Soundproof Curtains-What to Look for When Selecting

Are you looking into soundproofing a room? Little that you may know, but the easiest solution comes from the soundproof curtains. Affordable, easy to hang up and coming in a nice variety of colors and models, the noise-canceling curtains are a great way to reduce the level of noise.

Page Contents

1 Can soundproof curtains solve the noise problems?
2 Do soundproof curtains work?
3 What counts when selecting soundproof curtains?
4 What are the other aspects to take into consideration?

Can soundproof curtains solve the noise problems?

Bear in mind that the impact of a noise-canceling curtain relates a lot to the type of noise that you’re dealing with. The construction of your home/building also matters a lot. If you’re dealing with some traffic noise, construction or AC noise, a soundproof curtain is going to help muffle the sounds. However, it may not be capable of blocking the noise entirely as no curtain can do it.

For instance, motorway sounds are by far the most difficult to block as they’re made of low-frequency sounds (most of the time). Besides, the noise doesn’t come in only from the windows. It also seeps in through the openings and walls. As they get inside your home, the noise is going to create the “rebound effect” (it bounces several times on the floor, wall, and ceiling). Suffice it to say; it’s going to be impossible to block sound entirely when you’re only using soundproof curtains (it’s going to take you a lot more than a pair of curtains to reduce the level of noise).

Do soundproof curtains work?

Soundproof curtains work in the sound deadening applications, but they have their limitations. Some think that they’re able to reduce echo in a room, but may not be able to lower the decibel level of sounds entering the room.

It’s important that you’re aware that soundproof curtains aren’t going to cancel out all noise. The sound is still going to escape into your home from the outside. You’re going to need more than soundproof curtains for eliminating all outside noise.

Nevertheless, the soundproof curtain is going to lower the level of noise inside and outside of your home. This type of curtains has a thick design, and they’re made with several layers of materials. This is why the echo in a room is going to be lower- the soundproof curtains are going to absorb it. This is why the amount of noise that you’re going to hear in a home is going to drop impressively, especially when it comes to echoing noises (barking dogs, construction work).

To increase the efficiency of the soundproof curtains, you should use double-sided tape for sealing the curtain’s edges to the wall. This is going to lower the sound migration around and the amount of sound that rebounds. The room should also be covered with absorbent materials for better results.

Installing soundproof windows is going to improve the performance of soundproof windows, and you should add this expense to your investment.

What counts when selecting soundproof curtains?

Not all soundproof curtains are created equal, and some may work better than others. You should make the best choice for your home and budget so here are the things not to overlook:

Overall size

The length and width of the soundproof curtains are important when selecting. No matter how effective the curtains are, you still want them to match the size of your windows.

Soundproof curtains should be three times wider than your windows. They should also be 10 inches longer. Even if this may sound a bit too much, remember that the extra size is going to make them cover a bigger surface, increasing their performance.

To get the best out of your soundproof curtains, you should get curtains that go from ceiling to floor. Measure the window frame so that you don’t step on the curtains.

Weight

Weight and length aren’t the only ones that count for your soundproof curtains- the weight also matters. The rule of thumb is to look for the heavier models as they seem to be a lot more effective.

Even if it’s going to be a lot more challenging to hang the heavier curtains, keep in mind that heftier models present better sound-canceling abilities. The heavier the curtains, the better is going to be at absorbing and reflecting sounds. This is more obvious for the lower frequency noises caused by heavy machinery.

Still unhappy with the noise-canceling results? You may want to triple/quadruple the layers of noise-absorbing curtains. Don’t forget to use heavy-duty rods as they need to handle the extra weight.

Materials

You should look for the curtains that have other fibers in the material. Suede or velvet material, your best options.

Another tip when selecting is to seek for the curtains containing layers that are labeled as a thermal layer, thermal weave. These materials include extra fibers that are going to improve the noise absorption. Besides, the thermal-protective layers are also going to keep cold/heat out of your home, cutting down the energy bill as well.

The extra liners are also increasing the performance of the soundproof curtains. Curtain liners, blackout liners, and window liners are going to ensure an extra layer that is going to keep the sound away from the inside of your home.

Curtain rods

When selecting the curtain rods, you need to choose some that sustain the noise-canceling abilities of the curtains and hold the weight of the curtains as well.

The wrap-around rods are the best choice, according to some. This type of rods eliminates the gaps at the edges of the curtain. You only need to attach it to the walls at a curve. This is going to enlarge the area in which they can cancel out any noise.

Look into the double rods options too. They’re going to let you double up on the layering of the soundproof curtains. The efficiency is better, and the amount of light going into a room is going to decrease as well. When you plan to get several curtain panels, it’s best that you go with the double rods.

Think about using ceiling-mount brackets instead of curtain rods. They hand down from the ceiling and allow a more floor-to-ceiling coverage for the curtains, which increases the soundproofed areas.

What are the other aspects to take into consideration?

The factors mentioned above are important, but you shouldn’t undermine the following ones:

Product reviews- more often than not, the best input about a product comes from other customer’s opinions on the product. Take a look at the reviews and don’t settle for anything less than 4-5 stars.
Price- unless you never worry about money, you have a budget 9times out of 10. You don’t want to overspend, do you?
Colour- even if this isn’t fundamental, you still want the soundproof curtains to match the décor of a room. The offers are plenty, so finding a color that goes great with a room’s décor is easier than you think.
Window measurement- even if most soundproof curtains are big enough to cover almost any type of window, it’s better to stay on the safe side and double-check the size of your windows. The last thing you want is to pay the high dollar for a noise-canceling curtain that is too small for your windows.
Grommets- truth be told, they’re not essential for your curtains. However, soundproof curtains that feature grommets are going to make the installation easier. The curtains are easier to open/close, and your curtains are going to stay in place.
Easy to install- good and efficient soundproof curtains are heavy and big, so installing them may become a challenge. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have a user-friendly design, easing the installation.
Easy to clean– stained and dirty curtains isn’t something you want to deal with any time soon. Get soundproof curtains that are machine washable and don’t stain that easy. It’s going to be a bliss later on.