The role of soft furnishings in sound absorption
Make spaces a little quieter with upholstery, drapery and wallcoverings.
Noise is everywhere. The clicking of keyboard keys while someone types. Traffic from the road outside. The white noise of the air conditioner motor running. All that sound affects us in different ways and interior designers now have to consider the acoustic comfort of residential and commercial spaces.
Modern architecture uses a lot of hard surfaces such as glass, concrete and steel and these materials have a lot of reverberation. Ever noticed how loud an empty house or office is with a lot of echoes? That is sound reverberating off the hard surfaces. Soft furnishings play an important role in cultivating quiet by absorbing all the sound to create a calm, peaceful environment.
Why you’d want less noise in your spaces
Acoustic comfort is vital in any space we occupy for extended periods of time as noise can have a negative impact on humans. Even at modest noise levels, it can harm our hearing if we are continually exposed to it. Noise pollution can negatively affect us in different ways.
Unnecessary stress is caused by a noisy atmosphere with long reverberations that can lead to deterioration of both your mental and physical state. It's more difficult to hold a proper conversation when there's a lot of noise. We end up raising our voices, increasing the noise levels even more. Our attention is also affected by noise. It’s more challenging to focus and that can have a negative effect on the quality of work.
When reverberation is reduced, your brain doesn’t have to analyse noises that aren’t useful. This improves our ability to solve problems, manage new information and recall existing knowledge. Acoustic comfort is a great investment for everyone’s wellbeing.
Sound absorbing and soundproofing
Not all textiles have equal sound absorption properties. It is important, therefore, to distinguish between sound absorption and soundproofing.
Sound absorption: how reverberation and echo is reduced in a room
Soundproofing: blocking sound in a room completely
A key difference between sound absorption and soundproofing is that soundproofing solutions are typically installed inside a wall and prevent sound from entering the space. With sound absorption, the materials are on the outside of the walls and simply reduce the amount of sound that can bounce off the hard surfaces.
Drapery to control sound
Curtains and drapery are effective solutions for sound absorption. According to FR-One, “The thickness of the fabric (increased by pleats), and density of the weave are important, as is the placement of the cloth and distance from the glass of a window, for example, it is. By density of the fabric, we’re referring to the weave.
“The more folds the curtains have when closed to cover the window, the more sound they can trap within them and less is reflected back into the room.”
A growing trend in offices around the world is hanging fabrics to serve as interesting textures, space dividers and sound absorption. Instead of having solid walls with art, the fabric is a softer option and reduces noise.
Sound absorption by furniture
Furniture plays a big role in reducing noise. How effective the furniture in absorbing sound is dependent on the thickness of the foam in the furniture as well as the choice of upholstery fabric. The thicker the fabric and the foam, the better the piece will be at absorbing sound. Cushions on the seats add an additional layer of sound absorption.
Velvet and wool have traditionally been used to reduce noise. The soft surface of both these fabrics offers excellent sound absorption and they have a luxurious appearance - this is why you find velvet in theatres.
Another solution to complement the sound absorption by furniture is the installation of acoustic panels. These panels can be upholstered with sound-absorbing fabrics and add a colourful decorative element to spaces such as home theatre rooms, classrooms, healthcare facilities and shared workspaces.
Home Fabrics has a solution for your design
Among the extensive portfolio of fabrics offered by Home Fabrics, you are sure to find beautiful, high-quality fabrics to address a noise challenge in both residential and commercial projects. Additionally, Home Fabrics is proud to stock FR-One fabrics. These inherently fire-retardant fabrics are also tested in an acoustics laboratory to ensure the peace and tranquillity of your interior spaces.
