To get a restful sleep, we need to rest in the quietest place possible. Our bedroom is supposed to be a sanctuary of peace, but sometimes the noise from outside can disturb your rest. If you have this problem, don’t worry, today we show you how to soundproof a bedroom so you can have sweet dreams.
Above all, when it comes to the incessant sound of traffic, you want to be in a sound proof room to sleep. This noise is unpleasant especially for apartment owners who do not have many options to escape the sound.
Another big problem with this type of housing are the neighbors. Being attached to them by thin walls makes everything audible, even between different floors. Considering that the construction of a house is already expensive, it does not hurt to apply some details that guarantee our tranquility.
Factors to soundproof a bedroom
Image source: Jim Hicks Home Improvement
You generally want a soundproof room by two valid approaches. The first is that you are looking for tranquility in your room, isolating it from external noises.
The second cause is more altruistic on our part. If we know that we will make a lot of noise in a room, we may want to isolate it so that we do not disturb the neighbors, something very common of those who practice some musical instruments.
Indifferently the reason why we look for a soundproof room, the process includes considering some factors where the greatest amount of noise is generated.
How to soundproof a bedroom – Everything we need to know
The bedrooms have several elements that we must arrange to make it a silent room. The first we can consider are the doors.
How to soundproof a door
Making it as tight as possible
Image source: Robin Colton Studio
Each hole or opening in the door will allow sound to enter. In general, if air or light can pass, noise too. As it is not possible to seal all the door openings, or else it would be a wall that we could not use, the best we can do is install some flexible material that can momentarily adhere to the wall.
For doors, there are rubber bars that are installed with screws. These are used mostly at the bottom where there is a larger space. The sides can be sealed with foam gaskets.
Use a denser door
Image source: Interior Design Solutions
In general, hollow plywood doors are installed to reduce manufacturing costs. Although they are cheaper, they work like a guitar case allowing sound to easily enter.
The best alternative is to replace the door with a solid one. If this is not a possibility because of its cost, we can always install some plaster, MDF or fiberglass sheets, although it does not look so aesthetic.
Add a barrier using a curtain
Image source: amanda nisbet
The heavier and thicker the material we use for the curtain, the greater its effectiveness against noise. This is a basic technique to make a DIY soundproof room that allows us to maintain the style of our door.
The best thing about curtains is that we can change them at any time if we get tired of them. We can even use many different styles that suit our tastes.
How to soundproof the walls
Sealing possible leaks
As with the doors, one of the ways to soundproof a room is to make the walls as tight as possible.
We do not mean to eliminate the windows since this is counterproductive, but there are always holes that we can cover to prevent the entry of noise.
The channels through which the air enters are the most common causes of a wall not being completely soundproof. These are found in outlets and switches, in addition to the vents of the ventilation system.
The electrical elements are easy to seal. We must simply buy special covers that do not let the noise pass. These can be much thicker than ordinary covers, or they can have foam gaskets. Another alternative for the outlets is if we seal the openings ourselves using soundproofing putty.
If we are willing to go further with our remodeling projects, we can always implement the best way to soundproof a room: apply insulation inside the walls.
The walls are rarely of solid concrete, predominantly the use of plaster on a wooden structure or drywall. These, however, leave empty internal areas where the air moves freely, allowing the passage of sound.
In these cases, we must remove one of the plaster sheets or the base plate and fill the space with acoustic sealant. After it dries, we can reinstall our wall or floor.
Add additional mass to the walls
Some noises can be completely mitigated with additional wall coverings. Most sound booths use wall coverings with shapes that allow the sound to be absorbed and spread, preventing it from passing almost completely to other rooms. We will apply a similar concept.
To add additional mass to the walls of a bedroom, you can always use curtains or carpets. Rubber mats are more effective than cloth ones, and thanks to their designs, you can create unique patterns with which to decorate your room.
How to soundproof windows
The first thing is to seal the openings
This option cannot be missing in any of the elements that we must modify to create a soundproof bedroom.
In the case of windows (and doors), it is best to perform weather-stripping to seal the air inlets and eliminate the draft.
You can also cover your windows with acrylic or glass panels called window inserts. These are especially useful when we don’t want to obstruct vision.
There are many options for these panels in the market, from those that specialize in dissipating noise, to those that are practical and allow for a quick installation.
Keep the style using curtains
Image source: Paxton Lockwood
Knowing how to soundproof a bedroom means maintaining style at all times to create a pleasant space. Windows and curtains are a combination that always works and they don’t represent a risk to our bedroom’s design.
Of course, it is not the most effective option, but in combination with other mechanisms, it can improve the results we want.
Use window plugs
It sounds like something drastic, but sealing the window with a plug is more common (and convenient) than it seems. Very similar to what is used in the bathtub so that the water does not drain, a window plug will cover the window when we do not want the noise to enter, with the only drawback that we will not be able to see through it.
The materials for its construction are varied: wood, foam rubber, soundproofing mats, among others. We will simply have to cut a panel with the dimensions of our window and place a handle to hold it. We can also use it to preserve our home’s temperature during the winter.
Install acoustic frames
Image source: Gingerwood
This is the option for those who are burdened by outside noise. An acoustic frame dissipates the vibration produced by the sound.
The initial investment can be somewhat expensive, but in the long run, the peace of mind they offer will be worthwhile, as well as being very useful for maintaining our house’s temperature on cold days.
How to soundproof floors
Install a protective layer
Image source: The LaRocque Group
The sound generated by the floors is often related to the building material. Some make a loud screeching even when we walk slowly over them. To avoid having to replace the entire floor, the best thing we can do is place an additional layer with some material that dampens the bumps.
Plush, rubber or simply thick cloth carpets are very useful for reducing the noise generated by our steps. If you additionally place a density rug under your main carpet, you can achieve a more effective insulation.
Replacing your noisy floor
How to soundproof a bedroom? The best answer is that we do it from the foundations. Replacing the floor is not the economic option, but it is the most effective if we want to eliminate annoying noise.
For a floor to be soundproof, we will need metal tape to join the subfloor joints, in addition to that, we must readjust the free spaces in it. If, before adding the final coating, we install an MLV layer, we will achieve optimum soundproofing.
Most likely, you will need to hire a specialist for this project, and we recommend that, if you want to save future expenses, consider this type of project in the construction of new homes.
Additional tips for making soundproof rooms
Buy soundproofing foam
This foam, used in the construction of sound booths, can be found at reduced prices and is one of the most effective ways to seal walls. If you want to have soundproof bedroom walls that remain attractive, this foam will be an important ally.
Build a sound booth
Image source: Michael Abrams Interiors
These types of rooms do not have to be exclusively for musicians and singers. Any room can have the key features of a sound booth.
If we have not yet built our home, or are planning a large-scale remodeling, consider making the bedrooms with this design to avoid the entry and exit of noise.
Place large furniture on the walls
Image source: Alexander James Interiors
Shelves, bookcases, and the like, are an ingenious way to dissipate the noise that is emitted to adjacent walls and rooms. If the building material of the furniture is solid, it will be much more resistant to sound.
The only thing you should consider is that you should not leave any separation between the furniture and the walls since these empty spaces make the noise amplify.
Distort noise with a curtain
Image source: Karla Trincanello, CID, Interior Decisions, Inc
A diagonal curtain supported to the ceiling and the wall of our room will function as a mesh that will trap the noise and prevent it from bouncing off the walls. This trick is especially useful on the head of our bed, as it will create an elegant environment.
Acoustic panels also work in bedrooms
Image source: S2 Architects
This type of soundproof wall is widely used in cinemas to conserve most of the sound inside the room. Basically, installing these panels will help us isolate ourselves from external noise while amplifying internal sounds.
The more furniture you install, the less noise you will face
Except for the furniture embedded in the walls, the rest of the decorations such as armchairs, tables, among others, will not reduce the external noise that enters the room. However, this will reduce the noise that comes out of it, since all sound must bounce and go through more objects to get out.
Empty rooms are more likely to generate echo so, if we want to reduce the noise inside our room, we must place a lot of furniture.
If you enjoyed reading this article about how to soundproof a bedroom, you should read these as well:
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- Gothic bedroom ideas. Impressive designs that will surprise you
- How to create a Feng shui bedroom layout without a lot of hassle
The post How to soundproof a bedroom and create a quiet sleeping space appeared first on Impressive Interior Design.
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