The noisy clatter of footsteps from the neighbors upstairs. The incessant barking of a dog down the hall. The blaring sirens and rumbling traffic out on the street at all hours. Living in an apartment, especially in an urban area, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of unwelcome noise invading your living space.
A peaceful living environment is essential for relaxation, good sleep, focus and mental well-being. This article offers four simple tips for creating a serene living environment.
If the noise at hand is coming from your neighbors, you can discuss your frustrations with them before making any upgrades to your apartment. Wait for the right time — not in the middle of a noisy episode — and kindly explain what noises are bothering you and when they occur.
You can work together to find a solution, such as closing doors more quietly or turning the TV volume down after a certain hour. A clear discussion is beneficial because your neighbors might not realize the noise they’re making.
If you’ve tried to communicate with noisy neighbors to no avail and earbuds and noise-canceling headphones aren’t cutting it, here are four ways to soundproof your apartment and create a quiet, more serene home. These solutions can also help remote workers, musicians needing practice space, people working night shifts, individuals sensitive to noise or people living near high-traffic areas.
Creating a consistent background sound can significantly aid noise reduction, making disruptive sounds less noticeable. White noise contains all of the frequencies across the audible sound spectrum and masks sudden changes in environmental sounds, making it easier for your brain to filter out unwanted noise.
There are many easy ways to add white noise to your space, including:
Other calming, ambient sounds — such as soft, instrumental or vibrational frequency music — can mask noises. Position your white noise source between you and the primary noise for optimal results. Place it near your bed but not directly beside your head during sleep.
Another simple way to soundproof your apartment is to fill it with soft, sound-dampening materials. A sparsely furnished apartment with bare walls and floors can often seem louder as sound waves bounce and echo off the hard surfaces. Adding more furniture, plush home decor items and textiles is an easy way to absorb and muffle some of that unwanted ambient noise for a quiet apartment.
Place a big, thick rug on hardwood or tile flooring. The thicker and plusher the carpet, the better it absorbs sound. You could also hang curtains made of heavy, tightly woven fabrics like velvet, suede or tweed. Keep them drawn to provide an extra layer of sound absorption. Help soundproof walls with tapestries, quilts, macramé wall hangings, decorative fabric panels or padded canvas art. These will prevent sound from bouncing directly off hard wall surfaces.
Add upholstered furniture with tall backs, such as a couch, armchairs and ottomans, to help block sound. You could also place large bookshelves against shared walls and fill them with books, plants and decor items to add mass. Incorporate plenty of pillows, throw blankets, woven baskets, fabric lampshades and other soft, sound-absorbing elements into the space.
The more soft surfaces and dense objects you can add to the room, the more opportunities for sound waves to be absorbed rather than reflected. Place heavier, bulkier furniture like dressers or hutches directly against the noisier walls to further block sound transmission.
In addition to general home decor, there are some strategic buffers you can add to minimize the noise, including:
By getting creative with your interior design and incorporating noise-reducing buffer elements into your decor scheme, you can create a quiet apartment that looks as good as it sounds. Choose sound-absorbing materials and items that tie in with your furniture and color palette so they feel purposeful and integrated.
Even tiny cracks and gaps around doors and windows can let a lot of noise pollution into your apartment. Sealing these sound leaks is a simple yet effective measure for soundproofing your apartment.
To close gaps, use self-adhesive weatherstripping around the perimeter of the doorframe. Install a door sweep along the bottom to seal the space between the door and the floor. Consider hanging a fabric door curtain to muffle noise from the other side.
For street-facing windows in busy urban environments, use soundproof window inserts to provide an airtight and soundproof seal. You can also use weatherstripping to fill in noticeable cracks or gaps where noise can sneak through. Finally, hang soundproof curtains to minimize sound transfer.
Remember to always double-check your lease and consult your landlord before applying weatherstripping, door sweeps or window inserts.
Your home should be your sanctuary, a tranquil refuge from the noisy outside world where you can relax, recharge and refocus in undisturbed peace. At Triple Crown Corporation, we understand the importance of a quiet apartment for our residents’ well-being and quality of life. Our homes have thick walls and windows to create a serene living experience, and our community guidelines promote respectful living and noise reduction.
If you’re looking for an apartment that prioritizes quiet, we’ve got you covered. Browse our available apartments in Pennsylvania and Maryland, or contact us today to find your retreat.
