Echo can be an annoying problem, especially common in large rooms with high ceilings and wooden floors. Fortunately, by installing sound absorbing materials on floors, walls and ceilings, echo can often be reduced. Some solutions are simple and decorative, others require more advanced renovations. Whatever your needs, there is a solution that's right for you!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Try Quick Remedies
Step 1. Roll out a carpet if you have wooden floors
When sound bounces off hard surfaces it can create echoes, so wooden floors could be responsible for the problem. Covering part of the floor with a thick carpet helps reduce echo, because the fabric absorbs sounds better than wood. Also, rugs can nicely decorate a room.
For example, choose a colorful or patterned rug if the room is mostly dark and neutral in color
Step 2. Apply sound absorbing foam to walls and ceilings to quickly fix the problem
Purchase acoustic foam squares on the internet or at a local home improvement store, then attach them to walls or ceilings with adhesive spray. This is a particularly good idea if you use the room as a recording studio. Look for neutral colors like black or gray if you don't want the foam to be too visible.
Choose more vibrant colors like red or pink to add a touch of light to the room
Step 3. Hang curtains on the walls to solve the problem with a simple and easy to remove solution
Heavy curtains have excellent sound-absorbing qualities. Install them on the walls and not just on the windows, in order to limit the echo. When choosing which curtains to buy, ask the staff which ones are the most sound absorbing. Choose colors and patterns that match well with the rest of the room.
- When hanging curtains, you need to attach arms to the wall that can hold a rod. To install them, you need a drill, screws, arms and a rod.
- Alternatively, you can have them hang by a professional. When buying them, ask if the store also offers an installation kit.
Step 4. Hang tapestries or pictures on the walls
These elements can also absorb sounds and decorate your home. Find works of art you like on the internet or in stores. Large canvases and thick tapestries absorb many sounds. To hang them, first decide where to put them, drive a sturdy nail into the wall, then lay the wire over the nail.
There are many ways to hang a tapestry. Usually a rod is used, similar to that of curtains
Step 5. Move full bookcases around the room if you have any
If you keep a lot of books in another room, move them to the one that has echo problems. Books absorb sounds and help reduce echo. Bookcases with back panels are more effective than open ones.
Step 6. Get large furniture with soft fabrics
Upholstered sofas and armchairs usually absorb sounds better than wood or leather furniture. Choose a new upholstered sofa from a furniture store, have it delivered to your home, and place it in the room with the eco issues. Try rearranging the furniture to find the best configuration to cancel the echo.
Method 2 of 3: Making Permanent Changes
Step 1. Put the carpet to completely cover the floor
If a carpet doesn't reduce echo enough, carpeting can solve the problem. Buy it online or at a home improvement store. Ask the staff which are the most sound absorbing products.
When buying the carpet, ask for a professional installation kit. Carpeting is difficult, challenging, and often requires specific tools that you may not have around the house
Step 2. Install a new sound absorbing floor
These layers are installed under the floor and help absorb sounds more effectively. It is an expensive and demanding job, but it allows you to reduce the echo of a room without having to resort to carpets or rugs.
In most cases you will need to hire a professional for this installation. Businesses that sell substrates usually also offer installation for a fee. To successfully install a new substrate floor you will need to remove the old one, add the substrate and put the new one back
Step 3. Install a new cork floor
Cork absorbs sounds better than woods used more often, such as oak or pine. In almost all cases it is best to hire a professional to install the new floor, as this is a difficult job. To lay it correctly you will need to cut the boards and join them neatly, finally nailing them to the base.
Step 4. Install MLV (Mass Loaded Vynil) sound barriers if you wish to cover the entire walls
This material, composed of high-density vinyl polymers, is very effective in absorbing sounds. It is more difficult to install than curtains or foam, but it can be covered completely by the plaster, so it does not change the look of the room.
To install the barriers in the best way you have to fix them to the existing walls, then apply a new layer of plaster. Most businesses that sell these products also offer installation for a fee. This is usually the best option, as it is not an easy job
Step 5. Add insulation to improve the room temperature as well
Like sound barriers, insulation is installed under plaster, so it does not change the look of a room. It also offers the benefit of keeping the house warmer in the winter, improving comfort and reducing energy costs.
- There are many insulation materials, but foams are particularly effective in reducing echo.
- To install the insulation you need to remove the existing plaster, apply the foam correctly with a spray, then apply a new layer of plaster. In most cases you should hire a professional to make sure the job is done correctly.
Method 3 of 3: Record in a Room with Eco
Step 1. Purchase a shotgun microphone for recording
If you're looking to record in a room with echo issues, a shotgun microphone allows you to keep audio free from unwanted noise. These devices usually eliminate echo much more effectively than traditional microphones in laptops and phones. You can find them on the internet or in electronics stores.
Step 2. Put the microphone near your mouth
Usually these devices record best when they are about 10 cm from the mouth. If they are further away, they can capture the room echo more.
Step 3. Use the headphones to check if there are any problems
Before recording, use headphones to check what the microphone catches. If you hear echo, try moving closer to the microphone. If that doesn't work, try moving the microphone to the area of the room where the echo is least.
