For many people, owning a home is one of life’s biggest goals and greatest joys. But it doesn’t always come without its share of issues, including noise. Learning how to reduce noise in a house is the key to getting more peace and pleasure out of homes, so in this article, we’re stepping you through some tried and tested ways to do it.

From being woken by street noise or driven mad by the neighbour’s incessant music, noise is a part of modern living for most urban and suburban dwellers. And while you can’t always control what other people do and how they impact your peace, there are ways to improve your house and mitigate some of that nuisance noise.

Where do you start?

The first step in battling house noise is to understand where it’s coming from and where it’s entering the house. Noise can enter homes through a lot of different points, including walls, floors, ceilings, doors and of course, windows.

By figuring out where the noise is entering the house, you can narrow down the options to combat it. For example, it could be an insulation problem, or perhaps your windows need resealing.

13 Ways To Reduce Noise In A House

As anyone who has ever experienced prolonged noise will attest, too much noise can have a big effect on health and wellbeing.

Based on our own experiences, we’ve gathered 13 ways to reduce noise in a house to help you achieve less annoyance and lots more zen.

Seal windows

Notice a drought in your house? It’s not just glass that allows noise to enter homes. The gaps around windows are big noise culprits and sealing them properly is a great way to further protect against unwanted sound. Look for window sealing products in your local hardware store.

Soundproof curtains

Blockout curtains are great for controlling light, but not all work well when it comes to noise. Look for curtains with an STC (sound transmission class) to be sure it’s actually made for soundproofing.

Install double-glazed windows

Now, double-glazing doesn’t usually come cheap, but it is one of the single most effective ways of combatting noise in houses. As the name suggests, double glazing essentially involves two panes of glass with an air gap between them that often contains a type of insulating gas. Aside from being great for blocking outside noise, it’s also a solid way to save on energy bills when it comes to heating and cooling.

Area rugs

Floors are a common cause of noise in houses, especially if the home is built on stumps and has a lot of floorboards. Thick area rugs can help absorb some of the foot traffic and thumping throughout the house.

Carpets

If you want to go one step further than rugs, consider carpeting floorboards to reduce the amount of noise within the house. Because quality carpet is comprised of multiple layers, it absorbs rather than reflects noise. This means fewer echoes and reverberation than floorboards – and less jumping out of your skin when the kids drop something!

Solid-core doors

A lot of internal doors have a hollow core, which means noise passes through them easily. Solid-core doors offer a lot more insulation and are also most efficient at blocking heat and cold.

Use plants

While likely not as effective as high-density insulation, thick hedges, trees or shrubbery help absorb street and neighbour noise before it reaches your house.

High-density plasterboard

If you are renovating or building, consider using high-density plasterboards with noise-reducing qualities. This is often used in commercial settings, but many homeowners are taking it up for its effectiveness with noise control.

Extra wall insulation

Many people with noise issues discover that their homes weren’t properly insulated, to begin with. Have a professional assess this for you and if necessary consider adding high-density acoustic insulation in the ceiling and walls, the two most common parts of the home that allow noise to enter.

Find holes and seal them!

We’ve heard from several builders that sealing holes and gaps can significantly reduce household noise. To do this effectively, you need to establish where those holes are. Some professionals use a vacuum test, but sometimes it’s as simple as going through the house meticulously looking for gaps and sealing them up with filler or suitable caulk.

Fill empty rooms

Empty rooms are echoey rooms and they make noise seem even noisier. Adding furniture, drapery and other soft furnishings helps absorb noise and make the room feel more peaceful.

Invest in garden walls

Stone or brick walls are a fabulous way of blocking nearby noise, and they can elevate the look and feel of your outdoor space too. Aim for a solid construction without gaps – no batten fences!

Add more bookshelves

A fully laden bookshelf effectively becomes an extra wall on your wall – and dense layers are your best friend when it comes to blocking annoying noise. if you love reading, think of this as a great reason to stock up on bestsellers.

Add solid sliding doors to open-plan areas

We live in the age of open-plan living, and while it looks sensational, it isn’t always conducive to peace. I you have a lot of open doorways, consider adding sliding cavity doors, like the uber-tending barn door, to block unwanted sound from travelling through the home.

Mask the sound

Masking noise pollution is another popular way to try to overcome it. Garden features like waterfalls, fountains and even wind chimes are known to help take the edge off the incessant urban ruckus. Internally, many families opt for white noise machines and earplugs, too!

After more household tips and tricks? Check out these top tips for keeping a house cool in summer!