
The less expensive option is to buy thicker soundproofing curtains. However, these curtains will have to fit your windows from the ceiling to the floor to provide an adequate sound barrier. There are several colors and patterns available to fit almost any decor.
The more expensive option is to have professionals come in and replace your windows with a custom-fit soundproof window. These types of windows have double panes of glass separated by a space to trap and block sound.
- Ready Made: 2 panels per package. Each Classic Lined Curtain measures 52" wide x 84" long (Total width is 104"). The unique design of the silver grommet (1.6 inch inner diameter) creates casual elegance for your house, which makes the curtains easy to install and slide.
- Blackout Effect: The real blackout curtains on the market. Sew in black liner backing makes the drapes thick enough to completely keep out the sunlight and uv ray. The benefit is to offer you a real dark environment, bringing you a good night's sleep during the day.
4. Soundproof Your Air Vents
5. Prevent Echos
Echos are a source of noise many people don’t think about, but they can be a very real distraction. Reducing the amount of echos won’t necessarily make your room quieter, but it will lower the noise levels of any sounds that enter your office.
You can test for echos by making a loud noise or yelling and listen for an echo afterward. If you can hear one, you need to take steps to reduce it. Fortunately, taking care of your echos is relatively quick and easy.
If you have hard flooring, get a few plush rugs and spread them around to absorb the sounds rather than echo them. If you have bare walls, hang up a few canvas art pieces or pictures to help absorb the sound and provide barriers to stop the noise’s travel patterns.
6. Soundproof Your Floors
A big source of noise in your office office could be you flooring. This is especially true if you have hard flooring like wood or tile because hard flooring increases echos. It reflects sound waves, and any noises that happen in your office reflect off the floor.
7. Use Wall Foam and Sound Absorbing Paint
Did you know that sound absorbing paints exist, and companies have paints that can reduce noises by up to 30%? You can repaint your home office using these sound absorbing paints for a more budget-friendly option.
8. Soundproof Your Ceilings
However, it may be best to pull a professional in for help with this step because it’s much more involved.
9. Stopping Structural Sound
- DIMENSIONS - 35.43" W x 35.8" D x (6.2" to 19.1") H | Workstation top dimensions: 35.43" x 23.23" x 0.59" thick | Keyboard tray dimensions: 35.43" x 12.60" x 0.59" thick | Base dimensions: 32.75" W x 21.9" D | Weight: 52.3 lbs.
- INSTANT SIT-STAND ADJUSTMENT - Effortless Pneumatic Vertical Adjustment transition from 5.9 inches to 19.7 inches. Desk lifts up to 33 lbs. evenly distributed across the top. Rise higher than the average standing desk
10. Buy a White Noise Machine
- [After Sale Service] Buy our products with confidence as they are designed in the USA & backed by an excellent customer care team also in the USA. LectroFan is supported by a 1,000-day satisfaction guarantee.
- [Masks Noise] Helps block out disruptive environmental noises. It can help improve sleep, focus, privacy, and relaxation. Helpful for any age.
What’s even better, you can move your white noise machine to other areas of your home like your nursery or kid’s room. They’re lightweight, durable, and very easy to pick up and move.
The Difference Between Sound Deadening and Sound Blocking
Before you soundproof your home office, it’s important that you know the difference between sound deadening and sound blocking. This will help you manage your expectations better. Many people think of soundproofing, and they immediately think of getting the foam walls to put up against their office’s walls.
As I touched on, this method is only effective at preventing echos in your office. As a result of this, these walls will quiet the noises inside the room while not being as effective for outside noises.
This is why you want to focus on the windows, doors, holes, and gaps in your office to prevent noises from getting inside in the first place. Sound deadening is minimizing sounds inside the office while sound blocking stops noises from coming into your office.
Bottom Line
Working from home gives you a greater degree of flexibility, but it requires more discipline. The more noise you experience, the higher your chances of distraction is. If you live in a loud environment with children, pets, or noise neighbors, you may want to consider soundproofing your home office.
I tried a few options before I achieved the soundproofing results I needed to be able to focus on my work. You can take as many steps as you need to get a home office that is as soundproof as possible. Take the steps above and enjoy a quiet, suitable work environment.