6 easy ways to soundproof on a budget

6 easy ways to soundproof on a budget?

Performing tasks that require concentration such as sound recording or editing on a computer or simply requiring mere silence, has been some of the common reasons for me demanding a completely (or mostly) soundproof room.

The location of my house is quite unfortunate for me in terms of sounds. I have noisy neighbors. My house is on the main boulevard of the little town and it’s very close to a highway.

Soundproofing was not just an option for me anymore, ever since I needed it. So, finally a day came, when I felt an immediate necessity to cope this misery.

Here are some cheap and quick ways I used to soundproof on a budget for different parts of my home.

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Add and strategically arrange upholstered furniture

Probably the easiest way to control sound in the room is by simply adding the upholstered furniture.

When I added upholstered chairs and sofas in my room, it did reduce the sound generation/transmission, but not enough.

Upon looking online, I came up with clever ideas about rearranging my furniture to maximize its effectiveness.

Being aware of the sound sources, reflection points and entrance points (like windows and doors) made it way easier for me to use my furniture to best reduce sounds.

Related: How to soundproof a garage

Covering the floor with Carpets or Rugs

I’ve been allergic to carpets and rugs since my childhood.

However, I didn’t let them get the better of me because soundproofing was a bigger punch in the gut.

Carpets are just an elder brother to rugs because they usually just cover the entire floor.

They help in soundproofing by refraining sound vibrations from the ceiling below to travel inside or even absorb the sounds within the room.

Using Blankets

Going for blankets was kind of the nerdiest thing I’ve ever done.

But it surely was an effective way.

In order to contain the room’s sounds within and keep sounds from outside out, I had to cover the walls with the extra blankets which were in my store room and they weren’t being used for quite a while.

Alternatively, you can consider buying some heavy blankets that can greatly enhance the soundproofing effectiveness.

Hanging a blanket to the wall can be done in 3 ways.

First, arrange a curtain rod, roll the top of the blanket over it and stitch it on the back.

Second, use some comforter clips, nail them in the wall and hang the blanket by getting it clipped.

Third, purchase blankets with installed grommets. This will make it quite easier to hang them on a rod.

I performed the second one because a rod would’ve created a space between the wall and blanket and thus, sound could have a way to travel inside.

Covering the windows with Blockers or Soundproof Curtains

A large window in my room, causing light pollution inside, together with highway-noise had been a nerve-racking experience for me.

Initially, I thought of blocking the entire window by cementing it.

Blocking is surely a better way but not a cheap one. Soundproofing curtains brought my problem to an end.

If not completely soundproof, then at least the sound passing through was negligible.

I purchased the soundproof curtain made by NICETOWN from Amazon for less than $50, by far one of the best investments I have made!

It was dark and heavy, which made my room darker, softer and quieter.

Sealing the gaps – Weatherstripping

Even though soundproofing curtains helped me a lot, I still had a chance to take things even further by performing weather-stripping.

The minimal use of intellect by the architect has caused my window to have huge spaces and therefore, a highway for outdoor sounds to travel in.

I weather-stripped my windows which can help to block out sounds from outside.

I also controlled the indoor sounds by weather-stripping my room’s door as it also had a massive freeway for airflow and sounds on its bottom.

You can check out the the weather stripping tape I used too. Cheap and good.

Using Egg Cartons

It does sound funny but it is truly remarkable in terms of saving your pockets.

Considering that you don’t actually have to buy them specifically, you can save a bunch by using egg cartons, The thing to consider though is if they really work. Find out more from our post on egg carton soundproofing.

If I wanted a secondary approach should the blankets not work out, I would definitely consider using egg cartons.

Soundproof on a budget: Conclusion

Choosing the right material to soundproof your room is not as difficult as some may think.

All it takes is a bit of creativity and the willingness to carry out a small project, and your world is as peaceful as can get.

It also shows that soundproofing does not need to break the bank, as shown by the 6 steps here.

Hopefully, you are make use of these steps to help you out.

Additional resources:

How to soundproof wooden floors using 3 simple methods

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