I can still remember the days when my parents used to bust into my room, complaining about the loud noise coming from the video game I was playing. Obviously, as most kids have realized, lowering the volume isn’t quite as fun as playing with the volume fully turned up!
Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to soundproof your gaming room so that your parents, your partner or your roommates can enjoy some peace and quiet and get enough sleep.
To get you started, I’ll explain six different strategies for soundproofing a gaming room below.
How to Soundproof a Gaming Room
1. Soundproof the Wall
If your gaming room is a room that’s separate from any other, then the best idea would be to soundproof your walls.
You must take proper measurements before starting this project, because one inaccurate measurement can ruin everything. Once you’ve measured your walls, you’ll know exactly how much fiberglass to purchase in order to complete the task. You should also make sure you have a sharp knife and a staple gun on hand.
Before starting, you must also make sure you’re wearing a shirt with long sleeves and a face mask to cover your nose, because inhaling fiberglass can cause an allergic reaction.
Once you’re dressed properly and you’ve got all your materials in front of you, you’ll need to cut the fiberglass down to the correct measurements. After that, you can attach it to your walls and then proceed to cover the walls with protective materials. You can use vapor retarder paint, which you can find at a local paint store, for this purpose.
2. Soundproof the Door
These days, many homes are built with hollow core doors, but instead of buying a new solid core door, we recommend that you soundproof your existing one.
To get started, you’ll need to seal all the gaps and cracks you can find, as these gaps will allow sound to travel through your doorway. We suggest that you use this insulating sealant to do so, unless you notice some gaps that are smaller than one inch in length and width. For these smaller gaps, you should be using Red Devil small gap foam.
If you’re willing to spend more money, you can also use a door gasket to seal gaps at the jambs and at the top of the door. By sealing these gaps, you’ll have the ability to block out sound, light and even moisture.
Using an insulating sealant and a door gasket together is a very effective way to block sound that’s coming through gaps and cracks. However, these things won’t help you deal with the space between the door and the floor. To soundproof that space, we recommend that you install a door sweep.
You can find this high tech-door sweep online for an affordable price. This automatic door sweep uses a spring mechanism to automatically lower the seal down to the floor when the door is closed.
3. Stack Pieces of Furniture Against a Shared Wall
If you have a shared wall, then it’s best to rearrange your furniture so it’s resting against that wall. You can start by simply pushing your dresser or bookshelves against the wall, in order to help prevent sound from passing through it. When you do this, it’s best to use a bookshelf with a closed back that’s filled with books.
4. Soundproof the Windows
Just like a door, the windows in a room can be another culprit when it comes to letting sound in or out. There are several methods you can use to soundproof your windows, including installing additional window panes, adding an extra layer to each window, making window plugs and covering the windows with sound-deadening curtains.
Sound-deadening curtains aren’t extremely effective, but they’ll block out a lot of unwanted noise, and they can also increase the visual appeal of a room.
I decided to use sound-deadening curtains in most of my rooms, mainly because they reduce the effect of echoes. For the best results possible, I suggest that you get curtains that will cover each window from top to bottom, and a small area around each window as well. You may be interested in getting one or more sets of these online.
5. Build a Soundproof Gaming Booth
If you enjoy DIY projects, then you could build a gaming booth for yourself. The only thing you’ll need to buy for this project is an OSB board. These boards are typically used in construction, but they’re also great for small projects like this one. You can also use plywood, which is considered to be just a bit more effective.
Building this sort of booth is quite simple. All you’ll need is a few plywood panels, some nails or screws to put them together and some Mass Loaded Vinyl. After you’ve built your box, you should then glue some acoustic foam to the insides. You’ll still be able to see your screen properly, as the box will only prevent the sound from traveling through the wall behind the computer.
6. Get a Gaming Headset
If your not a fan of DIY projects, and you don’t want to build a box, then the easiest and cheapest way to solve your noise problem would be to get yourself a comfortable and effective gaming headset. A wireless headset is the best choice, but a regular headset will also work just fine.
There are countless numbers of headsets to choose from, so you can consider the features, the design and the comfort level of each. I strongly believe that the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is one of the best headsets on the market today. This attractive headset boasts excellent sound, customizable features and an innovative headband that assures a perfect fit every time. It’s also compatible with multiple gaming platforms.
If you’re on a budget, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. If you use an Xbox One, PS4, Wii or PC for gaming, then this HyperX Cloud Stinger gaming headset is the right choice for you. It only costs around $60, and offers a sturdy design, comfortable earcups and convenient on-ear audio controls.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to soundproof a gaming room. Some are more effective and costly than others, but they all work!
I recommend that you try one or two of these methods at a time, starting with one of the cheaper or easier projects to see how much it helps. I hope you find that one or more of these strategies can allow you to have a fun gaming experience without bothering your parents, roommates, or partner.
If you want to read more about sound-deadening blankets, check out my recent guide to soundproofing a room with blankets.
image: Pixabay