Reducing Noise with New Window Treatments
Light isn’t the only thing that your window coverings help shield you from. When you’re relaxing in bed on a weekend morning or watching TV at night on the couch, your window coverings muffle outside noise that would otherwise disturb you and your rest. While all different types of window treatments serve this purpose to some extent, there are certain types that stand out for their ability to reduce noise and produce the sort of peaceful environment that you would prefer.
- Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are the gold standard for insulation in window treatments. While this typically comes up with regards to keeping out or retaining heat, it is just as true for noise. Cellular shades are made up of a honeycomb-like structure of hollow, hexagonal fabric tubes, so they serve as excellent sound barriers that really muffle outside noise. If keeping out noise is a primary concern for you, you can’t go wrong with cellular shades.
- Shutters
Whether made from wood, vinyl, or composite, window shutters are thick and solid window treatments that serve as an excellent barrier against sound. They occupy the full window frame, leaving only the most minimal of gaps for sound to pass through. As such, they act very much like a wall when they are fully closed and provide a similar level of sound absorption. If you want to keep out the noise, shutters are a great pick for your new window coverings.
- Drapery
The thick fabric of drapery also provides good insulation against outside noise. Curtains muffle and dampen noise, so that you can enjoy your day in peace and tranquility. There are many reasons why curtains have remained popular over the millennia, and the great sound absorption they offer is just one of them.
- Roman Shades
Similar to drapery, but with the lighter design of a shade, roman shades are also thick enough to provide superior noise reduction to the average window treatment. While they are not as effective as cellular shades in this regard, they’re a great option for someone who is concerned about sound control, but also has other priorities that roman shades might address.
For the most optimal noise reduction, consider layering two different window coverings to create a more solid barrier against outside noise.
