If you’re living in rented accommodation and looking for a temporary soundproofing solution, or if you just want to soundproof a wall and room in your house or office without damaging any property, this guide is for you. Here we have detailed how to install removable sound barriers to temporarily soundproof your surroundings.
In a hurry? The best temporary soundproofing products in 2024 are Burton Acoustix Superdense Soundproofing Panels and SoundAssured Soundproofing Acoustic Studio Foam. For creating a removable sound barrier for your walls and rooms you can use Sorbus Room Divider Privacy Screen and NICETOWN Sound Barrier Curtains.
Read also: Quietest Wall Heaters 2024
Removable Soundproofing: How To Temporarily Soundproof A Room Without Damaging Walls
Temporarily Soundproof The Wall
1. Acoustic Foam Panels
The first solution to dull, absorb, minimize and block noise between room walls is a quick and easy one and that is to install soundproof panels.
There are several types of soundproof wall panels for the bedroom, living room, office or studio, but not all of them are created equal.
Some may suit your budget, while others may be more to your taste.
Therefore we have listed several options here and by using one or a combination, you can find what best suits your needs.
The ideal soundproofing and sound absorbing panel should have a high Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), be easy to install and remove without causing damage to the wall, be safe for indoor use without having any harmful chemical additives and block and absorb a whole range of sound frequencies.
The location of the panels will depend on whether you want to minimize noises from the outside coming in or block noises from your room penetrating out.
One of the most popular choices of soundproofing wall panels is foam, such as SoundAssured Soundproofing Acoustic Studio Foam, XIN&LOG Soundproofing Wall Tiles and IZO All Supply Convoluted 2” Egg Crate Panels Soundproof Wall Tiles.
These foam tiles mainly come in black or other basic colors, and measure a square foot each, making it easy to determine the number of tiles needed according to room size.
Foam tiles have the advantage of being easy to apply using a simple removable adhesive (more on that later) and are a budget friendly way to create a temporary sound barrier.
Often sold in compressed packets, they have to be aired out or soaked for a few hours to allow them to decompress before installation.
However, foam soundproof wall panels are not very attractive to look at and often also provide heat insulation, which is only desirable in all climates. Related: Best Ways Soundproofing Your Bedroom Wall & Door
2. Polyester Panels
An alternative to foam panels are high density polyester soundproof panels such as Burton Acoustix Superdense Soundproofing Panels and DEKIRU 12 Pack Hexagon Soundproof Padding.
These have the advantage of being high density, eco-friendly, safe to install and use, and have a high NRC.
They are extremely efficient at sound blocking and absorption and are highly recommended for a temporary sound barrier.
Additionally, polyester panels are also lightweight and resistant to high temperature and moisture.
They are available in several sizes, shapes, designs and colors to suit your style needs.
A key feature of polyester panels, just as foam panels, is that they retain heat within the room, which is not always desirable for everyone but may work well in some climates.
Choose The Right Adhesive
Many soundproofing panels come with their own adhesive, but if you are looking for a temporary soundproofing solution, it is important to choose an adhesive that comes off easily, leaving no marks or damage on the walls.
The top removable adhesives are BUSOHA Clear Removable Sticky Adhesive Putty and EZlifego Double Sided Tape Heavy Duty
These will allow you to easily place and remove panels on your wall without causing any marks or damage.
3. Use Soundproof Curtains & Removable Sound Barriers
Soundproof curtains come in many sizes and patterns. They’re easy to install using a simple curtain rod and a great way to dull and absorb noises.
Curtains are not, on their own, likely to provide the maximum degree of soundproofing but they work well when combined with other options.
The top rated soundproof blackout curtains are LORDTEX Dark Grey Room Divider Curtains and NICETOWN Sound Barrier 100% Blackout Divider Curtains.
Soundproof curtains can be hung on the walls to help reduce outside noise in the bedroom and living room and are a good way to reduce noise transmission from one part of the room to the other.
However, they’re usually not portable or moveable unless the curtain rod is taken down and reinstalled at a new location.
To counter this problem, a good option is to use a portable soundproof wall such as Sorbus Room Divider Privacy Screen and the STEELAID Room Divider.
These screens are ideal for smaller spaces and offer an immediate degree of privacy and noise reduction.
They’re easy to assemble, move and maintain, and are available in several styles and designs.
For additional sound insulation, the screens can be draped with soundproof blankets such as Audimute Sound Absorption Sheet & Sound Dampening Blanket and the US Cargo Control Sound Dampening Blanket or soundproof curtains as mentioned above.
4. Soundproof The Door
One of the most common and easiest ways to soundproof a door is to cover it with a soundproof blanket or curtain as we’ve discussed above.
The added insulation blocks sounds from outside coming in, and deadens sound from inside leaking out.
Another consideration for soundproofing doors is to minimize the sound leaking in and out from the bottom. An effective solution for this is to use a door draft stopper, which not only prevents cold drafts from coming in, but also blocks out ambient noises.
The top rated door draft stoppers are the Suptikes Door Draft Stopper & Under Door Seal and Grotheory Door Draft Stopper, Draft Blocker and Dust & Noise Insulation. They are both easy to install and use, and provide cover from unwanted noise, dust and odors.
5. Soundproof The Windows
Soundproofing windows can help to reduce outside noises such as traffic, people, or birds and animals, especially if you live in a busy area.
Of course, you can’t always control what happens outside but you can certainly reduce its impact by soundproofing your windows.
To do this, you can install window seals or weather stripping seals, as they are commonly known. The top rated one in 2024 is the Storystore Weather Stripping for Doors and Windows.
It’s very simple cut and peel self-adhesive strips that cover the corners and gaps where sound is slipping through. Additionally, you are protected from dust and allergens, as well as cold drafts in winter.
This is a simple, inexpensive, effective and reversible procedure as the strips can easily be removed whenever you wish and any remaining residue can be easily washed off.
Window soundproofing can also be accomplished or enhanced by adding soundproof curtains, such as the ones mentioned above. Depending on the size of windows you have, there are several options of size, color and design to choose from.
6. Soundproof The Floor & Ceiling
There are very few temporary solutions to soundproofing ceilings as most require installing something within the structure of the walls such as reducto clips and resilient bars. Therefore these are not recommended for temporary soundproofing.
However, by lining the ceiling with soundproof panels as mentioned above, some noise transmission from the ceiling or floor above can be managed to a certain degree.
Panels are not recommended for soundproofing floors, but instead adding accessories like rugs and carpets is a good noise dampening solution.
Thick carpets and rugs not only add a stylish look to any room but can also be efficient in reducing noise from footsteps and running, so they are a good solution for children’s bedrooms and high traffic areas like living rooms.
The best and most affordable choices for thick rugs are SAFAVIEH California Premium Shag Collection, DweIke Soft Fluffy Shag Area Rugs for Living Room and ACTCUT Super Soft Indoor Modern Shag Fur Area Rugs. These are anti-skid and non-shedding options, meaning you won’t have loose carpet fibers everywhere.
To hold carpets and rugs even more firmly in place and prevent slippage, it is recommended to use protective cushioning under the rug.
These also act as an added layer of protection from noise transmission.
The best choices are RUGPADUSA Protective Cushioning Rug Pad and Mohawk Home Ultra Premium All Surface Felt Rug Pad
Final Thoughts About Temporary Soundproof Wall
This guide lists various methods that describe how to temporarily soundproof a wall & room, including these top rated temporary soundproofing products to create removable sound barriers.
So to sum it up – the best ways to temporarily soundproof a wall and room in 2024 are the highly rated Burton Acoustix Superdense Soundproofing Panels and Soundproofing Acoustic Studio Foam Wedge Panels.
For creating a removable sound barrier, go for the Sorbus Room Wall Divider Tall Privacy Screen or NICETOWN Noise Blocking Drapes.
Dave Pearson is a Canadian musician, sound editor, and audiophile. He is also the founder and owner of the website SoundProofGeek. On SoundProofGeek, Pearson offers advice and resources on audio equipment, including how to assess and improve audio quality, how to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment, and how to improve the music listening experience.
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