How to Soundproof a Room Cheaply from Outside Noise

A room is the best place to enjoy a peaceful and quieter life as long as no loud noise surrounds you. If loud noise continues to enter the room through cracks and holes, it creates a troublesome situation.

According to the WHO report, noise pollution is harmful to health. Even long-term noise exposure can result in hearing loss, increased heartbeat, dizziness, deafness, etc.

A soundproof room is handy for that. There are many inexpensive methods available on how to soundproof rooms. However, the process involved in sounding a room is quite tricky and expensive.

In this article, we have shared a step-by-step guide on how to soundproof a room. Whenever you apply any of these DIY methods below to soundproof a room, you may be surprised by the results.

Because we have shared the best process here based on expert advice. Also, we have mentioned here some sound-absorbing materials that will help improve the acoustic environment of a room.

Come on then let’s begin!

Why Need Soundproof a Room?

Soundproofing your room leads to good things, like being able to focus on work, studies, and personal life, without the distractions of noise.

However, if you soundproof your room, you will be free from loud ambient noise and you can easily concentrate on any task well.

Let’s discuss why you need to soundproof your home as soon as possible.

1. Health Problems

Noise pollution is normal on noisy roads. However, a study has shown that noise pollution can cause critical health problems.

Here are some of the health problems that noise pollution can cause for the environment:

• Sound-induced hearing loss
• Mental health problems
• Irregular sleep problems
• High blood pressure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Difficult in verbal communication

There are also various other annoying environmental noises and annoying noises of vehicles that have a great effect on health problems which means that you should soundproof the room.

2.  Quality of sleep:

Soundproofing makes your sleep better. According to a study, soundproof rooms block outside noise.

If you sleep there will be no sleep disturbances and even if you don’t wake up in the middle of the night you can expect a good sleep from the sound problem.

3.  Privacy:

Without the soundproofing of floors, doors, walls, and windows of a room, you cannot shout. You cannot discuss any need in secret.

If you soundproof your interior, windows, doors, ceilings, etc. Then you can talk openly and get a sense of individuality and security.

You can be completely safe because soundproofing will block the sound of your mouth from traveling outside or into your neighbor’s building.

4.  Focus on work:

Suppose you are doing any important work in your home. If you face the problem of traffic noise or a noisy environment disrupting your work!

You must soundproof the room. Soundproofing the room prevents outside noise from entering the room. So you can easily focus on any work in the soundproof room.

DIY vs. Professional Soundproofing

Many soundproofing projects can be installed by doing it yourself and some projects require professional experience.

You should first consider what you can and can’t do. Depending on that you can go ahead. Because DIY is cost-effective for simple projects.

There are some complex projects, such as adding weatherstripping or using curtains, that are DIY-friendly, and installing acoustic insulation or soundproofing is best left to the professionals.

11 DIY Tips for Soundproof a Room

We discuss some DIY tips for soundproofing a house. Hope you find it useful.

Let’s take a look at DIY tips for soundproofing.

1. Strategic arrange the furniture:

Here’s a simple tip to completely change the way you perceive sound in your room. The tip is to rearrange your surroundings.

Placing cupboards and shelves against thin partitions helps block noise from neighbors and reduces the frequency of sound that will be heard inside your home.

However, furniture can also affect the way sound is reflected in a room.

So while sound waves can bounce off leather, wood, and other similar materials, soft, cushioned furniture will stop them.

2. Floor carpet:

If you leave the floor of the room you are soundproofing bare, you may have some problems.

You may be annoyed by the sound of your feet walking across the floor. If you are concentrating on a task or studying, the sound of the floor can distract you.

So spread the rug or carpet on your floor before you get bored. But remember that the carpet should be thick.

If you don’t get a thick carpet, keep several thin rugs one by one that you can spread in succession to thicken the rug.

3. Floor underlayment:

We will first know what the underlayment is. Underlayment is a phone, cork, and rubber that goes between the mezzanine and the subfloor.

Underlayment can soften and stabilize your floor. As well as blocking sound from passing through it.

The process requires you to lift the flaring and put it back in place after unrolling the underlay underneath.

4. Block the air vents:

Before you proceed to reinforce your walls, you should carefully check for holes, cracks, and looseness.

To put it nicely, in a word you may have an open air vent somewhere around you. There are several ways to close off areas without damaging the ventilation system.

If the room you’re soundproofing has windows, you can feel free to block the vent:

• You put drywall over it (then put plaster over it and sand it down and paint it).
•  Fill it with expanded foam insulation.
•  Plug it in with an acoustic foam.
• You create a labyrinth inside the vent that reduces noise but allows airflow.
• You’ll tape off the inside of the vent grate with plywood, then tape over everything for good measure.

If you want to get the velvet out of your sight, you cover it with furniture.

5. DIY Draft Stopper Making

If you don’t use nails or glue, you can make draft stoppers to close the gap under the door.

Homemade draft stoppers are two stuffed fabric tubes connected by a flat channel that slides under the door. If you move the Favik fabric sleeve as you move the door, secure it well with velcro tape.

There is a much easier way to make DIY draft stoppers. Some have made this DIY draft stopper by stuffing rice into stockings or stuffing old pillows with fabric scraps.

 Alternatively, you can buy it online which is a good option for you.

6. Install Door Sweep:

If you want to completely soundproof a room, you won’t be able to block sound unless you block the gap under the door. One way to do this is to install door sweeps under the door with glue or nails.

Generally, most door sweeps are made of a combination of rubber, metal, or plastic. First, you must place the flat metal or plastic piece over the door and the flexible rubber bit on the floor before you insert the nail.

7. Hang Paintings or Tapestries

An inexpensive method of soundproofing a space is to use tapestries and paintings. They can also reduce noise levels within a space and cover up less attractive soundproofing options such as mass loaded vinyl.

Hanging tapestries and paintings on a flat wall would affect the acoustics of the room. All sounds are amplified in a space because they are constantly bouncing off hard objects.

8. Weather Stripping

We all know that it is very impossible to soundproof windows. Even if a room’s windows are closed, some outside noise still enters the room. You can solve the problem by Weatherstripping and applying the new tape.

It is easy to install on windows and doors depending on the material you want to use it with. But you need to replace it more regularly.

If you want a long-lasting solution then you must opt for an expensive product. Because the weatherstripping tape will last you between two to four years.

9. Window Plug

Windows are the most important areas of any room because they allow noise to enter. The glass itself can be an additional source of noise that is built into the window.

Window plugs are the solution to both problems simultaneously. If the window plug fits snugly into the window, it should be able to block out most loud noises coming in from outside.

However, if you want to maintain the acoustic environment inside the room, you should cover the blocked windows with a separate fabric panel.

10. Homemade Soundproofing Panels

If you have a home theater room or a recording studio, soundproofing the room is a must. If you have some budget and DIY ideas you can easily soundproof your room using the homemade panels.

11. Wooden Frame

A wooden frame should be made to contain the soundproofing pad. That requires some power tools that can cut the wood well to make the frame and fill them in the required places, with glue or screws.

Effective Materials for Cheap Soundproofing

There are many sound-absorbing materials that you can use to soundproof a room in your home.

Below is a list of materials you can use to soundproof a room and also how they work individually.

1. Soundproof Blankets:

You may be wondering why use blankets for soundproofing. The fact is that a blanket will be especially helpful for soundproofing.

Soundproofing can be a friend, especially those made from these materials Polyester, Fiberglass insulation, cotton, Mass load vinyl, Nylon, etc.

The blankets above are included in the list of cheaper options. All of these blankets you’ll use on the wall may need some help, as premium sound-blocking blankets can weigh anywhere from 7 pounds to 90 pounds.

Arranging soundproof blankets with soundproof curtains in a strategic way within your room will be a good start to your efforts to soundproof the room.

So, always try to use a good blanket because a blanket will greatly help your soundproofing.

2. Curtains:

When trying to learn how to soundproof a room putting up a set of soundproof curtains is a sure way to soundproof your room window. Soundproof curtains work a lot like their blanket counterparts in reducing noise and absorbing sound.

There are two benefits of curtains with soundproof blankets, first one is the curtains will not only block a degree of noise coming from outside the window, and the second one is they will also act as a sound absorber within the room.

3. Egg Cartons:

When you start discussing soundproofing a room with your friends or family members you can hear about the sound-absorbing material suggested name egg cartoons.

You can use egg cartons as sound absorbers for free to reduce echoes and sound resonance. One of the most popular soundproofing options is egg cartons.

Egg cartons are too light and very thin. However, they are not as effective as their reputation.

Have you ever tried this free soundproofing technique?

4. Sound absorbing Rugs:

Cheap and cheerful rugs help with soundproofing. A soundproofing floor can be easy with sound-absorbing rugs, which integrate the elements of Bamboo fiber, cotton, wool, etc.

These rugs should be thick enough to soundproof, about 10mm to about 18mm to absorb sound coming from the floor.

The Rugs are useful for people with small babies who are prone to tripping over their feet on the floor.

5. Acoustic Panel:

An acoustic panel helps to soundproof walls, ceilings, and doors. Acoustic panels absorb sound and convert it into heat energy.

Acoustic panels also can improve the sound quality of music and movies, reduce stress levels, and make communication more effective.

Most acoustic panels come in different types such as Fiberglass, Porous wood, Vegetable-based fabric or textile, and Polyester.

These acoustic panels also come in different sizes Rectangular panels, Wedges or wall studs, Hexagonal acoustic panels, and Square panels with horizontal and vertical lines.

Since these acoustic panels are visible their placement affects the visual aesthetics of your room. The panels are a good way to determine how much you need to soundproof the room.

6. Acoustic Foam

Let us first know what an acoustic foam is. Acoustic foam is a flexible, porous sound-absorbing material and is used to improve room acoustics.

Acoustic foam is made from open-cell foam. Acoustic foam reduces the amplitude of airborne sound waves and dissipates energy as heat.

It is also used to reduce reflection, creating a balanced acoustic environment, and can be attached to other features of the room.

We hope that we have given you some idea about acoustic foam and you will benefit from it.
Also, acoustic foam has one drawback is that it can release a high level of smoke when burned.

7. Acoustic caulk

Acoustic caulk is also commonly known as acoustical sound sealant or noise-proofing sealant. Acoustic caulk is used in construction and renovation to seal gaps in walls, ceilings, floors, and windows. 

 Here we have some advantages of acoustic caulk for you:

•  It can reduce noise by up to 15%.
•  Maintains the Sound Transmission Class (STC) of surfaces in a room.
•  Dampen sound transfer between building materials such as drywall, wood, metal studs, and concrete.
•  It is easy to apply and can be used on small holes, and cracks.

Some areas where you can apply acoustic caulk are Cracks in walls and floorboards, Thin wall patches, Ceiling receptacle boxes, Around the window, Gaps in wall insulation, and Electrical covers all around.

8. Cotton Batts:

Cotton batts layers create a porous composition that absorbs sound. The cotton batts are placed on walls, ceilings, and floors of the room.

When you place them it helps limit the sound reverberation and stop the noise entering the room.

These are made from recycled cotton materials and can be the better alternative and budget-friendly if you do not have the budget for fiberglass insulation.

Final Thoughts

Soundproofing a room isn’t that challenging if you set up your space with the suggestions above. Now you know how to install materials, what sound-absorbing materials to buy, and importantly, DIY vs. professional sound issues.

All the tips we have given above are not only inexpensive but also budget-friendly and very easy to implement. With a little effort, you can make your environment calm and relaxing.

So why are you waiting? Find the gaps or cracks in your room from where sound is entering the room and start your soundproofing project.

Frequently Asked Question