Sound and Lightproofing Your Apartment Bedroom
Sleep is glorious and grand. Everyone feels better after a great night of sleep, but there are tons of distractions that can prevent you from having a good night’s sleep. Your bedroom needs to be a quiet, peaceful place that promotes rest, but that can sometimes be difficult in an apartment. Creating a bedroom that muffles sound and blocks out light can be difficult, but here are some things you can try that will help you find a restful haven.
Soundproofing with Rugs and Upholstery
Rugs, specifically with a good rug pad, and upholstery can help muffle sounds in your room from both outside and inside. A good rug pad under even the most ordinary of rugs not only makes the rug more plush, it also is a great sound barrier. If you have wall-to-wall carpet that is the best way to muffle sounds, but that is not an option in every apartment. A good, thick rug pad will absorb sound and make your room more comfortable.
You don’t have to stop at rugs, however. Upholstered furniture and headboards also are great for absorbing ambient noise. The more soft surfaces you can add to the room the better. Consider adding a quilt or blanket that you can hang on the wall to help deaden sounds. This method works best on walls that are shared with another apartment next to you.
Blocking out Excess Light
Of course, extraneous sound is not the only thing you need to block out. Light from parking lots or other sources outside can also be a hindrance to sleep. That is why blackout curtains can be a great addition. Blackout curtains are made of a heavier fabric like wool, flannel, or velvet. These types of thicker curtains not only block out light, they also act as a sound absorber. Sometimes you can even find blackout liners that can be added to existing curtains.
You should also check the seals around your windows for light and sound gaps. Insulated foam strips can be purchased from a hardware store and used to fill any large gaps. This not only blocks out light, but sound through the gaps. They can even help in the winter to keep drafts out as well.
These are just a few ways that you can make sure the bedroom in your new apartment is a restful space for a good night’s sleep.