Are you planning on throwing a party in your house or apartment, but you’re afraid your neighbors will call the police when they hear the loud music? Well, don’t worry about that! In this article, I’ll explain the best tips and tricks you can use to soundproof your house (or at least significantly reduce the noise it produces) to prevent your neighbors from calling the cops on you.
Soundproofing projects can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing, but I’ll let you know how you can complete this basic task without breaking the bank.
How to Soundproof a House for a Party
Here are some simple but effective ways in which you can soundproof your home, once and for all.
1. Insulate the Windows
One of the first things we recommend doing is insulating the windows, as they’re one of the main culprits when it comes to noise. If you inspect your windows properly, you’ll likely notice a lot of gaps that can result in noise passing through.
Fortunately, you can seal these gaps by using weatherstripping tape. For the best results possible, you should surround the entire window with the tape.
Another thing you can do is add mass to your window. The most effective way to do this is by hanging a set of soundproof curtains from the window. Soundproof curtains are great at blocking unwanted noise from entering; plus, they’re elegant, too—the only thing you’ll need is a rod.
One of the best sets of soundproof curtains available is the NICETOWN Blackout Curtain set (check out the current price online). It’s best to hang two curtains on the same window, as the double layers will dramatically reduce the number of noises and echoes coming through.
2. Seal the Gaps in Your Doors
Sealing the gaps in your doors is as important as sealing the windows. If you look carefully at the gaps in each doorframe, you’ll notice that they’re similar to those in each window frame, and the solution to the problem is the same.
All you’ll need to do is cover the gaps by using the weatherstripping tape you used for the windows. Weatherstripping tape is usually made from sound-absorbing materials, such as fiberglass. Usually, this type of tape comes with an adhesive that will help you easily set it up. This method is quite affordable, and sealing the gaps won’t require much time and effort.
Once you’re finished, you should then proceed to cover the biggest crack there is in each room. The gap between the door and the floor is one of the main places through which sound can enter and exit a room, and you’ll need to address it with a different product.
For this type of gap, you’ll need to purchase a door sweep. Door sweeps are made from sound-absorbing materials that help seal the gap between a door and the floor.
3. Invest in Some Bass Traps
I highly recommend that you invest in some bass traps, if you want to combat all the bass noise in a particular room. These are great sound-absorbing products for improving acoustics. The installation process is quite easy, as you don’t need to glue them to your walls—you can simply place them at each corner or in certain places beside a wall, especially where the music will be playing.
What I like the most about them is how effective and affordable they are (check out the current price online).
4. Place Carpets on the Floor
This method may not be as effective as the other ones above, but it can make a huge difference if you also place thick carpets on your floor. The carpet has the ability to reduce the amount of sound that’s bouncing around and creating echoes.
Within no time, your carpet can get messy, so it’s best to have wood grain foam tiles on the floor that can be easily cleaned and maintained.
5. Attach Soundproof Blankets to the Walls
This may not be the most attractive solution, but it’s quite an effective one. Soundproof blankets are usually made of fiberglass, as this material is widely known for being a good sound absorber. A heavy soundproof blanket normally has the ability to absorb almost any sound.
I recommend using a moving blanket, as they’re very affordable and work well. You can simply attach one or more of these blankets to your walls.
6. Rearrange the Furniture
Placing the furniture in a room against a wall is another good way to add mass to that wall. In fact, it’s the cheapest thing you’ll want to try when you’re aiming to soundproof your walls. In your bedroom, all you’ll need to do is shift your closet, your dresser and your bookshelves against the walls. If you’re planning on having your party in an apartment, then it’s best to place your furniture against the walls you share with your neighbors.
7. Have Your Party in the Basement
If you have a large, comfy basement, you should probably take this into consideration as a party location. The basement is underground, which will eliminate the need for soundproofing the walls. This will help you save a lot of money that you’d otherwise spend on soundproofing products.
All you’ll need to do is place thick carpets over the floor, and hang a few bass traps around the wall, in order to improve the acoustics and reduce the echo.
8. Adjust the Volume Level
You surely don’t need to blast your speakers for the party to be great, and keeping your music at a lower volume is the best way to avoid having the cops called on you. By doing this, you’ll also help your guests socialize more without needing to shout back and forth. Nonetheless, you’ll still need to soundproof the main areas of your home, such as the door, the windows and the walls.
9. Rent a Party Venue
You can check online to see if your local area has a good party place you can rent out. Renting a venue will give you the ability to party and play the music as loud as you want to, without disturbing or being threatened by your neighbors.
10. Speak With Your Neighbors
Speaking with your neighbors is very important, and by doing so, you may avoid any conflict. You can simply inform them that there’ll be a party in your home on a certain date, and that it could cause some disturbance. You should also let them know that you’re planning on soundproofing your home, but you won’t be able to contain all the noise.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you learn to soundproof your house for the upcoming party you’re having. Soundproofing your house or apartment for a party is the right choice, if you want to avoid ruining your relationship with your neighbors or getting in trouble with the cops.
If you have any questions about these methods, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment down below. Meanwhile, you may want to check out our guide to how to soundproof a tv room.
image: Pixabay