There’s nothing quite like having your own, personal space. However, you’re often at the mercy of others (and the natural environment) when it comes to noise.
In some cases, excess noise could even cause you to have difficulty sleeping, something that’s been proven to have detrimental health effects over time.
Fortunately, there are ways you can achieve a soundproof apartment from the outside world.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about creating a soundproof apartment.
Heavy Curtains
When people hear loud noises from outside, they often go straight to the room’s window to investigate. While many people may not realize it, much of the sound is entering the room through the window itself (even if it’s closed).
A common scenario is for cars, neighbors, or loud animals to cause disturbances while you’re trying to sleep. This is especially true for those who keep their bed near their window.
A simple fix is to install soundproof curtains over your windows if your neighborhood is giving you trouble. These can weigh between 10-15 pounds, though, so it’s important that you mount them properly to avoid damaging your walls or window frames.
If you need frequent access to the window, there are curtains that can be installed along a track and easily moved whenever you want them out of the way.
Weatherproofing Front Doors
Those who access their front door from a hallway are often subject to hearing every single noise that occurs in the hallways. This includes people walking up the stairs, entering their own apartments, or talking outside.
Much of this sound, though, enters through the space around your front door. Adding a rubber weatherstrip to the bottom of your door will accomplish more than you may think when it comes to reducing noise.
For added effect, foam strips placed along the sides and top of your door can further decrease the sound you hear from your hallway or surrounding environment. This has the added bonus of keeping out unwanted insects, too.
Area Rugs
For those who have hard flooring, even foot traffic can result in an abundance of unwanted noise. This is especially true late at night when televisions, fans, etc. are turned off in common areas.
A large, heavy rug, though, can drastically reduce the amount of noise that footsteps cause. If the rug is thick enough, even dropping an object on the floor might not make a significant amount of noise.
You can further boost sound absorption by adding a rug pad underneath if you still need to reduce more noise. This is particularly useful within two-story units (such as townhomes) so that nobody on the bottom floor is disturbed late at night.
Reducing Adjacent Room Noise
Not all disturbances come from outside of your apartment or from across the unit in the kitchen at night. Sometimes, the room adjacent to yours could be the cause of the unwanted noise.
In properties that have thinner walls, it’s not uncommon for even a simple phone conversation to be clearly audible from the next room over. Things like loud televisions or videogames can lead to even more noise.
Adding ‘clutter’ to your room, though, can help muffle the sound that passes through the walls. Things like desks, bookcases, couches (if you have room for one), and chairs can absorb sound in a significant way and reduce the amount of noise you hear.
This also provides additional privacy, as other people will be less likely to hear the sound coming from your room.
Door Curtains
Although unconventional, hanging curtains over a door can provide an extra layer of soundproofing for those who need it.
Visually, these are more popular in bedrooms, but this doesn’t mean that installing heavy curtains over your front door can’t be a viable option if you frequently deal with loud noises coming from outside.
For those who are worried about the look of the curtains, though, many retailers offer curtains with a wide variety of colors, patterns, and may even allow you to customize your own.
These can also be a great way to add to your room’s aesthetic while also providing plenty of utility through sound reduction. So, keep this in mind if you need a bit of extra help.
Bedroom Doors Can Be Soundproofed, Too
If you live with other people, you may find that their general activities disturb you while you’re trying to study, sleep, etc. These scenarios can cause significant tension between roommates, especially if the blame lies more on the building than the other person.
For example, apartments with tall, flat walls and plenty of tile flooring will likely be far noisier than a smaller apartment that has carpet.
You can take the same measures to soundproof your bedroom door as you can with your front door. Foam strips will go a long way when it comes to reducing noise, and it will also allow less light into your room (which can lead to better sleep quality).
Creating a Soundproof Apartment Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about creating a soundproof apartment in mind, you’ll be well on your way to reducing outside noise as much as possible and maximizing your quality of life.
Want to learn more about how we can help you move to Washington DC feel comfortable and seamless? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what kind of apartment awaits for you!
