7 Effective Ways to Soundproof Your Home Office
Block out noise and distraction by soundproofing your home office.
Today’s hyperconnected economy means that more of us work from home now than ever before. While not having a commute has its benefits, one of the biggest challenges for homebound workers is keeping noise—whether it be construction in the neighborhood or kids running down the hallways—out of the workspace.
Regain focus and boost your productivity—below, we walk you through seven steps to soundproofing your home office.
Seal Holes in the Walls
A large wall is a great sound blocker, but it’s useless if there are any holes in it. Inspect the walls and ceilings of your home office, and if you find any perforations, fill them in with sound-absorbing materials such as fiberglass batt insulation.
Adjustable pegboards help lawyer Dan Franklin manage his compact apartment in downtown Manhattan. The Executive Chair is by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller.
Install a Solid Core Door
Solid core doors are much better sound absorbers that hollow core doors. If you want to ensure that no sound enters through your door, install a solid core door, and add vinyl weatherstripping and a bottom sweep and threshold seal.
A brass doorknob paired with a mortice lock is a quintessential vintage look.
Caulk Spaces in Your Drywall
Look out for cracks and crevices on your drywall around electrical boxes and ductwork, and caulk these openings to prevent noise from entering your work sanctuary.
Working is much more pleasant when you have natural light to brighten up your space. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a window, then invest in some stylish lighting.
Photo: Katrina Wittkamp
Add a Layer of Acoustic Board
If you have the stamina for a bigger soundproofing project that may involve moving electrical boxes or reinstalling baseboards, you can glue a layer of acoustic board, and then another layer of drywall over your existing interior walls for added defense against noise from outside. Another good alternative are acoustic panels and tiles from BAUX Acoustic WoodWool.
HEXAGON WALL TILES
Soundproof Your Ceiling
If the noise is coming from above, nail 1x2-inch furring strips over three-quarter-inch rigid insulation on your ceiling. This will be a big job, as you will then need to tape, sand, and paint your ceiling after.
Mark Neely and Paul Kefalides’s living room is decked out with the couple’s vintage finds, including a Hans Wegner Sawback chair (the fur throw obscures an area needing repair), a George Nelson Ball Clock, a DF-2000 cabinet by Raymond Loewy, a light designed by Greta Von Nessen, and a suite of Brian Willshire wooden sculptures, one of Neely’s many collections.
Photo: Drew Kelly
Soundproof Your Floor
If the noise is coming from below, lay an acoustic board on top of the floor, and ideally cover it with carpeting, which provides additional sound absorption.
Study Desk
Soundproof Your Windows
If you're on a budget, install soundproof curtains from brands such as AcousticCurtain™. If you want to invest in even stronger soundproofing, install double-pane windows that can help block out noise from the street.
Edge Studio used an aluminum-and-glass curtain-wall system for the building’s façade. Enormous floor-to-ceiling windows frame impressive views of Pittsburgh’s skyscrapers to the south.
Photo: Roger Davies
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