Let’s face it: Singapore is no countryside. No matter where you are, you’re surrounded by the beautiful symphony of buzzing bikes, honking Hondas, throaty trucks, thunderous trains, chopping choppers, banging brats, plinking pianos, noisy neighbours, calling cats, barking bulldogs, jolting jackhammers, whooshing winds, rattling rains, and all that other good stuff. However, if any or none of that is your jam, that’s alright. Here are six tips on how to keep all these sounds out of your home (mostly).

1. Double-Paned Windows

Unless you’re a convicted felon serving out time at a maximum-security prison, it’s probably safe to say that your home has windows. And windows are great at letting a good breeze into your home — and the noise from the rest of the outside world. Unless you’re one of those lucky folks with windows that are soundproof even when open, you’ll have to go with the next best thing: double-glazed windows. The basic ones trap air between two glass panes because, it turns out, air is a really good sound insulator. The one with a vacuum instead? Much better. These are able to reduce those decibels up to 60-70%. However, be prepared to pay top dollar for these. 

2. Curtains

Sometimes harsh noises just need a soft touch to drown them out. Fabrics, especially the thick and heavy variety, are excellent sound dampeners. Curtains are a great choice to use in conjunction with or as an alternative to soundproof windows. However, don’t just run out and get any curtain. Remember the bit about thickness? They need to be dense. Super dense. Triple-weave fabric kind of dense. And made of velvet, suede or polyester. That’s putting the cherry on top of the whole soundproofing thing. A big plus, of course, is that these curtains also serve the double-duty of blocking out external light really well.

3. Carpets and Rugs

Sound loves bouncing off hard services. And guess what is hard in your home? Just about everything in it (except your bed and couch)! Excellent if you’ve always wanted an echo chamber or karaoke parlor in your home. Otherwise, throw about some carpets and rugs. Just like curtains, they are good as sound insulators. No need to get huge Persian carpets; budget-friendly ones will do just nicely. The fuzzier they are, the better — they are great sound absorbers.

4. Door Cores and Strips

It may not seem like it, but doors leak sound like an inflatable pool filled with angry cats leaks water. There are two reasons why doors do this: one, there’s always a gap under the door; two, most doors are actually hollow (in the same way honeycombs minus the honey are hollow) which does very little.

The first is a fairly simple fix. You only need soundproof door strips that cost a few dollars. Mostly made of rubber, foam, or silicone, they can be cut to size for your door and stuck onto the bottom. These can achieve up to a 40-decibel sound reduction. If you want to get more fancy, you’d get a drop seal for your door. These close the gap only when the door is closed and result in a tighter seal than regular door strips.

The second, also simple to fix, but significantly more expensive. You need to replace the entire door with a solid one. The solid slab of these kinds of doors subdues sound a lot better than their insubstantial counterparts. Plus, it makes your front entrance that much more secure.

5. Soundproof Walls

Ever wondered why bags of potato chips come with more air than chips? It’s to protect the chips from getting crushed; the air provides a cushion that protects them — until they’re eaten, that is. Soundproofing walls work on the same principle by adding a cavity that serves as an insulation gap for AND heat. If it gets too expensive, you could always opt for soundproof panels that you can mount on a wall. Better yet, these come with lots of fun designs that could turn a wall into a feature piece in your home.

6. Drop Ceilings

If your neighbour upstairs likes dropping the beat, it might be time for a drop ceiling. Similar to soundproofing walls, drop ceilings provide an air cavity that isolates and dampens noise. For added soundproofing, acoustical mats can be installed in that space for extra peace and quiet.

To wrap it up

If your neighbour upstairs likes dropping the beat, it might be time for a drop ceiling. Similar to soundproofing walls, drop ceilings provide an air cavity that isolates and dampens noise. For added soundproofing, acoustical mats can be installed in that space for extra peace and quiet.