While renting has many advantages over owning, it can be hard to make permanent fixes to a space that is not yours. This can make soundproofing a challenge when you are unable to do any construction or make changes to the infrastructure. Here are some tips geared towards temporary renters that will improve the sound quality of your living space without any drastic changes.
Keep in mind that some of these temporary solutions can require drilling into the wall, but as long as you have spackle and a small container of paint, your landlord shouldn’t mind (as long as you fix the holes before move out). Although some soundproofing options can involve placing mass loaded vinyl on the walls, that’s a bit too invasive to be acceptable in most rented places.
Non-Invasive Soundproofing Curtains for Blocking Outside Noise
A huge amount of noise is able to enter your space through the windows. While you could spend a fortune replacing your current windows with double-pane glass, or hurricane windows, the minimal sound reduction you might experience wouldn’t be worth the cost.
Sound from street traffic, noisy neighbors, or construction around your living space can be deflected by using soundproofing curtains. The AcousticCurtain™ solves your noise problems at minimal expense, compared to new windows, and without disrupting the comforts or infrastructure of your home. They can be hung over any sized window frame, are incredibly easy to install, and do minimal damage to the walls.
If you need to remove them when moving out, you can remove the screws and drywall anchors, and then Spackle over the small holes.
Soundproofing Doors with Easily Removable Products
If you live in an apartment complex and are being disturbed by the sound of people walking down the hallway, soundproofing the door is an effective solution for you. This is also an ideal solution if noise is transferring from the rest of your house through your door, and into your room. The AcoustiDoor™ is a sound-blocking panel that can be customized to fit over any door frame in order to reduce noise between rooms. It can be easily retracted when not in use, and removed from the door when you move out without any lasting marks. Similar to the AcousticCurtain, the holes left by the AcoustiDoor after removal can easily be covered with Spackle.
Keep in mind that a soundproofing door cover like this would not work as well for sound transferring between adjacent rooms. In that case, sound is also likely coming through the walls. However, if there’s a door on that connecting wall, then using a cover on that would be a good way to at soundproofing to the wall as a whole.
Portable White Noise Machine for Quieting Your Space
Sound masking involves actually adding low-volume, constant noise to a space in order to drown out a distracting noise disturbance. White noise machines are well known for helping tenants sleep, work, or relax in communities with very close neighbors or excessive street noise. They are a great solution for smaller spaces, and our portable white noise technology provides 10 different tones to fit your personal preference.
If a white noise machine isn’t enough to drown out the sound bothering you, it can be supplemented with a soundproof curtain or soundproof door cover. The two products used together typically produce the most noticeable amount of noise reduction.
Easily Moveable Absorbing Materials
Hard surfaces allow sound waves to bounce around and create echo and reverb, while plush materials absorb those sound waves. For example, any time I’ve ever removed furniture from my bedroom to paint or to get rid of, before putting anything back into the room, I can always hear an echo. And once the new furniture goes in, you don’t notice the echo anymore.
If your rental is not carpeted but you cannot change that, lay thick area rugs throughout the space. Plush couches, pillows, and blankets can have a similar affect. Really, the more “stuff” you place throughout your space, the less echo you’ll hear.
Non-Invasive Soundproofing Methods
Even if you don’t own where you live, you can still make it yours and live peacefully without noise issues. If any of these tips helped you transform your rental into a sound suppressing space, let us know in the comments below!
