Stylish Ways to Improve Your Interior Acoustics
From acoustic plaster and panels to sound-absorbing art and soft furnishings, we help you turn down the volume at home
If you’ve ever strained to hear your friend talking on the opposite side of your dining table, or struggled to hear the television above the din of your dryer or kettle, poor interior acoustics could be to blame – not your hearing. While a well-insulated home helps prevent outside noise from creeping in, these stylish design tips will help reduce inside noise levels and usher in some peace and quiet.
Acoustic plaster
Acoustic plaster is one of the most innovative advancements currently sweeping the international sound scene, due to its noise-absorbing properties. Plaster can be applied to walls, ceilings and even curved surfaces such as those in Johnston Marklee’s VaultHouse in California, USA. Here, BASWAPhon sound-absorbing marble plaster was used on the ceilings and walls to reduce noise reverberation in this exquisitely curvilinear space, which would otherwise have become an echo chamber.
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Acoustic plaster is one of the most innovative advancements currently sweeping the international sound scene, due to its noise-absorbing properties. Plaster can be applied to walls, ceilings and even curved surfaces such as those in Johnston Marklee’s VaultHouse in California, USA. Here, BASWAPhon sound-absorbing marble plaster was used on the ceilings and walls to reduce noise reverberation in this exquisitely curvilinear space, which would otherwise have become an echo chamber.
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Echoes – when sound waves reflect off hard, smooth surfaces and bounce back to us – are common in small or enclosed spaces. This mid-century modern home in north London, UK cleverly avoided this fate in its stairwell by building a sound-absorbing plaster wall.
James Wells Architects and Holt Construction used Armourcoat, an acoustic plaster system that bonds a mineral wool composite panel onto a substrate, then is finished with a smooth layer of acoustic plaster. Sound waves pass through the surface and are absorbed by the mineral wool beneath.
Tip: Acoustic plasters can be pigmented to match your paint.
James Wells Architects and Holt Construction used Armourcoat, an acoustic plaster system that bonds a mineral wool composite panel onto a substrate, then is finished with a smooth layer of acoustic plaster. Sound waves pass through the surface and are absorbed by the mineral wool beneath.
Tip: Acoustic plasters can be pigmented to match your paint.
Perforated acoustic panels
Gone are the days when perforated acoustic panels were a blemish on the face of interior design. These days, they are more streamlined than ever, which this home in Geelong, Victoria attests to. Blue Horizon Interiors installed perforated plaster panels in the kitchen and dining room ceiling to reduce echoes from the polished concrete flooring. The result? A design detail in its own right that helps turn down the volume.
Gone are the days when perforated acoustic panels were a blemish on the face of interior design. These days, they are more streamlined than ever, which this home in Geelong, Victoria attests to. Blue Horizon Interiors installed perforated plaster panels in the kitchen and dining room ceiling to reduce echoes from the polished concrete flooring. The result? A design detail in its own right that helps turn down the volume.
Perforated acoustic panels are not only limited to ceilings. See the feature wall above the kitchen in this striking Herne Bay villa in Auckland, New Zealand? It’s actually an acoustic panel that Gerrad Hall Architects cleverly used to provide sound insulation. Acoustic panels work by absorbing sound waves via porous perforations. Some even have a soft material backing, such as gauze or scrim, which further soaks up noise.
Tip: Panels come in sheet form, so they can be cut to size and are available in different materials, including plaster and plywood.
Tip: Panels come in sheet form, so they can be cut to size and are available in different materials, including plaster and plywood.
Timber battens
The ceiling beams in this San Diego, USA residence by Thomas Development incorporate Helmholtz resonators, which an audio engineer customised to improve the home’s acoustics. These noise-cancelling and -absorbing devices usually absorb lower frequencies, but can be fine-tuned to soak up mid-frequency sounds as well.
Even without inbuilt acoustic devices, however, timber battens go a long way toward soundproofing your home, as wood is one of the most effective natural building materials for interrupting the path of sound waves.
The ceiling beams in this San Diego, USA residence by Thomas Development incorporate Helmholtz resonators, which an audio engineer customised to improve the home’s acoustics. These noise-cancelling and -absorbing devices usually absorb lower frequencies, but can be fine-tuned to soak up mid-frequency sounds as well.
Even without inbuilt acoustic devices, however, timber battens go a long way toward soundproofing your home, as wood is one of the most effective natural building materials for interrupting the path of sound waves.
Similar to perforated panels, timber battens can be backed with acoustic material such as scrim or gauze to further dampen sound. They can be worked into new builds as well as being fixed to existing structures – a major advantage if you have an acoustic problem at home but aren’t planning a renovation.
Timber battens can be used on walls, ceilings and even as room dividers on flat planes and curves alike.
Fine Lines: The Benefits of Building With Timber Battens
Timber battens can be used on walls, ceilings and even as room dividers on flat planes and curves alike.
Fine Lines: The Benefits of Building With Timber Battens
Upholstered walls
If you’re craving peace and quiet, upholstered walls could help soundproof your interior. Fabrics come in countless designs from burlap to leather, so you can opt for plain finishes and neutrals or bold flourishes and colours either on a feature wall or throughout your home. For extra sound absorption, try using an acoustic-rated foam backing.
Tip: Try upholstering a piece of furniture to match your walls.
If you’re craving peace and quiet, upholstered walls could help soundproof your interior. Fabrics come in countless designs from burlap to leather, so you can opt for plain finishes and neutrals or bold flourishes and colours either on a feature wall or throughout your home. For extra sound absorption, try using an acoustic-rated foam backing.
Tip: Try upholstering a piece of furniture to match your walls.
Wallpaper
Wallpaper has been enjoying some well-deserved time in the spotlight lately, and now we can add sound reduction to its list of advantages. Wallpaper’s sumptuous textural surface is well suited to diffusing noise. With so many patterns, colours, finishes and neutrals available, the hardest part will be choosing a design.
Tip: Not ready to take the plunge into the world of wallpaper? Soak up excess sound with a fabric banquette seat such as this one instead.
Wallpaper has been enjoying some well-deserved time in the spotlight lately, and now we can add sound reduction to its list of advantages. Wallpaper’s sumptuous textural surface is well suited to diffusing noise. With so many patterns, colours, finishes and neutrals available, the hardest part will be choosing a design.
Tip: Not ready to take the plunge into the world of wallpaper? Soak up excess sound with a fabric banquette seat such as this one instead.
Blinds, curtains and shutters
As well as providing privacy, window coverings can help reduce excess noise. By installing blinds, curtains and shutters on the insides of your windows you will disrupt the path of sound waves, which would otherwise reflect off the glass panes and bounce back into your room.
Softly, Softly: Turning Down the Volume at Home
As well as providing privacy, window coverings can help reduce excess noise. By installing blinds, curtains and shutters on the insides of your windows you will disrupt the path of sound waves, which would otherwise reflect off the glass panes and bounce back into your room.
Softly, Softly: Turning Down the Volume at Home
Adhesive acoustic tiles
Tiles are often the culprits of poor interior acoustics, but not these felt ones. More porous and pliable than their ceramic brothers you’ll find in tiled bathrooms, acoustic tiles absorb sound waves rather than reflect them. Many acoustic wall tiles, such as these bright geometric felt triangles, have special adhesive backing so they can be removed and repositioned like ever-changing wall art.
Tiles are often the culprits of poor interior acoustics, but not these felt ones. More porous and pliable than their ceramic brothers you’ll find in tiled bathrooms, acoustic tiles absorb sound waves rather than reflect them. Many acoustic wall tiles, such as these bright geometric felt triangles, have special adhesive backing so they can be removed and repositioned like ever-changing wall art.
Acoustic wall art
Can you spot the acoustic panel in this picture? Here’s a hint: look closely at the artwork. It features a colourful fabric print from Swedish textile designer Louise Videlyck, which has been affixed to an acoustic panel by Alex&Elle. Acoustic wall art can be customised to your taste and space – consider using a triptych to help reduce noise in large rooms, or a single piece to usher silence into small spaces.
Tip: Most acoustic wall art is hung in the same way as regular paintings, so you can take it with you if you move.
Can you spot the acoustic panel in this picture? Here’s a hint: look closely at the artwork. It features a colourful fabric print from Swedish textile designer Louise Videlyck, which has been affixed to an acoustic panel by Alex&Elle. Acoustic wall art can be customised to your taste and space – consider using a triptych to help reduce noise in large rooms, or a single piece to usher silence into small spaces.
Tip: Most acoustic wall art is hung in the same way as regular paintings, so you can take it with you if you move.
Rugs
One of the oldest tricks in the book of sound reduction, rugs work wonders in reducing interior noise levels. The thicker and more textured your rug, the more noise it will diffuse, so opt for a sumptuous shag pile rather than a flat weave, and try to choose natural fibres such as wool, hide or even sisal instead of synthetics.
Rug pads, which sit between your rug and the floor, further help increase the quality of a room’s acoustics and, as an added bonus, will prolong your rug’s lifespan.
Tip: Adopt a layered approach as seen in this room – the rug, upholstered bed, chair, curtains and even the floor lamps all work in concert to reduce noise.
Decorating With Rugs: From Craft to Art Form
One of the oldest tricks in the book of sound reduction, rugs work wonders in reducing interior noise levels. The thicker and more textured your rug, the more noise it will diffuse, so opt for a sumptuous shag pile rather than a flat weave, and try to choose natural fibres such as wool, hide or even sisal instead of synthetics.
Rug pads, which sit between your rug and the floor, further help increase the quality of a room’s acoustics and, as an added bonus, will prolong your rug’s lifespan.
Tip: Adopt a layered approach as seen in this room – the rug, upholstered bed, chair, curtains and even the floor lamps all work in concert to reduce noise.
Decorating With Rugs: From Craft to Art Form
Fabric pendant lamps
If you’ve ever wanted to replace that dusty old light fitting but needed an excuse, blame the acoustics in your room and you’ll have one. As well as being truly trendy, textile pendant lamps can work wonders in bringing a bit of hush to your home. As with all things acoustic, the bigger and thicker your fabric light fittings are, the better.
The trio of dreamy, cloud-like cloth pendants in this Bronte, Sydney apartment by Caroline McCredie do double duty in dampening noise levels in a space with highly reflective materials.
Tip: Renting or can’t hang new light fittings? Look for fabric floor lamps instead.
If you’ve ever wanted to replace that dusty old light fitting but needed an excuse, blame the acoustics in your room and you’ll have one. As well as being truly trendy, textile pendant lamps can work wonders in bringing a bit of hush to your home. As with all things acoustic, the bigger and thicker your fabric light fittings are, the better.
The trio of dreamy, cloud-like cloth pendants in this Bronte, Sydney apartment by Caroline McCredie do double duty in dampening noise levels in a space with highly reflective materials.
Tip: Renting or can’t hang new light fittings? Look for fabric floor lamps instead.
Upholstered furniture
Do you ever struggle to hear what your guests are saying across the dinner table? Upholstered chairs could be the answer, or slipcovers, if you don’t quite trust hungry hands not to spill the soup. Go a step further if acoustics are a big issue in your home and consider swapping a glass dining table for a timber one.
Tip: Dressing up your dining table with napkins, placemats, a table runner and even a few vases of flowers can help absorb noise.
Do you ever struggle to hear what your guests are saying across the dinner table? Upholstered chairs could be the answer, or slipcovers, if you don’t quite trust hungry hands not to spill the soup. Go a step further if acoustics are a big issue in your home and consider swapping a glass dining table for a timber one.
Tip: Dressing up your dining table with napkins, placemats, a table runner and even a few vases of flowers can help absorb noise.
And finally… soft furnishings
The humble notice board can now do a lot more than display memos, trinkets and your treasured photographs – they are also excellent sound soakers.
These grey felt panels from Norm Architects are from a range of functional and decorative sound absorbing homewares that also boast key holders, clocks, coat racks and letter holders.
If you’ve hung some curtains, thrown down a rug and upholstered your dining chairs but still find the noise levels in your home too high, it may be time to call in a pro.
The humble notice board can now do a lot more than display memos, trinkets and your treasured photographs – they are also excellent sound soakers.
These grey felt panels from Norm Architects are from a range of functional and decorative sound absorbing homewares that also boast key holders, clocks, coat racks and letter holders.
If you’ve hung some curtains, thrown down a rug and upholstered your dining chairs but still find the noise levels in your home too high, it may be time to call in a pro.
But before you pick up the phone, head to your favourite homewares stores and buy a throw for the couch, some new cushions, a table runner, jute storage baskets and consider replacing glass-framed art with a textural piece instead – a little retail therapy can go a long way in curing acoustic issues.
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What have you done to improve the acoustics of your home? Like and bookmark this story and share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
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Read about more design features
Tell us
What have you done to improve the acoustics of your home? Like and bookmark this story and share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
More
Read about more design features
Remember that physics class about the fundamentals of sound? Neither do I. To jog our collective memories, sound travels in waves or vibrations, which our ears register and our brains interpret. A quiet rustle of leaves measures about 20 decibels, human speech is around 60 to 70 decibels and sounds over 85 decibels can damage your hearing and be downright irritating.
This is where acoustics come in: you can’t control how loud your dinner guests talk, but you can make sure the sound is absorbed and diffused, not reflected. Essentially, the more pliable and porous a material is, the more sound it absorbs; the more dense and smooth a surface is, the more noise it reflects.