Reducing the noise at home
Noise in the home is has numerous causes. It emanates from the traffic outside, the neighbours, or from your teenager's room. In a society with non-stop TVs, game consoles, computers and music, the threats to your hearing are everywhere. In our home, we can do something about it.
The easy solution
A few precautions and changes can make all the difference at home. Carpets, upholstered furniture, curtains and other soft materials can absorb the worst part of the noise. Book cases, angled walls and angled ceilings help break up sounds. Conversely, hard materials and flat surfaces reflect noise and promote high noise levels. Also, the large multi-purpose rooms commonly found in modern homes contribute to increased noise levels compared with homes with more separate rooms and doors to shut out noise.
The drastic solution
If adding curtains and soft textiles are insufficient, you can consider noise dampening materials for ceilings and floors. Some types of doors and windows also provide better noise barriers than others.
But most importantly, it is up to yourself to turn down the part of the noise that you can control, such as the music you play or the TV you watch. Keeping the volume down to sensible levels is good for your own well-being, as well as your relatives and neighbours who may also be affected by the noise levels you accept in your home.
Sources: www.bolius.dk and www.fpn.dk, October 2007
