*Bumper and blanket over crib are decorative only. For safety reasons, these should be removed when placing baby in the crib.
Living in a small home or an old home with thin walls can make containing noise a challenge. Maybe you have young kids, a feisty dog, a musician in the house, or a baby that needs a nap twice a day. Whatever the case, achieving peace and quiet may be the key to everyone’s sanity, especially for anyone who works from home. Here are a few tricks to get some more sleep, have a productive work day, set up a more soundproof home, and keep your family from getting cranky!
New Doors
Many houses come standard with hollow-core doors, which are lighter and less expensive. Solid-core doors are more expensive, but their heaviness contributes to privacy by inhibiting sound transmission. If you can find solid-core doors that blend in aesthetically to the rest of your house, consider only replacing doors for areas like the master bedroom, the baby’s room, and your home office or studio.
Acoustical Sealant and Weather Stripping
“Air leaks” aren’t just problematic when it comes to your heating and air conditioning situation. If you have interior air leaks, sound can run through those holes like water. Use an earth-friendly and non-hazardous acoustical sealant to fill in gaps and cracks in the wall, floor, and ceiling. Use weather stripping along the windows and doors to keep loud exterior noises from waking up your baby, especially if you live in a busy urban area.
Carpet
Sound bounces off of hard surfaces. If you have tile or wood floors, granite countertops, and metal appliances, you probably know this all too well. In rooms with lots of hard surfaces, install carpet or lay down thick area rugs. If you have a musician or someone who likes the volume turned all the way up on the TV, put rubber or cork mats under their practice area or TV stand. Hang soft wall furnishings and curtains, and fill up a kid’s room with soft furniture like bean bags. This will help absorb some of the sound.
White Noise
Sometimes the perfect solution is as simple as using a sound machine to block out distant chaos. If you’ve already made an attempt to soundproof but your baby still wakes up when you unload the dishwasher or a dog barks three houses away, you may be desperate for a solution. A sound machine is a great solution for not only a nursery, but also a home office or master bedroom where you just want a little privacy.
Intercom System
Like adding in white noise, this technically won’t make a home soundproof, but it can help reduce some of the audible chaos going on in your home. If your family tends to yell from room to room or storey to storey to have conversations, install an intercom system so everyone can use their inside voices.
Insulation or Acoustic Sound Panels
Insulating your walls and floors with quality materials could truly minimize sound transmission. But if you’re not up for a decent sized renovation, there are types of acoustic sound panels that hang on the wall, most of which make a pretty successful attempt to be inconspicuous or aesthetically pleasing.
For more tips and tricks, head to Modernize.com
Written by Hannah West
Modernize is where you come to get inspired, see what’s possible, and connect with a professional who will make your dream home a reality.
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