The pandemic brought about many changes and challenges to the way we work and go to school. Having to adapt quickly to this new "virtual environment" left many people scrambling to create home offices and study spaces. This became even more of an issue when one person was trying to attend a Zoom meeting, while other family members were trying to calculate figures, answer calls, attend class or take a test online all at the same time.
Buyers have always had a "wish list," which I have often mentioned when considering home improvments. The pandemic brought both office and green spaces to the top of these lists. Since many companies have found how effective it can be to have employees woirking virtually, many are leaving there employees to work from home. All of this has driven home office space to a very high level of demand.
In addition to needing physical space, quiet space is often necessary, as well. There are some simple ways to add sound proofing (or at least sound minimizing) without actual construction. Here are some ideas.
Seal doorways and windows- In addition to saving some electricity, weather stripping can keep outside noise outside. Check for gaps around both doors and windows.
Add drapes or blinds- Heavy weight curtains can absorb sound and reduce noise from both the inside and outside. Plantation shutters and blinds can interrupt sound travel and therefore, reduce noise too.
Cover solid hard spaces- If you have solid bare floors, such as tile or wood, adding an area rug can help minimize the noise. Additionally, there are sound proofing pads that can be placed under rugs to absorb noise.
Adding plants, artwork, or bookcases- These can be especially helpful in large open spaces, such as the very popular "open floorplan." Plants can be a barrier for sound travel, by having the sounds bounce off the walls and hit the plant instead of the floor. Artwork and bookshelves can help absorb noise. The poblem with open floor plan spaces is that sound is free to bounce off many different surfaces. This often allows for echoing, as well.
There are also panels that can be added decoratively to rooms that can absorb and minimize noise. So many different options have hit the market from traditional padded panels to others that are like a 3D wallpaper mimicking stone or different artistic textures. These are simple to obtain through online vendors, such as Wayfair, and easy to install.
While it is generally impossible to rid homes of all noise, since those may be from road noise outside, household sounds like plumbing and appliances, it is possible to mitigate them by utilizing some of these ideas. Wishing you lots of peace and quiet!
"Shhh! When A Home Is Too Loud." Realtor Magazine 2021 January-February