With more people living in apartments and high-density areas than ever before, noise control has become a primary goal. Furthermore, if you live in a rented home, it is impossible to install carpet or insulation to reduce noise.
Noises that are annoying or loud can disturb your peace and quiet after work or on the weekends- this is where sound absorbing rugs come in.
Rugs are best used for sound insulation rather than soundproofing, which means they are perfect for rooms like recording studios because they absorb ambient sound. This is especially obvious if you record just above the rug with your microphone pointing to the floor.
While natural stone, polished cement, or hardwood may be visually appealing, they will raise noise levels in your home. Hard surface flooring reflects interior sounds, increasing the level of ambiance.
If you can’t lay down wall-to-wall carpeting, a gorgeous, sound-absorbing décor is ideal.
Rugs are a fun and easy method to minimize the noise in an apartment or home while also adding character and value to your space. On rugs, your shoes and furnishings tend to produce less noise.
For the best soundproofing results, use a thicker rug over a thinner one. A rug can also help to lessen noise from your apartment or home that your neighbors may hear.
It is also worth noting that wool carpets can reduce noise by up to 46%, making them a great and fashionable solution to your noise problems. Furthermore, a cut-pile with a fuzzy top is preferable to a loop pile for rugs.
Adding area rugs and runners to heavy traffic areas, such as entrances and hallways, easily minimizes footstep echoing throughout the room and seeping into neighboring houses or apartments.
What kind of rug is best at absorbing sound?
A wool rug is a good example of a soundproof material because of its open fuzzy structure, which traps sound. If you don’t like wool, there are open-cut and fuzzy alternatives.
The greater the number of fibers in a rug, the better it can absorb sound. The greater the area covered, the more effective it is. Avoid using flat rugs. They lack a foundation for sound absorption.
Acoustic blankets are an alternative to rugs. They resemble the mover’s blankets found in freight elevators.
Don’t be deceived by the name; they work similarly to carpets in that they’re not simply for walls. They’re a cheap rug alternative at $10 per square foot.
You may also want to consider investing in a rug pad. These are thick, usually, foam layers that attach to the bottom of most large area rugs. Many rug pads are thin and designed to keep carpets from slipping around on the floor, rather than to soundproof them.
Rug cushions made of a denser material, on the other hand, are better suited for soundproofing. The density of the pad helps to reduce noise transfer between floors, therefore buying the thickest pad feasible is recommended.
However, this comes at a price: the thicker the rug pad, the more expensive it is. Also, certain heavier materials, like memory foam, don’t have anti-slip properties, so evaluate whether that is vital for your space.
Also, take your flooring into account when shopping around. While many rug pads are suitable for a wide range of flooring materials, some are not suitable for surfaces such as vinyl, natural stone, or carpet.
When shopping for a rug pad, have your measurements handy so that the pad you purchase is the correct size for the rug you intend to use it under.
Can I hang them on the walls?
Many people prefer hanging their rugs over using them on the floor. Silk carpets and other delicate fibers that can be damaged by foot traffic are best suited for wall mounting.
Wall-mounted carpets are also an excellent technique to soundproof a room. Hanging these lovely items not only enhances your home but also minimizes the noise from your home or flat, as well as from your neighbors.
If you’re renting, make sure you mount rugs with easily removed tabs so you can not only soundproof but also get your rental deposit back when and if you decide to move home.
You no longer have to live in a noisy apartment or house. You may lessen the amount of noise in your home and block sounds from your neighbors by using basic décor solutions like rugs as well as rug pads.
