In some ways, big city life can be great. You’re at arms length of nearly everything you need and the hustle and bustle of the big city helps keeping you thriving too. But there is one issue that you’re probably facing and that’s mostly likely unwelcoming noise. This is especially apparent when you’re living in an apartment or attached houses- something that’s very common in big cities. Living in an apartment can be convenient and affordable, but it also means you share walls with your neighbors. If your neighbors are noisy, it can be frustrating and affect your quality of life.
Just think about it, having to hear late-night parties, chit-chat, their TV, music, snoring, just all of it is terrible and you’re basically listening to things you’ve never wanted to deal with in the first place. But don’t worry, there are several ways to deal with noisy neighbors in an apartment. One of these is soundproof curtains, essentially the best and most affordable way to handle noise reduction in apartments. Let’s dive into what you can do with soundproofing curtains for your home.
When it comes to handling all the unwanted noise you’re hearing from neighbors or from outside, soundproof curtains can truly be a reliable answer. Soundproof curtains are an affordable and effective solution to reduce noise levels in your apartment. These curtains are designed to block out noise by absorbing sound waves, reducing echo, and preventing sound from passing through the fabric. Here are some tips on how to use soundproof curtains to reduce any unwanted noise from your neighbors and beyond.
The material is everything, this is going to be one of the biggest factors when it comes to making your apartment more quiet. You’re going to want to look for fabric that’s heavy and thick. But you also need to keep in mind that it needs to be weaved tight so sound waves get absorbed into it, so not every curtain fabric will due. You’re going to want to look into:
● Burlap
● Velvet
● Acoustic fabric
● Thick polyester
● Mass-loaded vinyl
● Wool
● Suede
You’ll sometimes even find that a soundproof curtain will have a layer of foam inside to help with the muffling too. All of these materials are effective in blocking out noise and are also aesthetically pleasing.
Proper installation is key to ensuring that the soundproof curtains are effective in reducing noise. Make sure the curtains are installed as close to the wall as possible and that they cover the entire window. If there are any gaps or spaces where sound can leak through, the curtains won’t be as effective. Plus, when it comes to soundproofing curtains, you also need to take into account that a special curtain rod also needs to be installed too due to how heavy soundproof curtains are.
Just as the material and the installation matter a great deal, you can count on the layering to matter a lot too. If you’re dealing with particularly loud neighbors or high levels of noise, consider using 3 layered curtains for soundproofing. These curtains have three layers of fabric, which can provide additional noise reduction. Two layered soundproofing curtains can be effective too, but when it comes to apartments and noisy cities, you’re going to greatly benefit more from more layers.
While soundproof curtains are effective, they may not completely eliminate all noise. Consider using them in combination with other soundproofing solutions, such as acoustic panels or weatherstripping. This can provide additional noise reduction and create a more peaceful living environment.
While soundproofing curtains can be a great option, they’re not always going to work. It’s not because soundproof curtains don’t work, but it’s mostly due to a number of factors. You need to keep in mind that apartment walls are incredibly thin, you can even consider the floors to be thin too due to hearing footsteps. You’re limited on what you can do in terms of soundproofing, but here are some other options you can consider when it comes to reducing external noise in your apartment.
While it’s not particularly an ideal situation, sometimes this is what needs to be done. Even though your neighbor isn’t being very neighborly, it helps to communicate with them. Most of the time, people aren’t aware that they are being too loud and a simple conversation can help resolve the issue. Be polite and let them know that their noise is affecting your ability to sleep, work or relax.
If talking to your neighbor doesn’t work, you can talk to your landlord or building management. They may be able to address the issue by talking to your neighbor or taking some type of action themselves. Many apartment buildings have noise policies that tenants are required to follow, so they may be able to enforce these policies to resolve the issue.
This is often not something that people like to opt to, but sometimes it’s going to be one of your only options. Using white noise machines or apps can help to drown out your neighbor’s noise. If you’re not a fan of white noise than using music could work as well, but the whole point is to just drown out your neighbors.
Earplugs are a simple and inexpensive solution to reduce noise levels in your apartment. It’s not ideal, but sometimes this needs to be used, the same could be said for noise canceling headphones too.
As a last resort, you can file a complaint with your local authorities or apartment association. In some cases, they may be able to take action to resolve the issue. However, filing a complaint should only be done if all other options have been exhausted. It’s far from ideal, but you do deserve to live in peace!
Noisy neighbors can be a real nuisance and can honestly be a nightmare from time to time. While soundproof curtains may not entirely be the one and only solution, using these, especially three layered curtains are going to be one of your best bets in managing all the noise.
