How to Deaden Sound in a Room

Noisy echoes seem to have a life of their own, bouncing around and disturbing your concentration – and we're going to tell you how to deaden them.

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Whether you’re working from home, recording a podcast, or just trying to drown out noisy neighbours, unwanted sound can turn any room into a distraction. In fact it is not just annoying and disruptive. According to the BBC, noise can also cause psychological and physical damage. Understanding how to deaden sound in a room means learning how sound behaves – how it bounces, travels, and leaks through gaps – and then choosing smart ways to reduce it.

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Here at Persy Booths, we know a thing or two about sound. As designers of soundproof pods for the office, we have a lot of conversations with customers who want to deaden sound. So in this article, we’ll put our experience to use to help you. We'll explain practical methods for noise reduction, explore the best materials to use, and highlight the most common mistakes people make when trying to soundproof a room.

Key takeaways from this article

• Sound behaves by bouncing off hard surfaces and leaking through gaps, so effective noise control means tackling both reflection and transmission.
• Decreasing echo inside a room requires sound absorption with soft materials such as rugs, curtains, and acoustic panels.
• Preventing noise from travelling between rooms needs soundproofing using dense materials like acoustic plasterboard, insulation, and sealed joints.
• The most effective results come from combining both methods – absorbing internal noise while blocking external sound.

Noise in a room is caused by sound waves reflecting off hard surfaces like walls, windows, or concrete floors. These reflections bounce back and forth, creating sound reverberation – the echoey quality that makes rooms seem louder than they really are. This can be a problem in the workplace: whether employees are trying to concentrate on a solo task or conduct an in-person meeting, an increase in noise can lead to a decrease in productivity. If your office sometimes feels like an echo chamber, this is likely due to a lack of sound absorbing materials such as carpets, curtains, or acoustic panels.

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It’s important to understand the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption.

• Soundproofing is about blocking sound transfer – stopping airborne noise and impact noise (like footsteps or dropped items) from moving between spaces.
• Sound absorption, on the other hand, focuses on improving acoustic quality by reducing echo and controlling sound vibrations inside the room.

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Both methods aim to improve noise control, but they work differently. A well-balanced solution combines sound insulation (to block sound) with acoustic treatment (to absorb it). For example, a room might have acoustic wall panels to absorb echoes, but also acoustic plasterboard or a stud wall to prevent sound leakage from outside.

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Persy Booths understands this balance perfectly - and how it affects companies with noisy open plan offices. As a brand that designs soundproofing solutions, we help customers achieve quiet, comfortable environments without overspending. The design of a high-quality soundproof phone booth shows how effective acoustic performance can be achieved through smart design and the right mix of soundproofing materials.

You don’t need a full construction project to improve sound quality. Many ways to deaden noise in a room can be done quickly and affordably, and guidelines are available from various standards bodies on acoustic insulation and other ways to prevent sound transfer. Here are five practical methods.

Hard surfaces like wooden floors or concrete ceilings reflect sound easily. Covering these surfaces with thick rugs or carpets helps to absorb sound waves and soften impact noise. For rooms above ground level, adding underlay beneath carpets helps to reduce sound transmission through floor joists and ceiling cavities. Even in small home offices, a rug under your chair and desk can make a significant difference in noise levels.

Windows are major entry points for outside sounds such as traffic noise or loud neighbours. Hanging thick curtains helps to reduce noise by adding a layer of sound dampening fabric. If you don’t have soundproof windows, heavy curtains or even thick blankets can act as a temporary sound barrier. This approach won’t completely block sound, but it will help reduce airborne and impact noise.

Mounting acoustic panels or foam tiles to your existing wall helps absorb sound vibrations and control sound reverberation. These materials are designed to absorb sounds rather than reflect them, making them ideal for recording studios or home offices. Modern wall panels come in decorative designs that can complement the interior – proof that noise reduction doesn’t have to compromise on style.

Bookshelves filled with books can work as makeshift sound barriers, especially against party walls or brick walls shared with noisy neighbours. Soft furnishings – cushions, throws, upholstered furniture – also help to dampen sound by breaking up reflective surfaces. Combining these elements creates a layered approach to sound dampening that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

For workspaces or open offices, creating a quiet zone can make all the difference. Instead of expensive refits, consider a soundproof team meeting booth or work booth. If you do your research and find products that perform well without unnecessary gadgets and features – and if you buy direct from the supplier instead of through a reseller – it’s a smart way to improve acoustic insulation and reduce sound transmission without over-spending.

The most effective way to reduce noise depends on the source – whether it’s impact sound from footsteps or airborne noise from talking, TVs, or traffic noise. Here are some of the best materials to help:

• Acoustic foam panels – Ideal for absorbing sound waves and improving sound quality inside rooms.
• Mineral wool insulation – Adds excellent sound absorption inside internal stud walls and ceilings.
• Acoustic plasterboard – Increases noise reduction and strengthens soundproof walls.
• Carpets and rugs – Dampen impact noise and add warmth to rooms with hard surfaces.
• Acoustic caulk – Seals gaps and air leaks around the door frame, windows, and skirting boards.
• Door sweeps – Block sound leakage under doors, reducing background noise and improving acoustic quality.
• Acoustic baffles – Suspended elements used to control sound reverberation in large open spaces.

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Each material contributes differently to noise control – combining several gives better overall acoustic performance.

When people try DIY soundproofing, they often make similar mistakes. The most common is relying only on thin foam. While it may improve sound absorption, it won’t block sound or stop noise transfer through walls or floors. To soundproof a room properly, and to achieve acceptable levels of noise, you need dense materials that act as a sound barrier, like acoustic plasterboard or brick party walls.

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Another common oversight is forgetting about air gaps. Even small openings around sockets, door frames, or ventilation grilles can cause major sound leakage. Always seal these with acoustic caulk to maintain continuous sound insulation.

Learning how to deaden sound in a room doesn’t mean tearing down walls. It’s about understanding where noise enters, how it behaves, and which soundproofing materials make the biggest difference. Sometimes, adding layers like rugs, acoustic panels, and curtains is enough. In other cases, creating a separate soundproof space is the most effective route.

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If you’re dealing with open-plan noise at work, or want a professional space that isolates sound vibrations, consider a ready-made soundproofing solution such as a soundproof two person phone booth. They combine elegant design with proven acoustic insulation, offering peace, privacy, and performance.

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As a final note, don’t over-spend on the wrong things. It’s easy to be tempted by expensive gadgets or specialist soundproof ceilings when sometimes, simple changes – such as soft furnishings or better-fitted doors – can achieve comparable results. In the same way that we design each soundproof office booth to be effective but also reasonably priced, a little careful thought can bring you the results you need without over-investing in unnecessary items.