Tired of the hubbub at the office? Between ringing phones, loud discussions and tapping keyboards, it’s hard to stay focused… Don’t panic! Improving the acoustics of your workspace is possible thanks to ultra-efficient office noise correction solutions. Follow the guide!
1. Soundproofing the office: deciphering noise
Noise in the office is a real productivity saboteur! It generates stress, breaks concentration and reduces performance. The culprit? The ambient hubbub we’re all familiar with: phones ringing incessantly, keyboards pounding, discussions flying around… It all invades our ears without warning! And if, on top of that, the space lacks sound-absorbing elements or good acoustic insulation, the cacophony is guaranteed. The result? Productivity can plummet by up to 30%, motivation evaporates, and the atmosphere at work takes a hit.
But don’t worry, we’ve got a few tips for transforming your office into an acoustic haven of peace!
To achieve this, we need to pull two essential levers:
- Shorten the reverberation time, in other words limit that annoying echo effect.
- Reduce sources of direct noise to avoid noise build-up.
So, are you ready to transform your open-plan office into a haven of peace?
Reducing reverberation times
You’ve probably already had the experience of talking in an empty room and hearing your voice bouncing all around you. This echo effect can quickly become annoying and complicates communication, especially in offices where discussions and phone calls are constant. The problem often stems from bare walls, high ceilings and stone-hard floors, which reflect sound without filtering it, creating disastrous acoustics.
But don’t panic, the solution is simple: add noise-absorbing elements! Acoustic panels, soft carpets, thick curtains, padded chairs or well-placed cupboards… all help to break up the echo and create a more pleasant environment. A well-thought-out office with these elements is the key to preventing noise from taking up too much space.
Less noise, more serenity
To limit noise pollution in the office, all you need to do is design the space intelligently, taking into account the activities and sources of noise. How? By skilfully combining solutions such as acoustic panels, partitions and soundproof booths, in a “room within a room” style. But that’s not all! Quiet working is also a question of good habits. Why not set up a few simple rules with your colleagues to maintain a peaceful atmosphere?
The ideal solution is to combine several solutions for the best acoustics! Here are five effective tips for reducing ambient noise and sound reverberation.
2. What can you do about office noise? The 5 best solutions for a noise-free office
1. Divide and soundproof! Quiet areas for concentrated work, call corners, passageways.
2. Partition in style! Office partitions, acoustic panels and acoustic dividers.
3. Adopt the “box within a box” solution! A room within a room with WoodyBox and MoodBox soundproof booths.
4. Set the rules for good sound manners!
5. Add some pleasant background music!
1. Divide and soundproof! Quiet areas for concentrated work, call corners, walkways.
To transform your office into an acoustic haven, start by planning around the architecture of the room. Use columns or other support elements to prevent overlapping conversations. Corners and angles are ideal for noisy equipment or telephone call areas, as they naturally trap sound.
For workstations, keep desks away from aisles frequently used to get to the kitchen, photocopier or conference rooms. Printers and photocopiers should be located away from desks. Teams that communicate a lot should be seated close together.
Another step towards better sound insulation is to clearly define work zones. In addition to permanent work zones, add communication spaces for phone calls and meetings, away from the desks, as well as spaces for concentrated, undisturbed work. In other words, create areas where talking is allowed and designated quiet zones. This groups and attenuates noise sources, improving room acoustics. Equipment with other elements for acoustic insulation will be discussed in the next section.
2. Partition in style! Office partitions, acoustic panels and acoustic dividers.
Room dividers are ideal for dividing the work areas mentioned above. Cabinets and desks already act as natural partitions. Add additional noise absorbers, such as desk partitions, to create oases of calm, absorb noise and offer more privacy. This encourages concentrated work in two ways: by visually separating workstations for greater discretion, and by absorbing noise.
Office partitions can be simple polystyrene panels, installed individually or as a system. But for a more sophisticated solution, opt for high-quality soundproof walls, composed of several layers of soundproofing materials.
For a more chic touch, consider acoustic panels in fleece or felt. Used as partitions or wall elements, they beautify your office while being functional. Available in many colors, fabrics and versions, they can even be used as bulletin boards.
Office partitions improve room acoustics by creating additional sound-absorbing surfaces. They provide a quiet work area, visual privacy, and absorb direct sound. By reducing reverberation time and direct sound, they are essential for better acoustic protection in the office.
3. Adopt the “box within a box” solution! A room within a room with WoodyBox and MoodBox soundproof booths.
Room-in-room” systems transform open-plan offices into genuine meeting spaces, clarifying the distribution of zones. In addition to permanent solutions with drywall and glass partitions, mobile meeting rooms are available for added flexibility. To find out more, take a look at this article: Room-in-room solutions for offices.
Acoustic booths are another great way to reduce office noise. Ideal for one person, they are perfect for making phone calls in complete tranquillity and isolate the most annoying sources of noise. They also provide welcome privacy and encourage concentrated work. Whether for communication zones or quiet workspaces, soundproof booths are the ideal solution, especially in offices where space is limited. When choosing these booths, think about sound insulation, comfort and ventilation.
4. Set the rules for good sound manners!
As well as using noise absorbers and acoustic panels, it’s essential to establish rules of conduct with the whole team to maintain a reasonable noise level in the office. Here are a few fun ideas for doing just that:
- Keep conversations and telephone calls to designated areas, away from workstations.
- Avoid playing music too loudly through your headphones to avoid disturbing your colleagues.
- Put your cell phones on silent or vibrate mode to avoid unwanted ringing.
- Use headphones or earplugs to signal that you are in “do not disturb” mode.
If these rules aren’t enough, why not install a noise lamp that flashes or emits a sound when the noise level exceeds the set limit? This will let everyone know that it’s time to tone it down and get some peace and quiet. With these tips, your office will become a veritable sanctuary of tranquillity and productivity!
5. Add some pleasant background music!
If all the tricks for improving room acoustics and reducing noise sources in the office have been exhausted, even with sound absorbers, acoustic panels or other acoustic elements, and loud noises (such as those from a construction site) are coming from outside, there’s a fun solution: broadcast soft background sounds via loudspeakers!
Studies have shown that pleasant monotonous sounds, such as the sound of rain, ocean waves or birds chirping, can boost concentration and productivity. These soothing sounds can drown out distracting conversations with colleagues or other noises in the office.
Another option is to install permanent white noise loudspeakers or provide employees with noise-cancelling headphones. With these solutions, your office will become a haven of peace and productivity!
3. Bye bye reverberation! 5 tips to beat office reverberation by improving room acoustics
To say goodbye to reverberation and echoes in your office, there’s one golden rule: cover at least 2/3 of all surfaces with sound absorbers. Here are five great tips for improving the acoustics of your workspace:
1. Rely on furniture and natural sound absorbers.
2. Decorate your walls with acoustic pictures.
3. XXL curtains = noise reduction
4. Mats = footfall noise reduction
5. Soundproof ceilings with acoustic suspensions
1. Rely on furniture and natural sound absorbers.
When designing an open-plan office, furniture plays a key role as a natural sound absorber. Strategically place shelves and cabinets between workstations to create effective sound barriers. Bookcases and filing cabinets, in particular, already absorb a lot of noise. Opt for furniture made of sound-absorbing materials such as wood and fabric-covered office chairs, which are far more effective than glass, ceramic or steel furniture.
For an acoustic bonus, equip your furniture with acoustic effect elements, such as perforated layers or felt panels, which absorb sound waves instead of reflecting them. Our acoustic objects are made from PET, an eco-responsible material that absorbs sound waves.
And let’s not forget indoor plants! Not only do they absorb sound and improve air quality, but their volume and texture make them natural sound absorbers. Place them between offices to reduce reverberation and create a pleasant indoor climate. The more plants, the better! With these tips, your office will become a space that’s both aesthetically pleasing and acoustically soothing.
2. Decorate your walls with acoustic pictures.
Whereas a bare wall reflects sound back into the room, a wall decorated with images prevents this reverberation. Ideally, hang pictures in the direction of speech. Even simple posters or art prints can make a big difference in absorbing sound. Particularly in the medium and high frequencies, acoustic images or foams are ideal for reducing voice interference and improving speech intelligibility.
For an even more powerful effect, opt for sound-absorbing images such as our acoustic panels. They are generally a little thicker, as they are made from a variety of sound-absorbing materials. With these tips, turn your walls into real acoustic allies and create a brighter, more pleasant working environment!
3. XXL curtains = noise reduction
Curtains are an ingenious and economical solution for improving soundproofing in the office. Hang them in front of doors, windows, walls, or even freely around the room for maximum effectiveness. They’re particularly useful if your building’s doors and windows are old and poorly insulated. Felt curtains are top of the range thanks to their large absorption surface.
Acoustic and soundproof curtains are ideal for reducing office noise and offer a flexible and versatile alternative to structural modifications. They attenuate direct sound in open-plan offices and are excellent sound absorbers. With these curtains, transform your workspace into a haven of tranquility without breaking the bank!
4. Mats = footfall noise reduction
Hard floors such as stone, wood or ceramic tiles can really harm the acoustics in your office. So when designing your workspace, it’s crucial to choose materials that promote good acoustic insulation.
Fortunately, there are practical solutions for limiting noise levels. Vinyl floors with anti-noise underlay or carpets are excellent choices. If you can’t change the floor, adding carpets, especially in high-traffic and communication areas, can make a big difference. With these tips, transform your office into a space where noise is controlled and concentration optimized!
5. Soundproof ceilings with acoustic suspensions
Ceilings also play a crucial role in the acoustics of your office, especially in open spaces with concrete ceilings that reflect sound waves and amplify noise. Fortunately, there are creative solutions to contain this phenomenon!
Acoustic ceiling tiles and acoustic foams are easy to install and require little effort. They often snap or glue into place, and their discreet appearance is a major advantage, as they blend into the décor without attracting attention.
Suspended ceilings, often covered with acoustic textiles, offer a variety of colors and designs. These acoustic ceiling veils can be suspended with cables or attached with magnets, and come in a variety of shapes, from classic veils to suspended cylinders and cubes. With these solutions, transform your ceiling into a discreet and elegant acoustic ally, perfectly suited to the ambience of your workspace!
How about making some noise… but intelligently?
If, despite everything, absolute silence isn’t on the agenda, don’t panic! Add a touch of white noise, a few indoor plants for an urban jungle effect, and adopt best practices. Your solution to office noise is at hand!
