Sound absorption for comfortable living

Soundwaves seep through doors, windows, ceilings and cracks, so how do you reduce unwanted sound from affecting your daily activities?  

To decrease the noise within a room you need to dampen the soundwaves. This can be achieved by adding surfaces that absorb the sound (or reverberation), so it doesn’t bounce from one thing to another.  

Soundwaves bounce particularly well off hard, flat surfaces – even creating a lasting echo if the surfaces are parallel walls. The softer and less uniform the surface, the less opportunity for reverberation.

Textiles such as drapery, upholstered furniture, and furnishings play a significant role in the absorption of sound; however, not all textiles are created equal. The level of sound absorption depends on a textile’s weight, composition, and/or construction, and due to the large vertical mass, drapery is the best source of sound absorption within an interior.

Acoustic panels/tiles: Available in a range of colours and fabric styles, acoustic panels will reduce but not eliminate resonance within the room.

Drapery: Fabrics are an effective solution for managing sound and the more a drapery folds, the greater the sound absorption. Hanging curtains a small distance off the wall also increases absorption, while softening parallel walls reduces soundwaves from travelling wall-to-wall.

Upholstered furniture: Upholstered furniture will also contribute to sound absorption – the thicker the fabric and foam the better. Adding cushions and other textiles to a space will ensure the ultimate sound absorption.

Fabric pendant and floor lamps: Update lamps with thick textile shades.

Carpets, rugs, and padding: If your floors are timber, tile, or linoleum on a subfloor concrete you may want to try rugs or carpet coupled with a sound-absorbing underlay or foam rubber backing.

Cork flooring: Cork is one of the best materials for sound absorption. The bark of the cork oak is made up of a honeycomb structure of air-sealed cells. These cells absorb vibrations by trapping it in its cell structure, prevent sound from passing through walls and absorbing the impact of feet between stories.

Concrete flooring: Surprisingly, lightweight porous concrete can be effective in absorbing sound – however, it essentially transmits the sounds into the next room.

Floating hardwood: This type of flooring installation features a gap between the subfloor and the actual floor, effectively dampening the sound.