Maybe you’ve got neighbors from hell. They’re up all night, and it’s not quiet when they start a glass pipe. They tend to keep you up on weekends because of all their parties. They may even be running around in nothing but their bras and causing all sorts of issues in your building.
Article summary
The best way to soundproof room walls in a cheap way and reduce interior noise is with the use of foam wedges. In our opinion, the best product available is produced by HUIERMEI.
However, in this article, we’ll also take a look at the use of:
- blankets
- sealant
- Adhesive wall stickers
Continue reading
You’ve asked your landlord to do something about the soundproofing, and he says there’s nothing he can do. You may have even called the police on them, but they do nothing to address the loud parties that they’re having.
It’s time you take matters into your own hands. It’s time you learn how to soundproof your room’s walls cheaply to reduce interior noise.
Soundproofing drywall doesn’t need to be tough. There are several ways to go about it, and they can work even if the walls are already built.
| Material | STC Rating |
| Acoustic Foam | STC 20 – 25 |
| Concrete | STC 50 |
| Double Pane Window | STC 28 – 32 |
| Drywall | STC 50 |
| Fiberglass Batt Insulation | STC 20 – 25 |
| Green Glue | STC 45 – 50 |
| Mass Loaded Vinyl | STC 30 – 35 |
| Resilient Channels | STC 45 – 50 |
| Soundproof Blankets | STC 20 – 25 |
| Soundproof Curtains | STC 20 – 25 |
Above, you’ll see a chart of the most soundproofing materials.
Using things you have available at home can be a start, but it may not be enough. Their trembling bass is giving you a headache and increasing the profits of pharmaceutical companies. If you’re not ready to spend a lot of money on the process, there are many things you can do DIY to reduce the noise level.
However, we also have a range of different products we recommend you look into from:
- US Cargo
- HUIERMEI
- Dekiru
- YTATT
The cheapest option is to use what you have available at home to reduce the noise level. You can put many sound-absorbing things along the walls, which will help dramatically.
Sound-dampening materials come in many shapes and forms.
You can also get a professional out to lower the volume of the music that travels through the walls. The price tag will also be significantly different and not necessarily one you’re ready to pay. You especially do not want to pay a bunch of money if you’re moving out soon.
There will be a difference between the two methods, but it’s also a matter of how much money you’re willing to spend. Some apartment complexes require their tenants to take a urine test if there are suspicions about drug use. However, it’s uncommon and not necessarily the route to go down.
Table of Contents
How can I soundproof my room DIY style?
In this section, we’ll talk a bit about all the different products you can use to soundproof your room DIY style before going more in-depth later.
Massive blankets
There are various blankets out there that can be hung to reduce the noise in your apartment. Our absolute favorite ones are these by US Cargo. They weigh a whopping 12 pounds per blanket while being machine-washable.
They’re 96 by 80 inches meaning they will take up a lot of space wherever you hang them. With the woven cotton and polyester mixture, you’ve come across a solid sound barrier with this choice.
| Name | Acoustic Foam Panels |
| Feature | Fireproof |
| Item Weight | 1.83 pounds |
| Quantity | 12 |
| Size | 2″ X 12″ X 12″ |
Pros
- It has an STC rating of 20 – 25.
- They’re better than regular moving blankets.
- They have good hooks.
- Great quality.
Cons
- It may not be what you want to hang on the wall.
- It’s not a magical solution.
Foam wedges
Acoustic foam is a great material to block the sound coming from the walls. They’re popular in sound studios where it’s important there’s no echo. Our recommendation is to go with these from HUIERMEI.
They’ll create sound-dampening walls that ensure you’re able to sleep at night, and they’re a great thing to put on a wall that is already built. At the same time, you can get several of them because they’re very affordable. Noise-canceling foam is great!
Pros
- They’re better at reducing sound than the blankets.
- They expand nicely as they’re taken out of the box.
- They can be folder for even greater effects.
Cons
- They’re not great at sticking to the wall.
- The black is more dense than the ble.
- They may slightly change color over time.
Soundproof pads
You may not necessarily be too fond of hanging massive blankets all over the walls. There are more eye-pleasing manners as well. For instance, we like these soundproofing pads by Dekiru. You’ll get 21 of them in this pack, and they’re great for both homes and offices.
They’ll create some great sound-absorbing walls once they’ve been put up, and they’re a great way to insulate interior walls.
They can even go into your apartment.
| Name | DEKIRU |
| Colors available | 12 |
| Item Weight | 3.58 pounds |
| Material | High-Density Sound Proof Foam |
| Quantity | 12 |
| Size | 14 X 13 X 0.4 Inches |
Pros
- They help lower the sound.
- Looks great
- Decorative
Cons
- They’re not as good as the foam padding.
- Not easy to glue
- A bit pricey
- They work better with upholstery tacks.
Acoustical sealant
There are sometimes pesky holes where things like cockroaches can travel through. The bad thing is that noise can also travel through there. Here’s an acoustic sealant to consider if you want to take care of two problems at once.
I’m sure if you put your ear to the hole, you’ll hear the music is especially loud there. Running around and sealing those holes can seem cumbersome, but it will help.
Adhesive wall stickers
Who said these solutions should be ugly? You can get these 3D brick wall stickers that double in function by vastly lowering the noise coming from your neighbor’s place. We think they look so good you could consider remodeling with them.
The manufacturer’s name is YTATT, and they’re ready to give you a solid night’s sleep.
Pros
- Nice packaging
- Decent sound reduction
- Decent design
Cons
- We still prefer the foam boards.
- Not easy to remove
- They don’t entirely look like tile.
Best sound insulation for interior walls
Our favorite product regarding the best sound insulation for interior walls is this acoustics panel by ATS. The reason for the recommendation is that many of these products are visually dominant. This panel does the job in terms of making your apartment a nicer place to stay.
However, it doubles as something that’s not a complete eye sore. It’s available in four colors, taking care of unwanted reverb and echo.
It’s no surprise they’re popular in many places like auditoriums and living spaces.
Those are just some of the products we recommend. Spending money on these products will ensure you wake up feeling rested. It’s worth it, right?
Let’s walk you through our full list of recommendations.
How to soundproof room walls cheaply & reduce interior noise
- Put up bookshelves.
You will want something on the bookshelves because there has got to be some mass that absorbs all the noise from your neighbors. That shared wall shall no longer be bare.
All those books you have accumulated over the years will now serve a very important purpose and provide great sound insulation.
Dressers and closets are other great alternatives. If you can put dense objects in front of a wall, there’s less sound that will travel through it.
Maybe you live in an area where earthquakes are common. It’s important to strap anything to the walls that could harm you if it falls. Straps should be fitted, and you’ll thank us next time there’s an earthquake.
- Make sure the sound isn’t bouncing around the room.
Whenever there’s an empty space, echoes are allowed to bounce around. Hard surfaces do very little to stop the sound, which raises the overall noise level you’re exposed to.
Find all the soft furnishings you can and put them in those spaces that currently have nothing. Giant floor cushions are a great way to reduce noise. - Consider heavy drapes.
Heavy drapes can add some texture to the space, but they can also serve the purpose of making it less annoying living by your neighbors. A metal curtain can be attached to the ceiling, and then you hang the drapes on them.
You will want to ensure you’re attaching support that can carry the weight you’ll be hanging off them.
Supports for heavy objects should be fastened to studs inside the wall so that they don’t accidentally end up ripping out the drywall. - Heavy drapes on the windows
Heavy drapes on the windows can not only help keep light out, but they’ll also help lower the amount of noise coming from the outside. If you’ve got one layer already, consider hanging another layer.
Do you know how they do it in hotels? There are two layers that help keep sound out. They’ve already figured out that their guests don’t want to be bothered by cars going by outside. Sheer fabric and soft roman blinds can easily be combined to form a substantial insulating layer.
- Double up on the drywall.
Did you know it’s much harder to penetrate two layers than one layer, even if the two layers have the same combined thickness as the one layer? Yes, 2 1-inch plates will be better at blocking noise than 1 2-inch plate.
It’s still a good idea to vary the thickness of the panels as they’re being installed. However, it’s a situation where more is better.
- Install carpet
Do you remember how we said that sound would bounce off of hard surfaces? While carpet is less good regarding air quality, it’s great for keeping your place nice and quiet. That’s got to be worth something!
Make sure you vacuum them frequently and enjoy the soft surface you’ll be walking on going forward.
- Consider a removable solution.
There may be times when you’re more willing to put up with the noise that will be entering your apartment. It’s because it will raise the temperature when you take these various initiatives.
Putting up blankets will create a massive fort and trap the heat that would otherwise escape through the walls. You will want to be able to take down the blankets again if your neighbor moves out. - Check your doors.
Doors are often not very good at trapping sound. It will enter if there’s a big gap underneath the door, and it will escape through there. Maybe you can even see the light coming from underneath the door.
If you’ve addressed all other aspects, it’s important to address that big gap. It’s about identifying the biggest gaps in your setup and addressing them. Maybe you’ve already done everything there is to the walls.
You can get draft stoppers, including ants, that ensure what’s outside is being kept outside. Door sweeps will also ensure your AC won’t be forced to run so hard during the summer either. That freon gas will last a little bit longer from you better insulating your home.
Running around in nothing but a bra to stay cool is not necessarily a possibility if you’re living on the ground floor and don’t want your blinds shut.
The door sweeps are usually made of a rubbery substance and will also be great in keeping out unwanted odors. Maybe the neighbor tends to smoke right outside.
- Check the windows.
Is the sound now entering through the windows instead?
Old windows will only stop so much sound. If they were installed 50 years ago, chances are they’re single pane. Double pane windows have a layer of gas between them that helps insulate your house. It’s usually argon which is a non-toxic gas.
However, these several layers also help lower the amount of noise coming from the outside. Consider installing new windows if they’re now only single pane. It will help with your electricity bill as well.
- Seal everything nice and tight.
Sealing everything is a great next step to consider. You can get water-based products that are paintable and non-stinging while meeting flame standards.
Wooden edges and cracks are prone to letting noise in and letting your cold, refrigerated air out. You’re now paying money to cool down the outside as well.
Door frames are common offenders. One thing you can do is to go around with a thermal leak detector. Where heat is escaping, the sound will be escaping as well.
You can either get a cheap one from Amazon or have a professional come out and find out where your house is leaking. If the sound is leaking from your house, it will be entering from those same locations. - Change the door.
Hollow doors aren’t great for lowering the sound volume, but they’re common
in American houses. Two panels of wood are held up, and they stop barely any sound.
Try standing on one side of the door and talking to a friend on the other side. You would barely be able to hear the other person if you had a solid door instead.
A solid door provides much better ammo in your fight against restless nights. A solid door will also increase your home’s curb appeal by not looking cheap.
Various budgets will give you various types of doors that have better or worse soundproofing insulation inside of them.
Even if it’s not where all the sound is passing through, every little bit helps. At least get one with a solid core, and you’re well on your way to limiting noise transfer from the outside.
- Insulate the walls
Hat channel or resilient channel is a great way to ensure less sound travels through the walls.
However, it’s quite an extensive process to retrofit insulation. Two layers of drywall are decoupled, which helps create a sound-stopping barrier that makes your home a nice place to be.
If you’re building your home right now, it’s important to consider whether you don’t want to spend a bit more money and have it be quieter. It is particularly nice if you live near a street that gives off a lot of noise.
FAQ
Installing foam boards is the cheapest way to block noise on a shared wall. They’re very effective at reducing decibels while still going easy on your wallet.
There are a lot of things you can do to soundproof a bedroom wall. If you look higher up in this article, we advocated for some very aesthetic wall panels.
Your options are many, but it starts with figuring out where most noise comes from. We’ve an extensive guide that helps you sleep better at night by ensuring you’re not annoyed by your neighbor’s late-night habits.
There you have it. You don’t want to be forced to take out your travel trailer and go away for the weekend because your neighbor is having a party.
