In this guide, you will learn ways on how to soundproof a room with blankets. This is an effective solution for anyone who wants a simple and affordable method to deal with noise coming from your neighbor.
I was born and raised in Memphis, one of the busiest and noisy polluted states. Apart from struggling to meet ends meets, one of the major challenges we often faced was yard noise and stomping noise from neighbors above.
I can’t recall the times I would find my folks arguing with our neighbors over noise issues. Our home was never a quiet haven even after one of the noisy was kicked out. Traffic noise was just another mess to the list.
Fast forward five years later, and I learned basic soundproofing methods. One of the basic techniques was soundproofing a room with blankets and old laundry. While this method worked, it didn’t block out noise 100%.
For this activity, we shall be using an acoustical blanket/ soundproof blanket instead of typical blankets.
These blankets are made of dense material designed for sound absorption. You’ll find some website recommending moving blanket for this task, but I would advise you to stick with soundproofing blankets only.
An example of a soundproof blanket includes Audimute Sound Absorption Dampening Blanket and Acoustic Blanket- 4×6, while it’s possible to use typical moving blankets such as these US Cargo Control Moving Blankets.
Now that you are aware of the products you can use, let have a look at different methods you can use to soundproof a room with these blankets.
Materials Required
- Glue
- Nails
- Velcro Strips
- Magnetic Strips
1. Hang the Blankets on The Door
Soundproofing a door isn’t an easy task. The problem is, most modern doors are hollow and have gaps that efficiently transmit airborne and impact sound.
One of the most effective ways of hollow soundproofing door is using acoustic blankets. Hang by either using glue or nails. Alternatively, you can drape the blankets over the door.
If you won’t be using the door, I would recommend you to nail the blanket around the surrounding wall to ensure the door is fully covered. You can also use a curtain holder to hang the blanket above the door.
Gluing or nailing the soundproof blanket on the door will most likely damage it. However, that’s the best way to prevent unwanted noise from entering your room.
2. Soundproof the Floors Using Blankets
Yes, you can use soundproofing blankets to soundproof the floor. If you live in a storied house and people living upstairs are always stomping the floor or if your living room is right below the kid’s playroom- these blankets will be a perfect solution for you.
Lay the blankets on the floor or request the neighbor above you to buy some to solve the noise problem.
To complement the interior décor of your house, you can install a normal carpet above the acoustical blanket.
I would recommend thick and fluffy carpets like the ACTCUT Super Soft Indoor Modern Fluffy Rag. The reason I’ve recommend this carpet is the fact that it’s fluffy and thick and will aid in the whole soundproofing process. It will help absorb impact noise from the above.
3. Use the Blankets to Cover Loud Appliances
Home appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and blenders, among others, can be extremely loud.
To reduce noises produced by these appliances, cover them with soundproofing blankets. However, it’s important to note that some appliances may overheat, and it would not be a good idea to include them in the first place.
You can cover the blending jar of your blender when making smoothies. By doing this, you will significantly reduce vibrations and unwanted blending noises.
4. Attach the Blankets to The Walls
If you’re dealing with noises from the neighbor playing loud music, traffic noise, you may consider hanging the blankets on your walls.
They will help absorb sound vibrations and prevent it from entering your room. Additionally, they will also help improve the acoustics of your room because they will absorb sound that would other be reflected by the walls.
Attach the blankets as you would with a poster. There are different ways you can fix sheets on the walls. They include:
- Nailing the blankets against the walls
- Use mounting putty
- Use curtain rods or curtain tracks
- Tape or glue it to the wall
The best method would be using nails or using curtain rods or nail them on your walls. These two methods will make it easy to change when you want to wash the blankets.
5. Cover the windows
While soundproofing curtains will get the job done in no time, you can complement them with soundproofing blankets, especially if you’re soundproofing your home theatre.
But I would recommend using them in your living room or bedroom where you spend most of your time. The reason is that they will hinder light and air circulation. But if you choose them, let them be just but a temporary solution and use them when the noise is too much.
6. Pin Them to Your Ceiling
As crazy as it may sound, you can pin soundproofing blankets when dealing with noise coming from the floor above you.
For maximum benefits, I would recommend you to go for this blanket. However, while this will still work, I wouldn’t recommend it as it’s not as effective as installing the blanket, as explained in step number 2 in this article.
Choosing a Soundproofing Blanket?
It’s important to note that not every soundproofing blanket will be effective in soundproofing your home. Below are some of the main factors to consider before investing in a soundproofing blanket. They include:
Thickness, Density, and Weight
The most important factor to consider in this case is how dense, thick, and heavy is the blanket. You should consider this factor only if you will be substituting soundproofing blankets with moving blankets.
Soundproof blankets are designed with the three factors in mind, and therefore they will do their job effectively regardless of the brand you choose.
If you opt for moving blankets, make sure you go for one that is heavy, thick, and have higher density. These three features will determine how a blanket is efficient in noise absorption.
Size and Grommet
Choose a blanket that will cover the desired space you need to soundproof. Better yet choose one that will cover in excess areas such as windows, doors, and walls.
Blankets made for soundproofing purposes such as Audimute Acoustic Sheets have grommets. In some cases, you may be forced to purchase the grommets separately, especially when you opt for moving blankets.
Design and Budget
Soundproofing blankets come in different designs. Therefore, before buying, make sure you go for ones that complement the interior decorations of the room you want to soundproof.
In terms of budget, these blankets have different price tags. For this reason, make sure to stick with one that within your budget. But if possible, always opt for soundproofing blankets over moving blankets as their effectiveness can never be compared to the latter.
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Soundproof vs. Moving Blankets
Soundproof blankets have developed a reputation as affordable acoustic insulation for recording studios, DIY vocal booths, and other audio/video production spaces.
However, if you want to successfully block out or reduce noise in your house, basement, garage, or music studio, you must pick the right materials for the task. Not all blankets have the same construction.
Soundproof Blankets
Sound blankets’ woven polyester binding increases their longevity, while the top edge’s preinstalled grommets facilitate attachment and removal.
A soundproofing blanket is exactly what its name implies! It is a huge piece of material intended to absorb sound. Soundproofing blankets can be placed on floors, walls, and ceilings to dampen undesirable sounds.
Moving Blankets
As their name indicates, ordinary moving blankets are meant to protect furniture and fragile goods from dings and scratches while in transit. They are often readily available and reasonably priced.
They have not been developed or tested to absorb sound.
Moving blankets are an excellent technique to safeguard freight elevators throughout the relocation process. Additionally, they may absorb sound in the improvised band room and music studio.
Moving blankets are porous and relatively acoustically transparent despite their sound absorption properties. They are not meant to block out sound.
Any soundproof blanket must have an STC rating to demonstrate that it has been laboratory and field-tested for its capacity to block sound.
If the marketing information on the product states, “We Block Sound,” the sound barrier is likely to be useless and won’t provide any soundproofing benefits.
Final thoughts
If you’d ask me, soundproofing a room with moving blankets is a good idea, especially for DIY beginners who want to reduce noise levels to manageable levels.
Above are some of the most effective techniques that can help you get rid of unwanted noises leaking into your house. It’s important to note that they won’t wholly soundproof your house, but they will reduce noise levels to manageable levels.
Ever tried other cheap soundproofing hacks? Please let me know in the comment section down below.
References:
- https://www.ishn.com/articles/105605-protect-your-hearing-top-ten-noisiest-cities-in-the-us
- https://soundproofexpert.com/blankets/
- https://www.nfi.edu/sound-blanket/
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.