10 Simple Ways to Soundproof Your Home on a Budget

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A home that’s quiet can be a haven — a place to relax and get away from everything else. If your neighbors are noisy, if there’s traffic noise, or even if there’s just the clatter of your family going about their daily lives, then peace and quiet can seem a little out of reach.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune or hire professionals to make your environment more peaceful. You can vastly reduce the noise that gets in or out of your home with a few clever tricks and some inexpensive materials.

Weatherstrip Doors and Windows

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Weatherstripping is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to cut down on noise coming through doors and windows. But this rubber or foam material seals up the space so air (and sound) doesn’t seep through around the edges of the window and door frames. Not only will you decrease the noise, but you’ll also make your home more energy efficient, keeping drafts out in the colder months. Two birds, one stone!

Use Acoustic Foam Panels

But if you think acoustic foam is only for professional recording studios, think again – these foam panels are growing increasingly common for use in the home – in home offices, or entertainment rooms. They absorb and dampen sound vibrations helping to wipe out internal echo in the room. Small, inexpensive panels can be purchased and placed strategically on walls to cut down on noise without taking over your whole space.

Rearrange Furniture

You’d be surprised to know, but it does affect the acoustics of a room the way your furniture is arranged. Bookshelves, couches, wardrobes and other large, bulky objects can serve as sound barriers, to actually block or absorb sound. If you’re having noise from a shared wall with a neighbor, try placing a filled bookshelf against that wall to provide an extra buffer between the two spaces.

Seal Gaps with Caulk

Caulk is your best friend if sound is sneaking in through the small spaces around window frames, electrical outlets, or along baseboards. One cheap and easy way to fill in all those tiny spaces that let sound in is to apply caulk to these areas. It’s kind of like plugging up the little leaks in a boat so it doesn’t let in the unwanted intrusions into your space.

Add Wall Art or Tapestries

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Rooms with bare walls tend to be echoey too because bare walls reflect sound. You can soften those sound reflections by hanging up wall art, fabric tapestries or even DIY soundproofing art made from thick canvas. A great way to rid of noise and give your space a little extra pizzazz. I didn’t know decorating could double as soundproofing.

Draft Stoppers for Doors

Draft stoppers (also known as door snakes) are a quick fix if you’re dealing with noise that sneaks in under doors. They are fabric tubes that block the gap under your door so you don’t hear any noise. They’re cheap, simple to use, and come in a variety of fun shapes and sizes, meaning you can make your soundproofing efforts both functional and fashionable.

Hang Heavy Curtains

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According to PYT Studio, outside noise can be reduced with a thick set of curtains. These sound absorbing drapes provide an extra layer of insulation, which damps the noise that gets through your windows. If you’re on a budget, regular curtains work, layered for extra thickness. You don’t have to buy something ‘soundproof’ for it to work.

Floor Rugs or Carpets

While hardwood and tile floors may be sleek, they can also amplify noise so you hear it bouncing around like an echo chamber, as this oaktreefloors article attests. Rugs and carpets are soft materials that absorb sound, absorbing footsteps and other sounds that will create noise inside your home. Plus, you’ll be thanking your feet for the extra comfort! Thick, plush rugs do the job better if possible.

Bookshelves as Sound Barriers

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Placing bookshelves filled with books, plants, or other items against a noisy wall will make a great sound barrier. The thick, solid structure absorbs and blocks sounds and the contents are an additional sound dampened layer. And this is also extra storage which is always a win win!

Use White Noise Machines

If everything fails to soundproof your house, you can buy a white noise machine. These machines counter noise in your home by producing a sound that kind of masks of drowns the unwanted outside noise. It also helps you feel very relaxed, and is also very helpful if you have problem falling for asleep.e difference can be made, especially in rooms with a lot of foot traffic or shared walls.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.