Working Remotely – In Peace

If you have recently switched to remote work, you may have been shocked by the level of noise in your home every day. You aren’t alone! Workers all across the country are realizing their homes aren’t the peaceful workspace they hoped for. Whether it be the sound of traffic outside your home or kids in it, there are many options to reduce noise levels to increase your productivity!

In today’s post we will be covering some of the most common and effective solutions to noise pollution at home:

• Floors – If your workspace has tile or hardwood/laminate flooring, you may want to consider covering it up! Hard surfaces reflect soundwaves, causing them to amplify and echo. Obviously, this isn’t ideal! To help cut these sounds down to a minimum, put a rug down! Rugs will absorb those soundwaves instead of reflecting them. There are even sound deadening pads available that can go under your rug!
• Walls – If you have an open floorplan, you probably already know how sound can bounce all through the house without a problem. You can minimize this a few different ways. Several companies make fabric covered “acoustic panels” designed to absorb soundwaves that would otherwise bounce off of your walls. There are many different options and styles to choose from so you are sure to find something you like! Another option is a bookcase strategically placed against the wall. Even a half-full bookcase can make a big difference in the sound levels of a room, just like the acoustic panels! Lastly, artwork can be a great way to reduce echoing in your room. There are even acoustic art panels available specifically for this use!
• Windows – Windows are some of the biggest sound-leaking parts of your home. Properly sealing windows is crucial to block outside noise from entering your home and disturbing your work. There are many ways to go about soundproofing windows; we will cover the best affordable options! First up is window weather stripping! The stripping that comes on your windows can deteriorate over time, allowing sound to leak in! You can combat this by adding foam weather-stripping over the original seals. This will create an airtight seal, blocking outside noise! Even with perfect seals around your windows, sound may still make it through the glass and disturb you! Luckily, there are soundproof curtains available to further block unwanted sound waves from entering your home! Many of these curtains are thermally insulated too, which will help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Doors – While they aren’t something we always think about, a lot of noise can leak in from your doors! Solid doors (as opposed to hollow-core doors) block a good amount of sound by themselves. The problem areas are around the door where a complete seal may not be happening. Remedy this by installing weather stripping where the door meets it’s frame! This stripping usually uses built-in adhesive, making install a breeze! If you also want to seal the bottom of the door, install a door sweep. This simple invention blocks drafts, and noise, from getting underneath the door. These usually take a few screws to install. If you are trying to block excess sound from getting through a hollow-core door, you may want to add mass loaded vinyl to either the core or face of the door. The reason this may be needed is hollow-core doors tend to absorb sound rather than reflect it like their solid-core siblings. Adding vinyl will further deaden any sounds trying to get through!

We hope this post has given you some insight on sound-proofing your home for remote work, or simply for a quieter space! If you have any questions about our blog, or you would like to talk to a Southwest Colorado real estate professional, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to stay up to date on our virtual open house series and NextHome RMR updates!