9 Easy Ways to Soundproof a Room With Thin Walls

I’ve always cherished the peace and quiet of my home, but there I was one day, trying to concentrate on my work while my neighbor’s noise pierced through the thin walls.

It felt like I was living in the middle of a rock concert. Desperate for a solution, I decided to try some DIY soundproofing techniques, but everything went wrong – I accidentally knocked over a vase while moving furniture, and the shattered glass only added to the chaos.

So, I finally decided just to get a professional soundproofing product to tackle the problem head-on.

To my delight, it actually WORKED, and everything CHANGED. My home was transformed into the peaceful sanctuary I had always wanted, and my productivity skyrocketed.

Today I am going to share the 9 easy steps that led to this transformation so that you, can soundproof your thin walls and enjoy a more serene living space. Trust me, you won’t believe how simple it can be!

Benefits of Thin Walls soundproofing

Soundproofing thin walls can offer numerous benefits that enhance your overall living experience, making it an investment worth considering. Here are some of the key advantages:

Next Read: Soundproof Padding for Walls – 5 Important Facts You Should know

Improved Privacy: By soundproofing your thin walls, you can effectively reduce the amount of sound that passes between rooms, ensuring that conversations and activities remain private.

Enhanced Comfort: A quieter living environment can dramatically improve your overall comfort and well-being. Soundproofing thin walls helps you create a peaceful sanctuary where you can relax, work, and sleep without disturbance.

Increased Productivity: A noise-free environment is conducive to better focus and productivity. Whether you’re working from home or pursuing a hobby, soundproofing thin walls can help you concentrate more effectively.

Better Sleep Quality: A quiet and peaceful bedroom is essential for a good night’s sleep. Soundproofing your walls can minimize disturbances from outside noise, allowing you to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed.

Higher Property Value: Soundproofing your walls can be an attractive feature for potential buyers or renters, potentially increasing the value of your property and making it more marketable.

Reduced Stress: Constant exposure to unwanted noise can lead to increased stress levels. By soundproofing your walls, you can create a more peaceful living environment and reduce stress-related health issues.

9 Ways to Soundproof a Room With Thin Walls

Here are some of the cost-effective ways to soundproof your wall

1. Weak Points of the Walls

The weak points in the wall are where the noise is going to penetrate. Finding these weak spots is crucial in your soundproofing.

Also, identifying the type of noise (whether impact noise or airborne noise) will give you an idea of where to install soundproofing materials.

2. Seal the Whole Space

Going back to sound basics, the more space is filled with furniture; there will be more recipients of noise.

If the noise is coming from the outside, it will not completely stop the sound but remove the reverberating effect when it hits the wall.

The same thing will happen if the noise is from the inside. That’s why acoustic rooms fill up a space to get away with the echo effect.

3. Use Blankets or Curtains

An acoustic blanket or soundproof curtain is an effective means of reducing noise transmission through your thin wall.

Sometimes called blackout curtains, thermally insulated blankets, moving blankets, or sound insulation window drapes, these fabrics are specialized cloths that are designed to soak sound, giving you a quieter room.

4. Install Foam Mats

Foam mats are sound-absorbing soundproofing materials you can use on thin walls. Primarily seen in acoustic rooms like a radio booth or recording studio, foam mats can also be placed in your space by attaching them to the thin wall.

5. Acoustic Foam Panels

These soundproofing materials are similar to foam mats, but they are designed and fully dedicated to absorbing sound waves.

They are not sound blockers, but the fabric and foam material dilute the sound for clarity and enhancement. Having an acoustic panel made of foam adds soundproofing to your thin wall.

6. Add an Extra Layer

So you already have an existing soundproof thin apartment wall. Adding another “thin” layer can make the walls thicker.

The concept of mass and density play around with soundproofing when the barriers become thicker.

7. Use Soundproof Drywall Paint

Though not as efficient and robust as other soundproofing materials, soundproofing paint can be used to cover spots or holes to seal air and prevent any space for sound from passing through.

8. Apply Mass-loaded Vinyl

This is a special sheet designed for acoustic purposes. It is a soundproofing material flexible enough to roll out and placed in between drywalls. MLVs are superb in reducing noise transmission.

9. White Noise Machine

These are small but unique devices that emulate sounds from nature. The ambient sounds promote a relaxing environment within the room, especially for people who have difficulty getting quality sleep.

PRO TIP: Seal door frames and windows by using weatherstripping or door sweeps. These will enhance wall soundproofing no matter how thin the wall is.

Thin Walls Soundproofing Related Questions

How can you soundproof walls of thin walls without people noticing?

Hang soundproofing materials that don’t require poking the walls. Acoustic sheets, moving thick blankets, acoustic curtains, and foam panels can be attached to the drywall using adhesive tapes and acoustic caulk.

PRO TIP: For better soundproofing, push heavy furniture flat against the wall. These pieces have high sound absorption quality as they are usually made of rich fabrics.

Pieces of furniture, like wardrobes and bookshelves, against your wall add mass and enhance sound. You can even place a soundproof blanket or foam panel between the furniture and the wall to further absorb any sound.

Does spray foam insulation reduce unwanted noise?

Yes. Though the primary purpose of spray foam insulation is for thermal rather than sound control, it is also effective in dissipating noise.

Do you want to block or eliminate sound, or do you want to control the echo?

If you are blocking noise or eliminating sound, you need drywalls with higher STC ratings. The higher the rating, the more effective the barrier to attenuating the sound.

On the other hand, if you want to control the echo, you need sound-absorbing materials to soak the sound and eliminate the echo effect.

PRO TIP: Attenuation in soundproofing walls refers to the process of reducing the force or impact of sound.

Conclusion

So now that you know how to fix thin walls, it will be easier for you to have a quieter room.

You may never have control of the external noise, but you can do away with loud noise by controlling what’s on the inside.

Choosing the correct sound-absorbing material for your project would be easier for you if you had considered all variables and factors.

Knowing the source of sound saves you time and money in getting all the resources you need. Thus, having thin walls will no longer be an issue.