How To Make Soundproof Curtains? A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have obnoxiously loud neighbors, a busy street outside your window or you’re somebody who just cherishes their privacy, you must be looking for a quick, cheap soundproofing solution.

The cheapest way of soundproofing a room is to hang soundproof curtains. You can do them on your own in a few simple steps. You can either make them from scratch or add an underlayer to your existing curtains. 

Soundproof curtains add density to your wall and absorb all the incoming or outgoing sound waves. To increase the soundproofing capabilities of your curtains, you can add more layers so they become denser and absorb more sound.

How To Make Soundproof Curtains On Your Own?

When you DIY soundproof curtains for your room, you need to make sure you get a dense, tightly knit material for it. With that, you would need the following items:

  • Thread
  • A pair of scissors
  • Measuring tape and marker
  • Sound absorbing fabric (we recommend MLV by Soundsulate. Find it here on Amazon.)
  • Eyelets
  • A wadding material for insides of the synthetic quilt (it should be at least 2cm narrow and 2cm short as compared to the outer fabric of the curtain)

Four Easy Steps To Make Soundproof Curtains

Here are the steps for making soundproof curtains at home.

Measure and Mark

First and foremost, you need to carefully measure the height and width of your window. This includes all the space around it that needs to be covered.
It is recommended that your soundproofing curtains should cover the entire window surface for the best results. You should always add an extra inch or two just to be on the safe side. If you’re making your curtains for a floor-to-ceiling window or sliding door, when taking measurements, be mindful that your curtain must reach the floor.
If you’re planning to add special finishing or frills at the sides or end of the curtain, measure additional two or three inches for that as well.

Add Multiple Folds

The more folds your curtain has, the more mass and density it’s going to possess. And more mass equals more sound absorption.
Take the width measurements you have from step 1 and double them. For instance, for a 5-feet wide window, you must take at least 10-feet of fabric for the curtain. If you are aiming for more rigorous soundproofing, you can add more inches for more folds as well.

Stich It Up

Fold the hems of your curtain and pin them down. Stich the folds in place with the help of a needle and a thread or a sewing machine.
When folding, you should add two more inches to the top and the bottom edge and half an inch on both sides. Don’t forget to leave open the top ends of the hem for the rod to pass through. You can also use hemming adhesive tape if you don’t like the stitched look.
For hemming tape, you must use it under the hem edge and secure the tape in its place with the help of an iron. Add the wadding material to the hem to enhance the overall look.

Hang The Soundproof Curtains Up

In just three simple steps you know how to make soundproof curtains from scratch. The last step is to hang them on the wall.
Put the curtain rod through the hem that you left open on the top end of your soundproof curtain. And hang the curtains on the wall.

What Is The Best Material For Soundproof Curtains?

The best material for an effective soundproofing curtain is one that has more mass. And the perfect formula for it is to have a mass-loaded sheet at the core of your soundproof curtain and fabric at the front.

It is important to mention that a soundproof curtain will NOT help with echo or reverberations in your room. It will only block the noise from going out or coming inside your room through windows, doors, glass doors, or partitions.

The best soundproof materials for curtains are suede and polyester; or you can also opt for thermal solutions like thermal weave, thermal layer, or insulated curtains.

Other good materials for making effective soundproofing curtains include velvet, heavy plush fabrics, velour, etc.

Things To Consider When Making Soundproof Drapes 

When you are choosing the best sound-blocking curtains for your space, you must consider the following things:

Density

Thick and heavy curtains have more fabrics and more air spaces to trap air that is carrying sound waves. Dense curtains will absorb and dampen sound better than sheer, thin curtains.

This is why it is better to layer up or double or triple the curtains to increase soundproofing in your room.

Size

Size is crucial. Always use a proper measuring tape to measure the length, width, and height of the area you want to cover with the soundproof curtains.

Again, don’t forget to double the measurements before purchasing the material. Having lesser folds on your curtain can significantly affect its soundproofing capabilities.

Materials

As discussed, velvet, suede, polyester, or mass-loaded vinyl make the perfect soundproofing curtains. Any material that has more fibers than a regular piece of fabric is good for blocking noise.

Benefits of Soundproofing Curtains

In addition to their ability to block 75% of the noise coming in through your window, a soundproof curtain can serve some more benefits as well.

Some of these are:

  • Blocking extra light coming into the room. Just like they block sound, they can also block rays of light from the sun and other sources for a complete blackout effect
  • Soundproof curtains are the cheapest and the easiest way of soundproofing a space
  • They are easy to install and remove
  • You can increase or decrease the soundproofing intensity of your drapes simply by adding or removing layers
  • They add an extra layer of insulation to your room and protect against heat and cold

Conclusion

Soundproofing curtains may not be as effective as other, more permanent soundproofing solutions, but they are a great way of reducing noise at a low cost. You can use the four simple steps discussed in the article to make soundproof curtains on your own and block all the annoying sounds from outside.