Proper acoustics in an office building or other such facility can be more important than you realise; workers who are distracted by outside or surrounding noises may be unable to think and concentrate, and may actually experience higher levels of stress. You may also want to help improve the privacy of phone and in-person conversations in your building, and not let that sound travel around the office. Note a few easy and affordable ways to improve a building's acoustics so your staff can work in peace and quiet.

Film on the windows

Glass is very prone to vibrating due to noise and to bouncing around soundwaves. Adding an insulating film to the inside of the windows is very simple and affordable; that film will absorb sound waves so a space is quieter. The film can also keep glass from vibrating due to heavy traffic and loud noises outside the building.

Carpets and mats

The fibres of carpeting will help absorb sound waves and keep a space quieter. If you want to avoid the tripping hazard of an area rug, look for rubber mats. The rubber will also absorb sound waves rather than allow them to literally bounce off a tile or stone floor. Some rubber mats will be made specifically with a porous surface so that they absorb even more sound and noise and keep an office quieter.

You can also invest in carpet tiles; these are squares of carpeting with a peel-and-stick backing that you install on a floor just like other types of tile. These can be added to a stone floor and even installed on a wall where you need more sound absorption.

Wood over steel and fibreglass

Materials like steel and fibreglass are so dense that they easily bounce sound waves around and create an echo in an office, more so than wood, which is porous and which helps to absorb sound. You may prefer steel and fibreglass doors, however, for the security they offer versus the softer wood. As a compromise, use a wood overlay or veneer for your office doors. The wood will help absorb sound while the steel and fibreglass keeps a space more secure overall.

Muffling sound from rooms

You can muffle sounds from conference rooms and other such busy offices with runners, used to keep out drafts, on the bottom of doors. These are easy to install and they close that gap between the door and floor, helping to insulate the noise inside and outside the room and keeping it from travelling.