How to Reduce Noise Levels in an Apartment: 10 Life Hacks

You want to relax at home from unnecessary noise, but street noise, TV and neighbors' parties prevent you from doing so? A few useful life hacks will help fix the situation.

Replace Windows

It is mostly through windows that street noise penetrates. Install new double-glazed windows with improved sound insulation — the thickness of the glass affects it. For efficiency, alternate thick (8 mm) and thin (4 mm) glass.

In old wooden windows, you can also increase sound insulation properties: replace thin glass with thicker ones — 5–6 mm.

Design: Daria Ermak

Eliminate Door Gaps

If you can tell when your neighbors arrive and leave by the noise on the staircase, it's time to upgrade your entry door.

There should be no gaps in the door frame. To ensure the door panel fits snugly against the frame, use rubber or foam weatherstripping. Apply one strip to the door itself and another to the frame — this creates a double effect.

Choose a Ceiling

A suspended or stretch ceiling can help against noisy neighbors living above. It will suppress sounds and create good acoustics in the room. Additional sound insulation for the ceiling can be achieved with fiberglass materials.

Glaze the Balcony

If you have an open balcony, consider glazing it. This step will significantly improve the sound insulation of your apartment. Useful square meters will also increase: you can turn the balcony into a study or lounge area.

Design: Tatiana Petrova

Check Outlets

Electrical outlets are one of the sources of unwanted sounds in an apartment. There are several ways to solve this: relocate built-in outlets, replace them with surface-mounted ones, or insert a sound-insulating plug made of mineral wool into the socket.

Buy a Quiet Vacuum Cleaner

Loud vacuum cleaners are from the past. New quiet models have long won over housewives' hearts. This solution is ideal for homes with small children or pets. No one will wake up or be startled by a loud sound during cleaning.

Lay a Carpet on the Floor

A fluffy, soft carpet not only adds warmth to the room but also absorbs unwanted sounds.

Design: Liliya Golub

Decorate Walls Properly

You can hang a carpet, or decorative sound-insulating panels make an excellent alternative. They are easy to install and almost don't reduce the room's area, while serving as a good decor element.

Use Furniture Leg Pads

Moving furniture often makes unpleasant noise and damages the floor. To avoid this, use special pads for furniture legs.

Install Soft Close Mechanisms

They allow cabinet doors to close smoothly without making extra noise. In addition, this mechanism can prevent chipping on the doors and thus extend the lifespan of your furniture.

Design: Dot and Dash Architects

Cover Photo: Julia Vlasova Design