What are creative ways to soundproof a home office in a noisy apartment for better remote work?

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I work remotely from my apartment, and the noise from neighbors (thin walls!) and street traffic is seriously impacting my concentration and call quality. What are some creative, effective, and ideally budget-friendly ways to soundproof a home office area without major renovations?

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D.S. 16 May 2025

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Soft surfaces are your friend! Thick rugs on the floor, heavy curtains or drapes over windows (even if you also have blinds), and fabric wall hangings or tapestries can absorb a surprising amount of sound. Bookshelves packed with books along a shared wall also help dampen noise. Every little bit helps.
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T.Y. 16 May 2025

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Acoustic foam panels are relatively inexpensive and can be attached to walls (or even put on a stand). They won't block sound completely but can reduce echo and dampen some frequencies, making your space quieter and improving call audio. Look for higher density foam for better results. Some even look quite stylish these days.
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Joanna Bober 18 May 2025

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Use a white noise machine or app. It doesn't 'soundproof' but it can mask distracting inconsistent noises with a constant, unobtrusive sound, making it easier to focus. There are lots of options, from simple fan sounds to more complex soundscapes. I use one all the time.
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- Collin Thompson: Totally agree, tbh! White noise helps a lot. Ever tried combining with earplugs or rugs?!!! 😊
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Anonymous 21 May 2025

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If you have a specific noisy wall, consider placing large furniture like a wardrobe or a tall bookshelf against it. The mass helps to block some sound transmission. Not exactly 'soundproofing' but a practical use of furniture.
32
Jordan Lewis 19 May 2025

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Weather stripping around your door and windows can help block surprisingly lot of noise, especially if there are gaps. You can also get a door sweep for the bottom of the door. These are cheap DIY solutions that make a difference for airborne sound.
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Victoria Hill 20 Jun 2025

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Consider a DIY portable vocal booth: cheap PVC frame, moving blankets and mattress pads around your desk,add a directional mic and software noise suppression for call clarity
23
Jacob Miller 23 Jun 2025

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Once I lived above a guy who decided drumming at 11 pm was a hobby and I learned the hard way that coffee can only do so much, and yes my cat judged me for pacing. I tried passive aggressive notes, mailed him a snare drum, cried into a pillow once, then started experimenting with fixes that actually helped. What ended up working best was layering treatments, not one miracle item. Thick curtains or window inserts, rugs plus dense underlay a tall bookshelf packed with books against the shared wall,, and weatherstripping plus a door sweep to stop flanking noise made a huge difference. cheap hacks that work include hanging moving blankets or quilts on a clothing rack or curtain rod to make a pop-up quiet booth, building DIY framed panels stuffed with rockwool or insulation wrapped in fabric and using noise-cancelling headphones or software like Krisp for calls. Also move your desk away from the thin wall, add plants for diffusion, and use a white noise machine as masking. Try combos, tweak placement, and celebrate when you can finally hear yourself think.
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Anonymous 26 May 2025

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Your noise troubles remind me of this one time I tried to get serious about studying in my tiny city apartment. My neighbor had this old beat-up guitar they’d strum at all hours, and let me tell you, no amount of coffee or earplugs could fix that jabberwocky racket. I quickly realized just stuffing the room with stuff wasn’t enough, so I got crafty with some household stuff. One trick that worked wonders was using egg cartons on the walls at first glance, sounds kinda hokey right? But if you layer them super thickly and back them with a dense fabric like canvas or denim from an old pair of jeans, it surprisingly cuts down a fair bit of mid-frequency noise. People often discount them because they don’t absorb lower bass sounds well but paired up like this, it’s a frugal sound absorber.🙌
Another gem: throw in some indoor plants that have thick leaves and sit near windows or walls facing noisy spots—beyond being pretty, plants soften sound waves and create a micro-barrier. Plus they’re stress-busting which helps during tense calls when a siren blares outta nowhere. Just make sure to choose ones that thrive indoors without much fuss so you don’t end up watering stress into your day!
10
Joseph Bryant 20 Jul 2025

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Try hanging heavy quilts or moving blankets suspended from
the ceiling around your desk to create a mini sound cocoon that traps noise without permanent changes
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Accepted Answer · 2025-05-21T12:00:00+00:00

Good quality noise-cancelling headphones are essential for calls and focus time, even if you can't fully soundproof the room. They create your own quiet bubble. For calls, get one with a good noise-cancelling microphone so your colleagues don't hear your background noise.