A noisy bedroom can make getting a good night’s sleep much harder. Maybe you can hear cars outside, the neighbors talking through the wall, a dog barking down the street, or someone moving around in another part of the house.
You might get enough hours in bed and still wake up feeling worn out because those little noises kept interrupting your sleep.
Making a bedroom quieter doesn’t always mean tearing into walls or spending a fortune. Some fixes are cheap, some take only a few minutes, and others can be added when you’re ready to spend a little more.
If outside noise keeps waking you up, try these bedroom changes to make the room quieter and more comfortable.
Seal Gaps and Cracks Around Windows and Doors
Sound can sneak through surprisingly small gaps around windows and doors. Check the edges of your window frames, door frames, and even baseboards for places where air can get through.
Weatherstripping can help seal gaps around doors and windows without costing much. Acoustic caulk or sealant can also be useful for small cracks.
Start here before spending money on bigger projects. A poorly sealed window or door can let in plenty of outside noise.
Related: Your Bedroom May Feel Overcrowded Because of These Everyday Items
Use a White Noise Machine
A white-noise machine won’t stop sound from entering your bedroom, but it can make those sounds less noticeable.
A steady background sound can help cover sudden noises like cars passing, doors closing, conversations, or barking dogs. Some people prefer white noise, while others sleep better with rain, fans, or other steady sounds.
It’s also easy to move from one room to another and doesn’t require making any changes to the bedroom.
Install Soundproof Curtains
Regular curtains can help with light and privacy, but heavy curtains made from thick, dense fabric can also help soften some outside noise.
Look for curtains that are wider than the window and reach well past the edges. More coverage means fewer uncovered areas around the window.
They won’t make traffic disappear, but they can take the edge off outside noise. The bonus is that they can block early morning sunlight too.
Related: How I Turned a Basic Guest Bedroom Into a Cozy Retreat
Add a Door Sweep
Take a look at the gap underneath your bedroom door. If you can see light coming through, sound can get through there too.
A door sweep covers that opening and can help reduce both noise and drafts. It’s inexpensive, doesn’t take much time to install, and can be especially helpful if the hallway outside your bedroom is noisy.
Use Rugs and Carpets
Hard floors can make sounds bounce around a room. Rugs and carpets give those sounds a softer surface to land on.
An area rug with a thick pad underneath can help cut down on echoes and make the room quieter. If you have hardwood, laminate, or tile floors, this can make a noticeable difference.
It also makes getting out of bed on a cold morning a little nicer.
Install Acoustic Panels
Acoustic panels are made to absorb sound and reduce echoes. They can be useful in bedrooms with bare walls, especially if you’re dealing with noise from an adjoining room.
Try placing them on a wall that shares a border with a noisy room. The wall behind the bed can also be a good spot.
There are plenty of panel styles available now, so you don’t necessarily have to cover your bedroom in black foam squares to get the benefit.
Related: Before Donating These Bedroom Items, Check If Thrift Stores Still Accept Them
Rearrange Furniture Strategically
Your furniture can do more than fill up a room. Large, heavy pieces can also help create a barrier between you and unwanted noise.
Try putting bookshelves, wardrobes, or dressers against a shared wall. A full bookshelf can provide some extra mass between your bedroom and the room next door.
This won’t completely block loud neighbors or traffic, but it can help soften some of the sound. And unlike other soundproofing projects, rearranging furniture doesn’t cost anything.
Hang Thick Wall Decor or Tapestries
Bare walls can make a room sound louder because there’s nothing to absorb the sound. Thick tapestries, quilts, fabric wall hangings, and other soft decorations can help reduce some of that echo.
They aren’t a replacement for proper soundproofing, but they can make a room feel less noisy without much work.
If you already have a quilt or large fabric wall hanging you like, this can be an inexpensive way to add some sound absorption.
Upgrade to a Solid-Core Door
If your bedroom has a hollow-core interior door, noise can travel through it fairly easily. A solid-core door is heavier and denser, which makes it much better at keeping sound from passing through.
This is a bigger project than adding weatherstripping or a door sweep, but it can be worth considering if noise from the hallway or other rooms is a constant problem.
A solid-core door can also give the bedroom a more private feel.
Install Double-Glazed or Retrofit Window Inserts
If traffic noise is the main problem, your windows may be one of the biggest weak spots.
Double-glazed windows have two panes of glass with a sealed space between them, which can help reduce outside noise. Window inserts can provide another option if replacing the entire window isn’t practical.
These upgrades cost more than curtains or weatherstripping, but they can make a much bigger difference if you live near a busy road, train tracks, or another consistently noisy area.
Apply Sound-Reducing Paint
Sound-reducing paint is marketed as another way to cut down on noise, but it’s important to keep expectations realistic. A layer of specialty paint isn’t going to block loud traffic or a noisy neighbor by itself.
It may help dampen some sound when used with other measures, such as sealed gaps, curtains, rugs, and heavier furnishings.
If you’re already repainting the bedroom, it can be one more thing to consider. Just don’t expect paint alone to turn a noisy room into a silent one.
