It’s frustrating when your home isn’t quiet. If your house isn’t peaceful and quiet, then considering how to reduce noise in your home is probably near the top of your “to do” list.
When you first moved in, you might not have minded the barking dogs, blaring car horns, and noisy neighbors. But now this noise pollution diverts your attention and disturbs your sleep. Now you’re thinking, “I’ve had enough. It’s time to come up with a solution.” After all, everybody deserves uninterrupted periods of concentration and a peaceful night’s rest.
Unfortunately, many older homes don’t have the sound-dampening construction that newer homes do. With a few small tweaks, however, you can turn your home into a noiseless paradise. Below, we share six effective ways to reduce noise in your home.
Hang Heavy Drapes
The first tip for how to reduce noise in your home is: consider the drapes. Drapes and curtains not only make a room feel homey, they can complement the other décor in your space. Best of all, drapes can deaden sounds coming in from outside your home.
Blackout curtains made from heavy fabrics– such as suede, velvet, and velour– are excellent for minimizing road noise and other sounds. Heavy curtains also absorb sounds that originate inside your house.
Incorporate Rugs into Your Décor
Sound bounces off hard surfaces such as laminate, hardwood or tile floors. If you stand in your bedroom upstairs and hear your kids making a racket downstairs, you may want to consider laying out area rugs.
For the best results, remember to include thick padding underneath the rugs. Also consider purchasing rugs if you have squeaky floors. Old, noisy floors are enough to keep anyone up during the wee hours.
Consider Your Walls
Tip #3 in our How to Reduce Noise in Your Home list has to do with your home’s walls. Most of the time, you probably hear outside noise through your walls. To fix this choose better insulation and install it in your walls, paying special attention to the areas around your doors and windows.
The right insulation can successfully absorb sound that comes through walls. In fact, spray foam insulation is a great choice if you want to reduce noise. Insulation envelops your home, so it promotes privacy—and quiet. You can relax knowing the sounds from outside can’t some inside, and the sounds inside your home won’t carry outside.
Another solution is to apply another layer of drywall to your interior walls, which increases the walls’ weight and makes them more soundproof. You can also use sound-absorbing paint or wallpaper, which adds an extra layer of protection against noise. Filled bookshelves also act as effective barriers against the racket coming from nearby rooms.
Select New Appliances
It’s no secret that older appliances tend to run louder than newer ones. Today, companies design their high-efficiency dishwashers, washers and dryers, and other machines to produce much less noise than ever before. If you haven’t replaced your appliances in a while, remember that new appliances will help reduce noise in your home.
Swap Out Your Doors
Tip #5 in our How to Reduce Noise in Your Home list is about your doors. Sound can effortlessly travel through hollow-core doors. To reduce noise in your home that passes through the doors, replace them with a solid-core option. The denser the door, the better it will keep out unnecessary noise.
Use Weatherstripping
One of the easiest ways you can reduce noise in your home is to install weatherstripping in door jambs and around windows. The weatherstripping seals gaps surrounding your doors and windows, so noise doesn’t enter your home. New weatherstripping will also save energy while it keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Follow these six steps to reduce noise in your home, and everyone in the house with breathe easier and sleep better.
If you are still in the mood for more home improvements after you’ve made the house quieter, consider these Eco-Friendly Home Renovations. Also, read our Easy Tips for a Low-Cost Room Makeover story.
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