Enhancing Home Acoustics: Budget-Friendly and Upscale Solutions for Your Interior Design
Introduction
Living in a modern home with vaulted ceilings, polished concrete floors, and expansive glass walls can create stunning aesthetics, but it also poses challenges for sound absorption. In this blog post I’ll share the results of my investigations into how to tackle echoes and enhance sound quality in interior design.
Understanding the Acoustic Challenge in Interior Design
Living in a space with hard surfaces can lead to sound bouncing around the room, causing echoes and amplifying noises. This challenge prompted me to seek out effective solutions to improve the acoustics of my living room, particularly focusing on the tall gable wall behind the TV.
Budget Friendly Solutions for Interior Design
First up are the budget friendly options:
Plants – yes I know, who’d have thought! Apparently the leaves of plants absorb sound, so, either get lots of plants (which is what I’ve been doing) or invest in a plant with very large leaves like a Monstera or Bird of Paradise.
Rugs (or carpet) – I’m not putting down carpet but I did notice a slight improvement when we got the rug for the living room. Again it’s all about something absorbing the sound and it’s a great way to add some colour and texture to your hard floors. I might consider a rug with a thicker pile for over the winter months, as that would work better for sound absorption than the thin rug we have now.
Soft furnishings – Curtains will really help, especially when they are a thick and heavy material and closed over at night. Also add throws and cushions onto your sofas and consider using floor cushions!
Wall art – large canvases or wall hangings are great for absorbing sound. You can even buy specialised artwork now that has been made of a material that will absorb more sound than normal canvas! Very popular for office spaces etc but can be used in residential properties too.
Books – I had never thought of this but what an easy way to add some sound absorbing material to your room. A tall bookcase filled with books would be brilliant! Or even a small bookshelf could make a difference.
Furniture Placement – think about where your furniture is placed – can you place it in front of a wall or window that you know bounces sound back into the room or use it to create a barrier in the middle of an open plan area. Also consider the type of furniture you have – is it slim framed or chunky – the bigger the better for absorbing sound. I’ve realised I’m not getting the full benefit of my chunky sideboard as it sits directly behind a sofa so I might experiment with moving this.
Upscale Solutions for Interior Design
And now the more expensive options:
Wooden beams or acoustic panels on the ceiling – This could give the impression that the ceiling has been lowered, so if you choose this option think about what colour you want the beams and panels. Keep the same colour as ceiling if you don’t want to affect the feel of the height of the room.
Bricks – turn a wall into a brick wall. Bricks absorb more sound that plaster. You can use brick slips and just stick them onto the existing wall like we did in our bathroom.
Wood panelling – so many different options for adding panelling, from ship lap to the thin panels you can buy. Be creative and use the panelling that suits the style of your house.
A fabric sofa – fabric absorbs more sound than leather – so if your existing sofa is leather and you’re due a change, consider replacing it with a fabric one.
Conclusion
Improving the acoustics of your home is essential for creating a comfortable and enjoyable living space. By implementing a combination of budget-friendly and upscale solutions, you can effectively reduce echoes and enhance sound quality in your living room. Consider experimenting with different options to find the perfect solution for your space and lifestyle. Let me know which solutions you're considering for your living room, and feel free to share any success stories or tips of your own!