Did you know that you could soundproof those little tiny spaces you’d play hide and seek in your childhood? If you’re into music, you can turn your closet into a DIY recording booth or a music practice room. In this article, I’m going to show you simple steps on how to soundproof a closet.
Sound Proofing Versus Sound Conditioning
Soundproofing your closet will make it possible for you not to hear outside noises. On the other hand, sound conditioning typically cancels out reflections, deadens the closet. With soundproofing you will be reducing noise from escaping and preventing outside noises while sound conditioning will prevent echos inside the closet. Read this article to learn more about the differences.
How To Soundproof A Closet Step By Step
Method1: Prepare the closet
If you’re going to use the closet for music practice or any other activity that will require you to be inside the closet, you’ll need to prepare it for that specific purpose.
First get rid of the clothes inside the closet, all the metal pipes, shelves and racks and anything else that might be a hindrance to accessing the space.
The key factor here is maximizing the space. The next step would be to take care of power and lighting because most of music recording equipment runs on electricity. Some closets already have lighting source installed. If possible install power source or call a professional to help you with the installation process.
Method2: Acoustic foam panels
Acoustic foam panels will help sound condition your closet against echoes and reverberation. They are effective in sound dampening a closet and are easy to install while giving you maximum benefits. Some of my recommended panels are Foamily Acoustic Foam Egg Crate Studio Foam Panels. See installation guide here.
Method3: Soundproof moving blankets
Did you know that you can use blankets to muffle unwanted sounds? You can use any blanket to deaden sound, absorb sound reflections to improve the clarity of your recordings.
The rule of thumb in this case is that, the blankets should be thick and dense enough to absorb sounds. The reason why I would recommend moving blankets is the fact that they’re made of dense and heavy materials that make them ideal in sound absorption. You will get a variety of moving blankets on the market, but one that ensures that all those reverberations and echos are muffled is Sure-Max Moving Blanket. Click here to see how you can install them.
Method4: Seal all air gaps and cracks
You will have to fill these cracks and holes and luckily for you, there are different ways you can fix this.
You can try caulking the cracks and any other gap in the closet. You can use Sashco Big Stretch Acrylic Latex because it different from any other normal caulk and it’s designed to deal with noise problems in your house.
You can use door sweeps to permanently block the space that exist between the door and the floor rather than having to drag a towel down there whenever you want to practice.
Method5: Add Drywall
To be honest, you will spend a few extra bucks when you add a layer of drywall. Drywall is a bit expensive but efficient in sound deadening. You will need to add a layer drywall and put Green glue in between the existing wall and the drywall. If green glue isn’t available in your region, you can try these green glue alternatives. What the glue does in this case is transforming sound energy into heat. But don’t be afraid as the heat is negligible and won’t burn down your home.
Method6: Try some carpets
It’s the small things in your life that make huge different. This same concept applies in soundproofing as well and adding a layer of thick carpet inside the closet will help dampen it thus prevents sound reflections and reverberations.
If you truly hate echoes, investing in this carpet will help you deal with your worst “sound” nightmare.
Not only are carpets good in sound dampening but they will also help you keep a warm foot during the cold seasons when practicing in your small DIY sound booth. Additionally, the carpet can be used in any other room in your house.
Method7: Try reflection filters
If you’re going to use the closet for recording vocal tracks and acoustics, getting a ready-made soundproofing reflection filter would be a wise decision. They are acoustically treated and hence do a better job in sound deadening.
This is the option for you especially if you live in a rented unit, apartment where the property manager/landlord doesn’t allow any structural changes to the unit. Not only can you use them in soundproofing a closet but you can install them in room where you record your own podcasts, conduct interviews or in a TV room.
Method8: Use DIY superchunk bass traps
For starters, it’s important to know that you will need superchunk bass traps if you need to soundproof against low frequency sounds. But if you won’t be dealing with low frequency sounds/bass sounds you should skip this step.
Here is a step by step guide on how you can make corner bass traps at home using readily available materials.