Do Soundproof Curtains Work? Explained
If you’ve ever thought about soundproofing your room, then you must’ve heard about soundproof curtains. They are advertised as the cheapest yet highly efficient method of soundproofing any room. In this article, we’ll explore how effective they really are and if they are worth the money.
Depending on your needs, soundproof curtains can be either highly effective or the complete opposite. Talking from experience, soundproof curtains won’t stop sound from entering your room, rather they will work as echo-reducing devices. Still, soundproof curtains fulfill their main purpose in another way.
For example, if you were to do an experiment by playing the exact same song or video in your bathroom and in a closet filled with clothes, the sound would be much clearer in the closet. Why? Well, because the tiles and the walls in the bathroom bounce the sound back, making it louder. On the other hand, the clothes muffle the sound, so it doesn’t reverberate which makes the song sound quieter.
But how does this connect to soundproof curtains? Well, soundproof curtains actually use the exact same principle as the clothes, they stop the sound from reverberating, which makes it seem as though the sound is quieter and clearer, ultimately making your room a quieter place.
What Are Soundproof Curtains?
Soundproof curtains are curtains made of sound-absorbent materials, for example, polyester. Their main trait can be attributed to the surface of the curtains, which is full of pores that deafen the sound and stop it from bouncing back into the space.
The types of soundproof curtains depend on the manufacturer and their primary use. Some of the types are acoustic curtains, sound-deadening or sound-absorbing curtains, etc.
As we’ve already stated, soundproof curtains aren’t actually soundproof, they serve a different purpose, and if you want to soundproof your room, you should opt for a different solution.
If you decide on getting soundproof curtains, make sure that the fabric is thick and that the curtain is heavy since this could indicate the quality of the curtain. Furthermore, make sure that the curtain covers the entire window, almost reaching the floor.
You can also read a very similar topic about Soundproofing Blankets and see do they really work?
Do Soundproof Curtains Work or Not?
Yes, soundproof curtains work. However, their effectiveness depends on what you expect from the curtain. When it comes to blocking external noise, the curtains are utterly ineffective. But if you want to make your room quieter and the sound clearer, soundproof curtains are the best and most inexpensive solution.
Keep in mind that soundproof windows are still the better option if you want to block external noise, and the combination of both would make your room extremely silent and calm.
How Do They Work?
We’ve already mentioned the porous surface of these curtains, which is the main reason for their success when it comes to stopping the sound from bouncing back.
Rather the sound is absorbed by the material, which will make your room seem quieter even though the volume is the same as in any other room where soundproof curtains aren’t installed.
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To sum up, soundproof curtains don’t affect the decibels of sound. Instead, they affect the travel of sound waves by stopping them from reverberating.
The Advantages of Soundproof Curtains
An unexpected advantage of soundproof curtains, other than canceling sound reverberation, is thermal insulation. Even though the effect of these curtains on the temperature of the room is minor, it shouldn’t be ignored.
The insulation within your walls and the soundproof curtains will make sure that your room stays warm longer, even in the coldest of winters, and the opposite during hot summers.
Soundproof curtains are also cheap ways to ensure privacy since one of these will cost you anywhere from $50 to $100 per curtain. Due to the heavy and non-transparent material, soundproof curtains will give you the privacy you need.
The Disadvantages of Soundproof Curtains
Before deciding on soundproof curtains, you should inspect some of the disadvantages. As we’ve previously mentioned, soundproof curtains are fairly heavy and hard to wash due to their material and size.
Furthermore, they don’t serve as great noise-cancellation tools, especially in comparison to soundproof windows or even window inserts.
Another issue caused by their non-transparent material is the lack of natural light in any room they are installed in. This could lead to increased electricity bills or discomfort if you decide not to use artificial light in your room.
Soundproof windows are certainly a better option for people trying to soundproof their office area. The lack of natural light in the home office area might affect productivity, and it won’t even give the desired effect when it comes to noise-cancellation. Furthermore, it could affect one’s mood, making the office an area of discomfort.
How to Choose a Quality Soundproof Curtain?
The two models of soundproof curtains we would recommend are Nicetown and Best Home Fashion when it comes to quality. These two curtains have over 6,000 positive reviews online, and they fit the description of high-quality soundproof curtains perfectly.
As we’ve mentioned, make sure that your soundproof curtains are heavy and made from a porous yet tightly-knitted material such as polyester. When installing them, try to hang them from the ceiling and make sure they almost touch the floor.
Also, make sure that the curtains cover the windows completely. Furthermore, the curtains should be a few inches wider than the window on both sides.
If you want to get the best from your soundproof curtains consider the tips below:
- Make sure that your curtains reach the floor. To ensure that this does indeed happen, consider buying the 96” long curtains rather than the 84” ones.
- To increase the effectiveness of your soundproof curtains, get four panels rather than just two. This will double the density of the area between the window and your room.
- Ceiling brackets rather than wall brackets to once again ensure that the curtain goes ceiling to floor.
How To Set Up Soundproof Curtains?
Even though having ceiling-to-floor curtains is recommended, it isn’t a must. But you should opt for curtains that are at least 12 inches longer than your window and 12 inches wider on each side (24 inches in total). Once your curtains arrive, you can hang them up just like ordinary curtains.
The best soundproof curtains will also block the sunlight because light, just like sound, travels in waves. If your curtain allows light to pass through, it does the same for sound. To get the best out of your curtains, make sure that you refer to the tips we’ve mentioned above. By following them, you will be provided with the optimum sound-deadening experience.
Best Soundproof Solution
There is one type of soundproof curtains that is worth the money and actually lives up to its name. Acousticurtains are the best and cheapest option for soundproofing compared to the alternatives (soundproof windows – up to $1400).
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If your problem with external sounds cannot be ignored, the sound-deadening curtains from Acousticurtains are a lifesaver due to their great efficiency and actual noise-cancellation properties.
Things to Look For When Buying A Soundproofing Curtain
Make sure to refer to the tips below when choosing the optimal curtains for your own home:
The Size
Follow this simple rule: the width and length of the curtains determine their effectiveness. When buying soundproof curtains, first measure the home area that you wish to cover, but keep the aforementioned rule in mind and make sure that the curtain is both longer and wider than your windows, almost reaching the floor and hanging from the ceiling rather than the wall.
The Materials
The finest soundproof curtains are made from velvet, polyester, or suede, so make sure that your curtains are made from one of these materials. There are special types of curtains, such as thermal weaves, which serve as thermal isolation curtains, but they are also great as sound wave absorbents.
The Density
This is where one of our previous tips comes in: buy four rather than two panels to increase the density. Also, try to go for as thick curtains as possible since they provide the best effect.
You might also be interested in 10 Best Soundproof Room Dividers (Complete Review).
Benefits of Soundproof Curtains
Not only are soundproof curtains great for noise dampening, but they also have some other great advantages which come with simply owning and installing the product:
- Heat insulation to keep your room warm during winter and cold during summers
- Simple to install since you just hang them as you would regular curtains
- Light insulation, keep your room dark which is optimal for most people
- Created to dampen the sound with the help of sound engineering rules and standards.
FAQ: People Also Ask
Are thicker curtains better at blocking noise?
Thicker curtains are definitely better at blocking out noises, but they cannot completely block out all noise. They do help with reducing noise.
What else can be used to cancel and reduce the sound?
Besides soundproof curtains, there is a wide variety of sound-insulation and noise-cancellation products, such as mass-loaded vinyl, acoustic panels, absorption sheets, insulation, dampening compounds, soundproof windows, etc.
Final Thoughts
Since they are the cheapest soundproofing option, they are worth investing in. However, they don’t provide the best soundproofing experience, their additional features, such as thermal and sunlight insulation, make them worthwhile.
Combined with other noise-cancellation products, such as soundproof windows, they will make your room much quieter and more comfortable. Be sure to consider all our tips if you opt for soundproof curtains, and good luck finding the perfect fit for your space!