How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise: Do you want to enjoy a peaceful sleep in your bedroom without being disturbed by the Noise From Outside? Whether it’s traffic, neighbors, or construction, outside noise can be very annoying and stressful.
Fortunately, there are some effective ways to soundproof your bedroom from outside noise and create a quiet and relaxing space for yourself.
In this article, we will show you 11 DIY solutions that you can try to reduce the noise coming into your bedroom.
11 DIY Solutions To How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise
- Use a solid-core door
- Install a Door Sweep
- Apply Weatherstripping Around Your Door Frame
- Seal Gaps Around Your Window Frame
- Hang Soundproof Curtains Over Your Window
- Put Up Acoustic Foam Panels On Your Wall
- Add Area Rugs And Throw Pillows To Your Room
- Install A Solid Wood Door And Double-Paned Acoustic Windows
- Add Mass Loaded Vinyl To Your Wall
- Build A Soundproof Wall
- Use White Noise Machines Or Earplugs
Here are some easy and affordable ways to soundproof your bedroom from outside noise. You don’t need to do all of them, but you can combine some of them for better results.
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1. Use a solid-core door
One of the weakest points in your bedroom when it comes to soundproofing is your door. Most doors are hollow core, which means they have a thin layer of wood or metal over a hollow space. This makes them very lightweight and easy to open and close, but also very poor at blocking sound.
To improve your door’s soundproofing ability, you can replace it with a solid core door. A solid core door has a solid wood or metal core that fills up the entire space inside the door. This makes it much heavier and harder to open and close, but also much better at blocking sound.
A solid core door can reduce up to 30 decibels (dB) of noise, which is equivalent to cutting down the noise level by half. You can buy a solid core door at any home improvement store or online. Alternatively, you can make your solid core door by filling up a hollow core door with insulation materials such as foam or fiberglass. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
2. Install a Door Sweep
Another weak point in your door is the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. This gap allows air and sound to pass through easily, especially if you have hardwood or tile floors that reflect sound. To seal this gap, you can install a door sweep.
A door sweep is a strip of rubber or metal that attaches to the bottom edge of your door and covers the gap between the door and the floor. It creates a tight seal that prevents air and sound from leaking through. A door sweep can reduce up to 10 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 25%.
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You can buy a door sweep at any hardware store or online. They come in different sizes and colors to match your door and floor. To install a door sweep, you just need to measure your door width, cut the sweep to fit, and attach it with screws or adhesive.
3. Apply Weatherstripping Around Your Door Frame
Another source of noise leakage in your door is the gaps around your door frame. These gaps allow air and sound to escape from your room or enter from outside. To close these gaps, you can apply weatherstripping around your door frame. Weatherstripping is a strip of foam or rubber that sticks to your door frame and creates a tight seal when you close your door.
It blocks air and sound from passing through the gaps around your door frame. Weatherstripping can reduce up to 15 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 40%. You can buy weatherstripping at any hardware store or online.
They come in different shapes and sizes to fit different types of doors and frames. To apply weatherstripping, you just need to clean your door frame, cut the weatherstripping to fit, peel off the backing paper, and stick it on. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
4. Seal Gaps Around Your Window Frame
Your window is another major source of noise in your bedroom. Windows are usually made of glass or plastic, which are very thin and transparent materials that let in a lot of light and sound. Even if you have double-pane or triple-pane windows that have air or gas between them for insulation, they still have gaps around their frames that allow air and sound to leak through.
To seal these gaps, you can use acoustic caulk or weatherstripping around your window frame. Acoustic caulk is a special type of caulk that is designed for soundproofing purposes. It fills in small holes and cracks around your window frame and hardens into a rubber-like material that blocks air and sound from passing through. Weatherstripping works similarly for doors but for windows instead.
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It sticks to your window frame and creates a tight seal when you close your window. Both acoustic caulk and weatherstripping can reduce up to 10 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 25%. You can buy acoustic caulk or weatherstripping at any hardware store or online. To apply them, you just need to clean your window frame, squeeze out some caulk or cut some weatherstripping, and apply them along the edges of your window frame. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
5. Hang Soundproof Curtains Over Your Window
Another way to improve your window’s soundproofing ability is to hang soundproof curtains over it. Soundproof curtains are thick and heavy curtains that have sound-absorbing materials built into them.
They create a noise-dampening layer over your window that blocks more sound from entering or leaving your room. Soundproof curtains can reduce up to 20 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by half. You can buy soundproof curtains at any home improvement store or online.
They come in different colors and sizes to match your window and decor. To hang them, you just need to install a curtain rod above your window and hang the curtains on it. Make sure the curtains cover your entire window, including the sides and bottom, for maximum effect.
6. Put Up Acoustic Foam Panels On Your Wall
Your wall is another major source of noise in your bedroom. Walls are usually made of drywall, which is a thin layer of gypsum board over wood studs. Drywall is very lightweight and easy to install, but also very poor at blocking sound. Sound waves can easily pass through drywall, especially if there are any holes or cracks in it.
To improve your wall’s soundproofing ability, you can put up acoustic foam panels on it. Acoustic foam panels are soft and porous panels that absorb the sound waves that hit them. They reduce the amount of sound that reflects off your wall, which reduces echoes and reverberations in your room.
Acoustic foam panels can reduce up to 15 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 40%. You can buy acoustic foam panels at any music store or online. They come in different colors, shapes, and sizes to fit different types of walls and rooms.
To put them up, you just need to measure your wall area, cut the panels to fit, and attach them with adhesive or nails. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
7. Add Area Rugs And Throw Pillows To Your Room
Another way to reduce the noise level in your room is to add more soft and fluffy items to it. Items such as area rugs, throw pillows, and upholstery help absorb the sound waves that bounce off your hard surfaces, such as floors, furniture, and ceilings.
They also make your room more cozy and comfortable. Adding area rugs and throw pillows can reduce up to 5 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 10%. You can buy area rugs and throw pillows at any home decor store or online.
They come in different colors, patterns, and textures to match your style and preference. To add them, you just need to place them on your floor, couch, bed, or chair.
8. Install A Solid Wood Door And Double-Paned Acoustic Windows
If you want a more effective but also more expensive solution for soundproofing your bedroom from outside noise, you can install a solid wood door and double-paned acoustic windows. These are the most effective soundproofing materials for doors and windows, but they are also the most expensive and difficult to install.
A solid wood door has a solid wood core that fills up the entire space inside the door. It is much heavier and denser than a hollow core door or a composite door, which means it can block more sound. A solid wood door can reduce up to 35 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 60%.
A double-paned acoustic window has two layers of glass or plastic separated by an air or gas gap. The gap acts as an insulation layer that reduces the amount of sound that passes through the window. The glass or plastic layers also have special coatings or laminations that enhance their soundproofing ability.
A double-paned acoustic window can reduce up to 30 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by half. To install a solid wood door and double-paned acoustic windows, you will need to hire a professional contractor who has the skills and tools to do the job. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
You will also need to measure your existing door and window openings and order the right size and style of door and window for your room. The installation process may involve removing your old door and window, cutting and fitting the new ones, sealing the gaps around them, and adding hardware and accessories.
Installing a solid wood door and double-paned acoustic windows can cost anywhere from $500 to $5000 or more, depending on the size, quality, and design of the door and window you choose. However, if you want the best soundproofing results for your bedroom, this may be worth the investment.
9. Add Mass Loaded Vinyl To Your Wall
Another way to improve your wall’s soundproofing ability is to add mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) to it. MLV is a thin and flexible sheet of vinyl that has metal particles embedded in it. It adds mass and density to your wall, which makes it harder for sound waves to pass through.
MLV can reduce up to 25 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by half. You can buy MLV at any soundproofing store or online. It comes in rolls of different sizes and thicknesses. To add MLV to your wall, you will need to cut it to fit your wall area, attach it with nails or screws, and cover it with drywall or another finishing material.
You can also add MLV behind your existing drywall by cutting holes in it, inserting the MLV, and patching up the holes. Adding an MLV to your wall can cost anywhere from $100 to $1000 or more, depending on the size and thickness of the MLV you choose. However, if you want a simple and effective way to soundproof your wall, this may be worth the cost. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
10. Build A Soundproof Wall
The most effective but also the most complicated way to soundproof your wall is to build a soundproof wall. A soundproof wall is a wall that has multiple layers of different materials that block and absorb sound waves. A typical soundproof wall may have these layers:
- Drywall: This is the outer layer of your wall that provides a smooth and finished surface.
- Green glue: This is a special type of adhesive that dampens vibrations between layers of drywall.
- Mass-loaded vinyl: This is a thin and flexible sheet of vinyl that adds mass and density to your wall.
- Resilient channel: This is a metal strip that creates an air gap between layers of drywall.
- Insulation: This is a soft material that fills up the air gap and absorbs sound waves.
- Studs: These are wooden or metal beams that support your wall structure.
To build a soundproof wall, you will need to remove your existing drywall, install studs along your wall, fill up the space between them with insulation, attach resilient channels over them, attach mass-loaded vinyl over them, apply green glue over them, attach another layer of drywall over them, and finish with paint or wallpaper.
Building a soundproof wall can reduce up to 50 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 90%. You can buy all the materials you need at any Home Improvement store or online. However, you will also need to hire a professional contractor who has the skills and tools to do the job.
Building a soundproof wall can cost anywhere from $1000 to $10000 or more, depending on the size, quality, and design of the wall you build. However, if you want the ultimate soundproofing solution for your bedroom, this may be worth the investment. [How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise]
11. Use White Noise Machines Or Earplugs
The last way to reduce the noise level in your bedroom is to use white noise machines or earplugs. These are not soundproofing methods, but they are sound masking methods. They work by creating a constant and soothing sound that covers up or drowns out the unwanted noise from outside.
White noise machines are devices that produce white noise, which is a type of noise that contains all frequencies at equal intensity. White noise sounds like static, rain, or wind, and it helps mask other sounds by making them less noticeable.
White noise machines can be placed near your bed, on your nightstand, or your dresser. Earplugs are small devices that fit into your ears and block out most sounds. Earplugs are made of foam, silicone, or wax, and they come in different sizes and shapes to fit different ears.
Earplugs can be worn while sleeping, reading, or relaxing. Using white noise machines or earplugs can reduce up to 15 dB of noise, which is equivalent to reducing the noise level by 40%. You can buy white noise machines or earplugs at any drugstore or online. They are very cheap and easy to use.
What You Need To Know About Soundproofing
Soundproofing is the process of reducing the amount of sound that travels through a barrier, such as a wall, door, or window. Soundproofing works by either blocking or absorbing the sound waves that hit the barrier.
Blocking sound means preventing it from passing through the barrier, while absorbing sound means converting it into heat or other forms of energy. There are two main types of sound: airborne and impact. Airborne sound is the sound that travels through the air, such as voices, music, or sirens.
Impact sound is the sound that results from physical contact with a surface, such as footsteps, hammering, or furniture moving. Both types of sound can be reduced by soundproofing, but they require different methods and materials.
The effectiveness of soundproofing depends on several factors, such as the frequency and intensity of the noise, the thickness and density of the barrier, and the size and shape of the room. Generally speaking, the higher the frequency and intensity of the noise, the harder it is to block or absorb it.
The thicker and denser the barrier, the better it is at blocking or absorbing sound. The smaller and more irregular the room, the more likely it is to create echoes and reverberations that amplify the noise.
Conclusion
How To Soundproof A Bedroom From Outside Noise can make a big difference in your quality of life. You can enjoy a peaceful sleep, a relaxing time, and a stress-free environment in your bedroom. You don’t need to spend a fortune or hire an expert to soundproof your bedroom.
You can try some of these DIY solutions that we have shown you in this article. Remember, soundproofing works best when you combine different methods and materials. You may not be able to eliminate all the noise from outside, but you can reduce it significantly.