Soundproof Curtains – An Inspired Buying Guide

Soundproof Curtains: Young Woman Opening Acoustic CurtainsWelcome to SoundBlackout!

This site is dedicated to people who are desperately searching for an elusive object called Soundproof Curtains. If you want your home to be an oasis of peace and quietude, you are in the right place. We will publish buyers guides for thermal insulating curtains, heavy velvet blackout curtains, heavy curtains for noise proofing home, children’s noise reducing and blackout curtains and much more. When you get the information you need, you’ll be able to inexpensively insulate your home from audible, visible, and thermal shocks!


We’ll also review soundproofing curtains/sheets and inexpensive noise reducing moving blankets for musicians, such as garage bands and music studios, and sound treatment curtains for home theaters.

Question: Is there such a thing as Soundproof Curtain anywhere?

Answer: Yes and No.

Why Not?

My YouTube Video Recording Friend’s Story: There Is No Soundproof Curtains

Blue Velvet CurtainsWell, recently a friend of mine purchased $5,000 (five thousand US dollars) worth of sound proof curtains for his downtown office in Orlando Florida where he records his YouTube videos. You should have seen him curse and swear on one of his videos when a fire truck drove past his window and the sirens’ wailing was clearly audible in the Video! He would most certainly tell you soundproof curtains are an impossibility (but here is a review of the next best thing).

I am guessing some “home audio consultant” has talked my friend into buying the $5,000 soundproof curtains package. I am now worried for my friend who will now fall for an eager home builder expert who will want to build him a room within a room for even more supreme soundproofing. Bring more money!

And Why Yes?

A Young Mother’s Story: The Curtains Are Soundproof Enough!

Eclipse Kids Dayton Energy Efficient Blackout Curtains RedWell, you could be a new mother looking to setup the best possible environment for your newborn baby. You really don’t care about the “Noise Reduction Coefficient”, but you do care a great deal that your baby is waking up when street traffic noise starts early in the morning. If you can find sound proofing curtains that allow your baby to sleep well throughout the night and morning, you would testify that sound proof curtains are a reality. And you would feel better too because you don’t have to wake up with the chickens anymore!

Even if some language and audio purist would declare these curtains as just sound reducing curtains and would look down on anyone calling them soundproof, you just don’t care! Your baby is sleeping well! These kids curtains are soundproof enough!

In other words, you probably won’t be able to find perfect soundproof curtains and you don’t really need them either. But you need sound reduction curtains for sure.

And if a young mother’s story isn’t heartbreaking enough, envision the entire nursery filled with kids who need to sleep in the afternoon, regardless of the bright sunshine and regardless of the noisy street filled with car engine noises…

Trying To Relax On A Saturday Afternoon

Absolute Zero Heavy Velvet CurtainsYou could be a working man trying to relax on a Saturday and Sunday afternoons after a long week at work. Then just as you sit down in your comfy chair with a bottle of wine ready to read your favorite book, a mariachi (or is it cumbia?) band hired by the neighbors for the Saturday night party starts to play! And loud! You know this won’t go away until late at night. And you wish you had a way to screen or block these noises.

Just as you think of the possibilities, your neighbor across the street starts his electric saw. Another Saturday, another home improvement project at your other neighbor’s.

You think you have had it by now. I understand. That is exactly how many of my Saturdays go, noise-wise (and these are the curtains that will reduce the noise the most).

So What Can One Do In This Noise Filled World?

The supremely great news is: sound reducing curtains which will significantly reduce the level of noise entering your home can be found.  You must know what you are looking for. You won’t be disappointed when you know what you can expect. Showing you what is possible and how to achieve maximal noise reduction at a reasonable price is our main job on this site.

What We Did On This Site That Will Benefit Homeowners And Apartment Dwellers

Researchers at SoundBlackout put in endless hours of research into various sound reduction curtains and their reviews. We also looked for, gathered, and presented here relevant top-of-the-line research and information on sound and noise absorption properties of materials, like curtains and sound absorption sheets. We also visited various professional music websites and collected the available information on what professional musicians do for sound control.

Further, we have combined this often boring academic knowledge into articles, sampled below, that will not only tell you what type of sound proof curtains we recommend, but also how to dimension, or size (over-size, really) the curtains, and how to mount them on the window for best noise insulation.

Even better, when you do the right thing for noise insulation in your home, you will end up with a better thermal and blackout curtain solution as well. And the best part is, in many cases it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to follow our suggestions.

Just look below for some of the best titles and enjoy your new found practical knowledge on how to make your home a more peaceful place.

Acoustic Curtains For Garage Bands, Singers And Recording Artists

Audimute Sound Absorbing Blankets. Acoustic CurtainsFurther below, you will also find our reviews of soundproof curtains and sound blankets for musicians. Starting a garage band? You will find numerous options below, from sound absorption sheets, to thick yet cheap moving blankets. Either one will do a decent job to sound treat your garage and minimize noise the neighbors need to put up with.

These solutions not only reduce the noise. Sound blankets will also ensure that you will be able to clearly hear your instruments, instead of being drowned in reverbs, and echoes from the bare garage walls.

By continuing to read below you will find out the easiest ways of creating a decent sound in a bare walled garage. So you won’t get tired of listening to endless echoes. And you won’t quit rehearsing with your garage band before you get real good.

Acoustic Curtains For Home

Buy Sound Reducing Curtains For Home And RelaxIf you are renting an apartment in New York City, I feel for you! As if the sirens from the fire trucks, ambulances and police rushing to the crime scene weren’t enough, there is also the cab drivers! Yeah, those cab drivers who come to New York from all over the world, from Italy, India, China, Puerto Rico. They came looking for opportunity, brought their “diverse” driving habits with them, and then end up driving the cabs! Until they get really well versed in city driving, there will be shouting, honking, loud engine noises, and car crashes!

That was just one side of the house! On the other side, you have an off Broadway opera singer rehearsing every single day, for hours. And that budding cellist, a 14 year old Japanese girl has to practice her etudes daily if she would even stand a chance of applying and getting into a degree program at Juilliard.

If you have noisy neighbors even if you don’t live in the Big Apple, the article on How To Buy Noise Reduction Curtains For Home is for you.

Best Children’s Blackout Curtains

Best Childrens Blackout Curtains To Stop The NoiseAre you an expecting parent? I know you are getting ready and prepared for everything when the new family member shows up in your home. But have you thought of the noise, and how street noises will upset your newborn, and, consequently, bring sleepless mornings to you?

Check out the article Best Children’s Blackout Curtains and get suggestions for blackout and soundproofing curtains.

Sound Reducing Curtains For Nurseries

Blackout Cuirtains For NurseryYoung children sleep extraordinary long hours, I am sure you knew. And if you have a dozen of them, or a couple dozen, it is time to really make sure their afternoon nap (during the time of bright sunshine and loud street noises) will really be taken care of.

If you are in charge of purchasing sound reducing curtains for a nursery, curtains that will also block out light and make the afternoon nap easy on the kids, then check out the article on Best Blackout Curtains For Nursery. It gives recommendations for curtains that children will love. And happy children will make their parents satisfied too.

Supreme Example: Eclipse Suede Energy Efficient Curtains

Eclipse Suede Energy Efficient Blackout Curtains

Eclipse Suede Energy Efficient Blackout Curtains

These Eclipse Energy Efficient Curtains made of suede are one of our favorites. Classy looking, yet quite middle of the road, sound reducing curtains that don’t look like they they were made from a theater stage curtains, and that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

With these curtains you should select the right number of panels for your window widths (hint – you should double up!). You should also not skimp on the length. The right length and color are described in the article Eclipse Suede Energy Efficient Curtains. If you follow directions, you should be able to achieve three to five times the noise reduction. At the same time you could achieve 99% sunlight blocking with these curtains. This will be noticeable! Check these curtains out!

Heavy Soundproofing Curtains For Soundproofing Home

Absolute Zero Heavy Velvet Curtains - Best Noise Reduction Curtains For HomeWe present here the soundproofing research findings taken from one of the top music institutes. The results are clear. Heavy weight (dense) curtain materials like suede and velvet should be used in soundproof curtains. The research also unveiled that making your curtains look full, or having them pleated, is beneficial. It will additionally increase noise absorption by a large factor! This can mean a difference between a sound sleep through the night, and waking up at 7AM! Check out the article Best Heavy Curtains For Soundproofing Home.

For Up And Coming Music Heroes: How To Soundproof A Garage For A Garage Band, Or A Drummer

U2 at Gelsenkirchen, Source WikipediaWe present the fastest and the easiest ways of acoustically treating garage walls, windows, doors, ceiling and floor. You will find out how to quickly turn a bare-walled garage into a better place for rehearsals. A space that won’t kill your enthusiasm for producing quality, noise and reverb free music.

And that at the same time won’t give headaches to your neighbors. Surely, some consider your music to be nothing but noise.

We will give you multiple options, from the nice-looking sound absorption sheets, to cheaper yet still effective thick moving blankets solution.

Check out the article How To Soundproof A Garage.

Sound Absorbing Blankets

Audimute Sound Blankets, Acoustic Curtains

It’s funny how the today’s top brands of sound absorbing blankets and noise absorption sheets have evolved from a simple moving blanket. Yes, a moving blanket used by Uhaul. Yes, that Uhaul indeed. But not all moving blankets are created equal.

Find out more about the newest, beautiful looking sound absorption sheets that will work in any room of the house that really needs top sound and noise absorption. Why, because, unlike moving blankets, the sound absorption sheets actually look good! Also find out more about what type of (not so beautiful looking) moving blankets you can use and still get decent noise absorption.

Just go to the Sound Absorbing Blankets Buying Guide through this link.

Our Favorite: Audimute Sound Absorption Sheets

Audimute Acoustic Sheets

 

The second generation of Audimute Sound Absorption Sheets is out, available in multiple colors.  The sound absorption sheets are nicer looking and more practical than ever. No wonder why it is our favorite. You can sound proof your garage, or your music studio with these highly portable sound sheets,

Find out exactly how to do it here: Audimute Absorption Sheets Review.

Moving Blankets Working Wonders For Soundproofing

Super Supreme Moving Blankets from EcoSmartBoxesWould you believe that some moving blankets (hint: the thicker the better) are extremely effective for sound insulation? Moving blankets are wrapped around furniture before the move. This prevents the furniture to make dents when bumped into each other during the transportation in an Uhaul truck. Plus, these moving blankets are very portable. We don’t call them “moving blankets” for no reason, right?!?  This means they are easy to put up, take down, and move to a new venue that you need to sound proof. If you are an up and coming garage band, portability could be important for you.

You will learn in the article Moving Blankets For Soundproofing where to find the thickest, densest moving blankets. Check it out!

Keep Heat In Your House: Thermalogic Ultimate Window Liner

Thermalogic Curtain LinerThermalogic Ultimate Window Liner is a Detachable Curtain Liner. This is the best kept secret of keeping heat in your house.

Featuring multiple versatile hooks, you can easily attach Thermalogic Window Liner to any existing curtain. The liner will provide additional thermal insulation which is great during cold winters.

Find a thorough review of Thermalogic Window Liner here.

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18 thoughts on “Soundproof Curtains – An Inspired Buying Guide

  1. Alison

    Hi Max,

    Thanks for all the info on your site! We have a duplex condo where the whole bottom floor is the bedroom; an L-shaped stairwell (1 landing) leads from the upper floor (living room & kitchen) down into the bedroom. There are no doors, and the ceilings are very tall (10-13′) with hardwood floors, so a lot of noise that comes down the stairwell from the LR (and the TV). We are expecting a baby shortly and while I know you can’t truly soundproof an open doorway without construction, I’m trying to figure out a way to reduce some of that noise overflow!

    1) I am thinking of hanging a heavy/thick curtain (like the Absolute Zero or White Velvet ones mentioned here) at the bottom of the stairwell. Would adding one at the TOP of the stairwell also help reduce noise by creating an air gap, or is that a waste of $? (The stairwell is L shaped, the longer part of the L is about 12′ and the shorter part, 5′)

    2) Should I be looking at a curtain track that affixes to the ceiling rather than a rod mounted to the walls, also to reduce air gaps? Is there a particular kind you would recommend?

    Any other thoughts you have are welcome! Thanks so much!
    Alison in NYC

    Reply
  2. Steve Wright

    Hello Max! Thanks for a great and helpful website! I run a music studio in a shared space in an Arts Centre and am looking into soundproofing. I lucked out and bought some heavy, three ply curtains to black sound going out through the glass doors. A question I’m hoping you might be able to help me with is this: I recently had a friend visit the studio who informed me that sound is much more likely to go under the door (about an inch space) than through the big glass doors. Should I worry more about a “door sweep” or try to build another wall there rather than bother with curtains at all? It’s a room about 500 sq ft. Thanks for your time and help!!!

    Reply
  3. Dave Delaney

    We just bought a new condo. It has a completely finished basement where I have the tv and stereo. There is no carpet and the design is open concept with an open stairwell to the basement. the sounds from the basement transmit very well to the main living area and the other way as well. Do you have a product I could install at the bottom of the 40 1/2″ stairwell that I could install to help provide some level of quieting? It would be great if it were on a roll up and down concept like a window blind that wouldn’t obstruct the stairwell when rolled up.

    Reply
    1. Max Leighton Post author

      Dave, we are currently looking into such roll up curtains. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, add carpeting and possibly curtains. This will all provide some level of quieting too.

      Reply
  4. Sonia Link

    Hello,

    We live right beside a float-plane landing strip. The planes gun their engines right beside our house and the resulting noise is extremely loud, We are looking for a product that we can put over our bedroom windows, which are quite large, at night that will significantly reduce this noise. Do you have a product that you can suggest? If so, can you provide a general idea for pricing?

    Reply
  5. HOLLY MCKAY

    After a recent hotel stay where the outside room noise was so loud….wish you would design a curtain to market to hotels to block out hallway noise better. Just a curtain that you could pull across your bedroom area to block sound from hallway (or a portable curtain that regular hotel customers could travel with and easily hang themselves somehow). Just a thought for a new product idea….remember me if you make millions off it 🙂

    Reply
    1. Max Leighton Post author

      Holly, That is a good idea. Hotels actually use Thermalogic (see here). Sound sensitive hotel guests could carry it with them and attach it to the hotel curtain for extra insulation.

      Reply
  6. Don Dey

    Is there a store in Charlotte, NC, that carries your merchandise? Best case would be that they would come out, measure, and install, but at least a knowledgeable retail salesperson would be helpful.

    Please advise – thank you.

    Reply
    1. Max Leighton Post author

      Hi Don, Most of our merchandise is only available online. You can still talk to a knowledgeable sales person. The phone number will be available as you come closer to the checkout process.

      Reply
  7. Mike Conley

    Hi, Max – Thanks for all the info!

    I’m a handyman in Los Angeles. I’m thinking of converting most of the large living room in my two-bedroom apartment, into my own studio apartment.

    My plan is to hang two 14-foot-long sets of sound reduction curtains in an “L” pattern, to create “hallways” outside of the two soft walls that form the studio, for my roommates in the two bedrooms to access the kitchen, bath, and front door.

    I’m thinking of Absolute Zero curtains on double rods, and tripling the panels on both rods:
    each 45″ panel gathered to a 15″ pleated width, for a total of 45 panels along the 56-ft total length of the rods (2 rods @ 14ft each, X 2 = 56).

    Question:

    How much of an air gap should I have between the inner and outer rows of curtain panels, for maximum sound reduction?

    (I can fabricate my own rod system, so I won’t be stuck with what’s on the market if the air gaps they create aren’t the right size.)

    Thanks up front for your answer 🙂

    – Mike in LA

    Reply
    1. Max Leighton Post author

      Hi Mike,

      Good to hear you are capable of doing the necessary handywork! Tripling the panels, and doing double rods sounds good.
      Your question re: air gap. You will have to compromise between better dampening of low frequencies and amount of volume your double-rod curtains will take up in the room. The bigger the air gap, the better the sound reduction for low frequencies will be.

      So if you are a handyman, create a bit bigger gap than what is commercially available, and you will have better sound reduction than most 😉

      Cheers, Max

      Reply
  8. Jodi

    So glad I found this web site, there’s a lot of great information. We live in an apartment in Colorado, and our patio door is in the living room…very old building along with cheap flimsy curtains, our heat bill is sky high. Hopefully purchasing some thermal curtains from Walmart will help. I was also surprised to see the section about noise reduction. I get debilitating migraines, and there must be some law of the universe that brings trash trucks and construction workers to my neighborhood every time I get one. I’d say some noise reduction curtains would be well worth the investment! Thanks again!

    Reply
  9. James

    Am I a crazy person or are your assessments of platinum vs titanium Gila films reversed? The gila site & all stats I see say that the titanium film in fact reflects more heat than platinum.

    Reply
    1. Max Leighton Post author

      Hi James, Our cited sources claim higher emissivity for Gila Titanium. This is in the infrared range. However, in the visible range, Gila Titanium reduces glare more than Platinum. Perhaps that is what the Gila site is refering to? –Max

      Reply

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