Too much noise in the office can lower the overall productivity of employees and affect their work negatively. Therefore, to reduce unnecessary noise in your office and provide better working conditions for your employees, here are a few things you can do.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The first option is to get sound-cancelling headphones. These devices can make any busy room feel like a quiet library. These headphones were originally made for aircraft pilots, but they are widely accessible to the entire public as well. How do they work? Well, noise-cancelling headphones have microphones that are able to sense and then neutralize any low-frequency noise and prevent it from reaching your ears. They receive the external sounds and then phase-invert them entirely, which means that there are two sounds that cancel each other out. By using these useful devices, you can create a quiet atmosphere for your employees.
White Noise
The next thing you can do to make a distraction from the noise is to provide white noise machines. All you need to do is strategically place machines around the place, or simply put one in the centre of your office. The machine will create very soothing sounds that can cancel out the background noise. That will create a very relaxing atmosphere in the room and will help your employees focus on work.
Use Plants
Believe it or not, plants can actually block noises and help create a better working space. Not only that, but they will also improve the air quality of your space and make it look extra neat and put together. There are specific plants you need to look for if you want to create a soundproof barrier for your office. Consider getting evergreen shrubs such as junipers and hollies. They are great noise reducers since they have really thick branches. Simply place these plants along solid walls and they will reduce the outside noise for you.
Quiet Floors
The loudest and hardest surfaces in the office tend to be the floors. So, to reduce noise in your office the best thing you can do is to make some changes to the floors. You can easily soundproof your floors by checking out an online carpet store and making carpet floors with soundproofing underlays. They are easy to install and they will help cancel out the noise in no time.
Furniture
Learn how to strategically place your furniture so that you can create walled-off areas and block the noise. By adding a level of texture and differently shaped surfaces, you will be able to reflect sound because the furniture will be absorbing it. You can purchase sofas and chairs in different materials such as chenille, corduroy, microfiber and suede that will help you reduce the noise. Also, try to place the furniture close to the noise sources.
Acoustic Panels
You can also opt for using acoustic panels in the parts of your office where you want the sound to be more controlled. The materials that are mostly used for these panels are wool and foam. These materials are great at absorbing sound waves. The noise from the office will fade away due to panels’ ability to convert the sound into kinetic energy a.k.a. heat.
Soundproofing Insulation
Lastly, you can simply get soundproofing insulation. It can control sound effectively and it is more energy-efficient as well. The thicker the insulation, the better it is. No matter where the sound source is, thick insulation will help keep the sounds out. Plus, this is a very energy-efficient method that will keep the heat in during cold winter days, while keeping it out during long and warm summer days.
Conclusion
All things considered, there are many options out there you can choose from, depending on how much you are willing to invest. Installing acoustic panels or soundproofing insulation, and using plants, furniture, carpets, white noise, and sound-cancelling headphones, are just some of the most effective ways to reduce noise in your office.
About the Author
Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom, with a Fine Arts Bachelor’s degree. Expressing herself through different mediums is what keeps her spirit bright. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.
twitter: https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ
