Quality sleep is an often overlooked component of self-care. Your body and mind rejuvenate when you are sleeping. Without proper sleep, you can’t function at your best.
You probably recognize the complete exhaustion that accompanies a sleepless night. However, getting low-quality sleep is often unnoticed.
Perhaps you just don’t remember things as well as you used to. Maybe your energy levels are low or begin to flag in the afternoon. Your mood can be another indicator of low-quality sleep, making you irritable or depressed.
It’s obvious that a good night’s sleep is essential for physical and mental health, but is it really necessary to soundproof your bed?
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Why Soundproof Your Bed?
Sounds have a startling impact on sleep. Even if noise doesn’t wake you up, it can still alert your subconscious. This leads to changes in your sleep cycles and lower sleep quality.
When you first fall asleep, you experience stage 1 sleep. This is a light sleep state that you can easily wake from. REM sleep is the deepest level of sleep. REM sleep is when your body repairs itself.
Environmental noises, including traffic and airplane noise, have been shown to increase stage 1 sleep and decrease the time you spend in REM sleep.
Noise during sleep has also been shown to increase cortisol and adrenaline. It can also increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Short-term effects of low-quality sleep include poor mood, irritability, and fatigue. Long-term lack of sleep can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Given the importance of sleep, and the effect that unwanted noise can have on your sleep cycle, it’s easy to see why it’s important to soundproof your bed.
Where Are Sound Waves Slipping In?
To know the best ways to soundproof your bed, you’ll need to know just where the soundwaves are coming from. Unwanted sound usually comes through:
- Windows
- Doors
- Floor
- Ceiling
- Walls
Of course, this is assuming that the sound isn’t originating in your bedroom. Even if your problem is a noisy roommate, there are soundproofing options to help you get the peace you need.
Best Ways To Soundproof Your Bedroom
Before we look specifically at soundproofing your bed, we’ll look at soundproofing your bedroom. It’s the first step in soundproofing your bed, and cleans up lots of noise pollution.
We’ll look at the most common places noise enters your bedroom, and how to keep it outside your sleep space.
Areas where sound travels in include:
- Window
- Door
- Wall, floor, ceiling
Can You Create a Sound Proof Window?
Sound travels easily through a window. If you are in an urban area, you’ll likely hear a lot of street noise. You may have moved out to the country to get away from the noise only to find you are experiencing a different type. The good news is that you can reduce unwanted noise coming through your windows.
3 Options for Window Noise Reduction:
- Soundproof curtains
- Sealing gaps
- Soundproof inserts
Sealing Gaps
Noise will travel in from gaps in your room. Basically, if air can travel in through a gap, so can noise. You may notice gaps around your windows or your bedroom door.
The best way to seal these gaps is with acoustical caulk. Acoustic sealant is designed specifically for blocking noise.
Soundproof Curtains
Soundproof curtains are inexpensive, but are they effective? Essentially these curtains absorb some sound. They keep sound from echoing in a room. They won’t block sound completely, but they can turn the volume down.
Soundproof Window Inserts
Soundproof window inserts are more effective than sound-absorbing curtains. These inserts are placed in the window. It creates a sound barrier that can reduce noise by 70%, making it a great solution for bedroom noise.
They provide both sound reduction and sound absorption. This means they will block sound from outside your bedroom and help quiet sounds originating from your bedroom.
Bedroom Door
Your bedroom door can let in lots of unwanted noise. An interior door is generally designed for visual privacy, so it are made from lighter materials than an exterior door.
You can eliminate noise coming through your bedroom door by:
- Sealing gaps
- Draft blocker
- Solid core door
- Soundproof blankets or drapes
Sealing gaps
This is essentially the same process as windows. If you see light between the door and the wall or floor, you have a gap that can let sound in. Acoustic sealant can be used to block these gaps.
Draft Blocker
The biggest gap for your bedroom door is likely the bottom of the door. There can be a significant space between the door and the floor.
A draft stopper is a perfect solution. You can choose a standard draft stopper, or choose an acoustic foam draft blocker for maximum noise reduction.
Solid Core Door
Most interior doors are hollow in the middle. They are less expensive to manufacture than solid core doors, and they provide an element of privacy.
However, a solid core door is much better at blocking noise because of its density. This type of bedroom door along with a door seal will significantly reduce the noise in your bedroom.
Soundproof Blanket or Drapes
If a solid core door isn’t in the budget, you can place a soundproof blanket over your door. Drapes or curtains will work for this purpose as well. It also helps prevent noise from coming through gaps in your door.
Walls, Floor, and Ceiling
When soundproofing your room, it’s important to take in all areas of the space. Sound can travel through your walls, floor, and ceiling as well.
You may want to focus your efforts on the area that receives the most noise. If you have a downstairs noisy neighbor, you focusing on soundproofing the floor is a good idea. If you share a wall with a neighbor or have a roommate, the walls would be your focus.
However, the following soundproofing techniques are useful no matter where the noise is coming from because they provide sound absorption.
Pillows and Blankets
A thick blanket is an excellent noise dampener. Textiles like pillows and blankets absorb sound which quietens the noise.
Carpet
Carpet functions similarly to blankets. Even if the source of sound isn’t coming from the floor, carpet will help absorb the noise. If you don’t want ot install carpet, a thick rug can help as well.
Furniture and Art
Have you ever stood in an empty room and noticed how much louder noises seemed? Furniture and wall art create barriers for sound and reduce noise.
Acoustic Panels and Acoustic Foam
An acoustic panel can be either sound absorbing or sound reducing. To get the most benefit from them, place them in areas on your wall and ceiling. You may want to add a few panels right next to your bed as well.
Acoustic foam is similar to acoustic panels. Instead of being a fixed sheet, acoustic foam comes in 1 x 1 squares. This offers more flexibility, and can be used to cover an entire room.
Best Ways To Soundproof Your Bed
Soundproofing your bedroom will go a long way towards providing a good night’s sleep. However, it’s nearly impossible to block all sound in a room.
This is why in addition to soundproofing your bedroom, you should also soundproof your bed.
There are a few ways to accomplish this. You can soundproof your bed with:
- Soundproof curtains
- Soundproof canopy bed
- Soundproof room dividers
Soundproof Curtains
Soundproof curtains are an excellent way to keep noise pollution out of your sleeping space. To install them, you’ll need four ceiling tracks and four soundproof curtain panels.
Install the ceiling tracks about two inches narrower than your bed. This allows the curtains to drape on your mattress to further seal the area from noise.
If you don’t have curtains, you can also use a soundproof blanket or heavy drapes to block out loud noises. You can add acoustic foam panels to the ceiling over your bed as well.
Soundproof Canopy Bed
If an upstairs neighbor has you up at night, consider a soundproof canopy bed. Use soundproofing curtains or drapes on the canopy. Then install the sound absorbing material on each side of the bed using the canopy frame.
There’s one more option for effectively soundproofing your bed. You can use soundproof room dividers. Simply place the soundproof room dividers around the perimeter of your bed. You’ll need to leave an area to get in and out of bed. You can add a soundproof blanket or curtain here to block the noise.
Soundproof Room Dividers
Soundproof room dividers are another way to eliminate noise from your bedroom. Simply surround your bed with soundproof room dividers. You’ll need to leave a space to get in and out of bed. You can cover this opening with a soundproof blanket or curtains.
Best Ways to Soundproof Your Bed FAQS
How to soundproof a bedroom door?
There are a few ways to soundproof your bedroom door. The most effective is to purchase a solid core door. However, you can also place a soundproof blanket over your door. Regardless of the type of door you have, you’ll need to seal any gaps that let sound escape.
Can you soundproof your bedroom wall?
The most effective way to soundproof a wall is to use soundproof drywall. You can install it over your existing drywall and seal it with green glue. A less extreme option is acoustic panels. These can be hung on the wall to block noise. Acoustic foam can also be installed on the wall.
How can you soundproof your bedroom cheaply?
The easiest way to soundproof your bedroom on a budget is with items that you already have on hand. You can hang thick blankets or drapes on the walls or around your bed. Place blankets and pillows around the room. Use heavy drapes or sound blocking curtains to cover windows.
Place a blanket over the door of your room and seal any gaps in your bedroom door. Place a thick rug on the floor. You can also hang artwork or place a bookshelf in the room. Acoustic foam can help as well. It’s less expensive than acoustic panels, and can be placed around the room.
How can you soundproof a room as I build it?
Soundproof drywall and soundproof insulation are the best way to soundproof a room as you build it. You can also install a sheet of drywall and then place another sheet 6-12 inches from the first. This open cavity will help block noise.
Can carpet soundproof the floor?
Carpet can reduce room noise 30-70%. Of course, the most dramatic difference is if you don’t have carpet already installed. Replacing carpet with a type that has better sound absorption can also provide a significant noise reduction.
The best type of carpet for noise reduction is wool. The underlay you choose can also help block noise. The best type of underlay for carpet is mass-loaded vinyl (MLV).
Does soundproof foam really work?
Soundproof foam is frequently used in a sound booth for recording, but does it work in your bedroom? Yes. When soundproof foam squares are properly installed they can block and absorb noise. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive.
Is there a paint that absorbs sound?
Yes. Soundproof paint absorbs midlevel sounds, like the human voice. However, the difference it makes is negligible. You’ll need to apply multiple coats of paint, and it only provides a slight muffling effect to sound.
If you want to repaint your room, soundproof paint is a reasonable choice. Just don’t expect it to cure all of your noise problems itself.
