Simple things to do to reduce noise while working at home.
While a year ago, many of us would have loved to be able to work from home a bit more often, now that it has become the norm, we are experiencing newfound challenges. In this article, we would like to delve into one of the main reasons why working from home could be challenging for some of us, namely, noise. There are several factors that could potentially affect the extent to which we are able to work in a quiet environment, starting from a noisy neighbour and outside sounds to our own flatmates or family members. If not addressed properly, this situation can become quite frustrating in the long run and could affect our focus, our productivity at work, and even our well-being. For this reason, in this article, we will share a few suggestions regarding how to manage noise at home more effectively. For additional tips on how to nurture your well-being while working from home, take a look at our other articles here and here.
Several factors could potentially affect the extent to which we are able to work in a quiet environment, starting from a noisy neighbour and outside sounds to our own flatmates or family members.
1. Consider the furniture & layout of your home office
The objects present in a room, as well as the way they are positioned can both have an impact on the way that sounds circulate and reverberate in the space. It’s important, for instance, to make sure that the room that you are working in has enough furniture in it, preferably with soft surfaces, so as to avoid an echo-ing effect. If you don’t have enough space for furniture or that is not possible for whatever reason, then you could try to prevent this effect from occurring by using the walls to hang framed pictures, prints or paintings, or by adding plants around the room and rugs on the floor. These will also be effective at absorbing the sounds. Depending on your situation, make sure to place your desk in a position that keeps it as far away from the source of noise as possible.
2. Use headphones
Whether you prefer listening to music, to ambient noises, or simply not playing anything at all, headphones will tone down other noises in your environment and allow you to focus on your work much more easily. If you would like to make sure that you’re able to work in complete silence, you could also consider investing in a pair of noise cancelling headphones.
3. Acoustic panels
If you would like to invest in a sound proofing technique, one of the most affordable and practical options is to purchase acoustic panels. There are many types of acoustic panels, some more decorative than others and some more expensive than others. However, you do not need a fancy solution if you do not want one. In essence, even a piece of foam glued to the underside of your desk (where it will not be visible) will do the trick. Regardless of what kind of acoustic panel you choose, it will reduce the echo effects to a higher degree and will ensure that the sounds allowed in your office are kept at a minimal level.
Due to the current circumstances, managing our home environment has become one of the priorities that we have to pay close attention to, compared to in previous times. For some of us, dealing with outdoor or indoor noises could be one of the biggest challenges that working remotely poses. If you find yourself in the situation of having to work in a noisy environment, we recommend that you apply a combination of layout, interior design, and soundproofing techniques to manage the soundscape of your home in a much easier way.
If you are wondering how the space in your home could be better adapted to deal with the daily sounds in your environment, then get in touch with us. We would be happy to help you with the process of redesigning your home in a way that supports your working from home dynamic.
