6 Simple Ways To Reduce Noise In Your Home

Choosing drapery, rugs, wall treatments, and appliances with intention can significantly reduce the noise in your home.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:11pm

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Experts share tips on how to make your home feel more comfortable and welcoming by reducing noise through simple design choices, including using drapery with sound-absorbing interlining, investing in quiet appliances, incorporating calming background sounds, and adding textured rugs and wall treatments.

Why it matters

Reducing noise in the home can create a more relaxing and comfortable environment, especially for those with noise sensitivities or hearing impairments. These small changes can make a big impact on the overall ambiance and livability of a space.

The details

The experts recommend several strategies to reduce noise, including using drapery with sound-absorbing interlining, choosing textured fabrics and deep folds to enhance sound absorption, investing in quiet appliances, utilizing fans or white noise machines to offset external sounds, selecting thick wool rugs with jute pads, and incorporating textured wallcoverings like grasscloth or fabric-upholstered walls. Noise-canceling headphones are also suggested as a useful tool, especially for guests or those with heightened noise sensitivities.

  • The article was published on March 14, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Fordham

The CEO and principal interior designer at Pembrook Interiors, based in McLean, VA.

Avani Shah

A certified Speech Language Pathologist and the founder of Therapy Smarts Inc, a private speech language pathology practice based in Morrisville, NC.

Melissa Edmunds

An occupational therapist and the lead therapist at High Hopes Children's Therapy's Cumming, GA location.

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What they’re saying

“We always incorporate 'interlining' into our draperies. But where there are noise issues from either street noise or in an open concept layout with many hard surfaces, we will use a drapery interlining with an R-value. This further reduces noise by absorbing sound.”

— Jennifer Fordham, Interior Designer

“Providing regular auditory input in the everyday environment can assist with sensory processing and regulation, decreasing overstimulation.”

— Melissa Edmunds, Occupational Therapist

“Keeping noise-canceling headphones readily available throughout the day allows children to always have a sensory strategy in their back pocket to decrease an overstimulating environment without becoming dysregulated.”

— Melissa Edmunds, Occupational Therapist

The takeaway

These simple design choices and sensory strategies can make a significant difference in creating a more peaceful and comfortable home environment, especially for those with noise sensitivities or hearing impairments.