A lot of people tend to shy away from the concept of working a 9 to 5 and resort to remote working or freelance opportunities. For a writer like me, such opportunities also come with the huddles of strenuous deadlines, client feedback, incessant calls and more.
And to my surprise, not much can be too much, at times. I suffer from sensory overload, meaning any screechy, uncanny sound can be unbearable for me, be it the ticking of the clock, drilling on the road outside, neighbours blasting rock music or simply someone chewing wafers next door. The spectrum is wide.
This often results with me being distracted, irritated or frustrated at the thought of the sound that’s causing me the uneasiness. And refocusing on work turned out to be a herculean task.
I consulted with my therapist and she suggested that I use something to soundproof my home. As simple as it sounds, sound-proofing could have dug a deep hole in my pocket and I immediately waved off the idea of living a sane but broke life.
Another day, I was met with a crowd of unexpected guests at home. The clatter of the plates, chewing sounds, chit-chats turned out to be a gloomy experience and resulted in me being the angry young lady of the night.
I googled for soundproofing options that night and came across soundproofing curtains. However, I was a little sceptical about it at first. But eventually bought one for me.
Here’s a quick list of soundproof curtains I found online and why I think they make the best fit for any household out there.
Best Soundproof Curtains Reviews
#1 NICETOWN Blackout Curtain Panels
These grommets come with two panels and are 52 x 84 inches in dimension. They weigh 3.45 pounds and are durable.
They are energy-efficient, helps with sound-proofing and are fade resistant. They come in a variety of colours and hence are known for their mix and match options to suit your rooms.
These curtains are specifically known for complete blackout and work equally well for noise reduction.
#2 H. Versailtex Linen Curtains
Even though these are linen curtain, they provide thermal insulation and enough room darkening.
These curtains are 52 x 108 inches in dimension and weigh 1.5 pounds. These come with a special 8 years quality warranty (meaning that in an unfortunate event that these curtains are damaged by pets or scratches or scarred, they shall be replaced free of charge)
#3 Deconovo Blackout Curtains
These weight about 3.97 – 4 pounds and are 100 x 95 inch in dimension. It provides 90% blackout and comes with a sturdy finishing that can withstand use for years.
These curtains come with only one panel per package and since this is a single unit, there is little to no scope for light escape the crannies and cracks of the window.
The curtain can drape themselves entirely around the window ensuring that a complete blackout is offered.
#4 Sideli Solid Velvet Curtain
The Sideli Curtains have side panels each of 52 x 63 inches and come with a burgundy rod pocket. These curtains are best for an in-house theatre experience and outdoor noise cancellation (Noise caused due to heavy machinery and construction work outside).
As mentioned, velvet is the best material to look out for when opting for a soundproofing curtain, Sideli is exclusively popular for the same.
It comes with multiple fiber layers too and are known to keep out 90% light. The biggest plus to Sideli curtains is that they come in a number of variants for size, type, materials as well as colours so there is ample to choose from.
#5 Warm Home Designs – Thermal Blackout Curtains
These are relatively smaller in size than the Deconovo Curtains and have a dimension of 54 x 84 inches.
They are 2.4 pounds in weight. The package comes with 1 panel and is known to block heat, provide privacy and save energy.
The only drawback to the same is that they can easily cover a smaller window area but may not work well for larger windows. You may need to invest in two panels instead of one.
So, Do Soundproof Curtains Really Work?
Now, a lot of you may be sceptical whether these curtains really help with soundproofing. Here’s what you need to know about the same.
If you are expecting that a soundproofing curtain cancels out all the noise, then you are seeking the wrong thing. These curtains don’t stop the sound entirely.
You see, the sounds will enter your homes but the decibels will largely be controlled by the curtains thick and heavy design.
These soundproof curtains help alleviate the noise levels, both inside and outside of the house. They come with a thick design, heavier drape and multiple layers of materials that help to get rid of echoes in your home as the curtains absorb them.
One can also pair acoustic curtains by installing noise-cancellation windows in their home. This may dig a deeper hole in your pocket, but the results certainly are enviable.
What should you look out for when opting for a Soundproof / Acoustic Curtain:
Material used
For someone looking to opt for noise-cancelling curtains or acoustic curtains, it is best advised that the curtain comes with multiple layers of fibre to enhance the experience, suede and velvet being some of the finest materials that allow noise cancellation.
You can also check out labels that mention heat-resistance, insulation, thermal protection, so on and so forth.
Rods
This need not be said, but heavier curtains certainly require durable rods that can take the weight of these drapes.
One can also opt for double rods as this help extensively in doubling the layer of your soundproofing curtains – this will also help to minimize light and increase noise protection
Your best bet is the wrap-around rods as they cover the cracks between the window and the curtains by eliminating any gaps between the two. Another alternative to the same would be to replace curtain rods with ceiling brackets entirely to maximise the soundproofing effects
Weight
While it may feel like an overwhelming experience having to clean up the hefty curtains, but know that apart from the length and the breadth, the weight of these soundproofing curtains plays a significant role in noise reduction.
The thumb rule is that the heavier the curtain is, the better it is at reflecting and absorbing sounds. So, look out for hefty heavy-duty soundproofing curtains.
Overall Size
Unlike regular curtains, the size of a soundproofing curtain is equally pivotal. You may want to opt for a curtain that is thrice the width of the window and 10 to 12 inches longer than the length of the window. This will maximize the coverage and help with soundproofing.
For the best effect, you may want to opt for curtains that go from ceiling to floor and cover the entirety of your french window panels. The larger and layered the curtain, the better results it will provide you.
Consumer Reviews (Amazon or other services where you are buying it from)
This is a common step in online shopping. For someone who loves to purchase products online, consumer/customer reviews play a significant role.
It’s important that you read out the negatives as well as the positives in the review. Also, look out for the FAQ section to better understand what’s in store for you prior to purchasing to avoid any and all kinds of returns/refunds hassle.
Pricing
Since you may likely be on a budget and wouldn’t definitely want to spend a grand of curtains, it’s crucial that you look out for multiple options and choose the one that best fits your pocket.
Dimension and window measurement:
This is directly related to the overall size and curtain size parameters. For instance, ensure that the window curtains aren’t too big or too small to accommodate your window.
Make sure you measure your window length and width and compare it with the curtain you are buying (keeping in mind the overall size parameter)
Colour options
While you may be straining your eyes out on finding the right curtain, do not compromise on colour options. For a house with the green or yellow decor, a red velvet curtain certainly doesn’t work well. Look out for neutral dark shades that go well with any and all colour settings back at home.
Washing Instructions
You are already looking for a hefty-curtain so you might as well find one that is machine washable. In the fast-paced life, we all live, heading out for an hour to laundry your curtains and travelling with them back and forth can be no less than a herculean task.
Instead, switch to curtains that have machine-wash labels on them to minimize your time and money on the maintenance of the same.
Grommets
While this certainly isn’t as vital as chalking out the right size and kind of rod, grommets that are strong and made of steel have the ability to keep the curtains in place, easy to open/close and would definitely not tear down unintentionally
While there is no cheap option to opting for a soundproofing curtain, your best bet is the NICETOWN Blackout Curtain as they are not just known for noise reduction but also come in large size, help with 100% blackout.
They are known for easy cleaning and have the ability to soundproof your home from any and all kinds of outside noise and sounds.
So, if you are looking to opt for blackout + thick draped + soundproof + machine wash curtains, then go ahead and get your hands on NICETOWN Complete Blackout Curtains!
I have been using them since months now and my sensory overload has come to a standstill. I am no longer infuriated by the incessant outside noise, construction and drilling sounds or the wafer chewing cousin sitting in the room next door.
Best Soundproof Curtains
Summary
Looking for the best soundproof curtains? Here’s a quick list of soundproof curtains we reviewed and they make the best fit for any household out there.