The Best Sound-Blocking Window Curtains
In today's modern world, noise can be a problem. If you want to create a quiet environment for sleeping or just an area of tranquillity in your home, sound-blocking curtains can be useful to filter out mid-frequency noise such as air and road traffic. These curtains are particularly useful if you do not have double glazed windows. Sound-blocking curtains should not be confused with acoustic curtains, which are normally used commercially in theaters to block reverberated sound. Does this Spark an idea?
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Soundproofing Curtains
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No curtain can ever completely block sound, but soundproofing curtains are helpful in deadening noises such as traffic drone and will also act as blackouts. They should be hung to completely cover the window with a good overlap on either side and should hang as low as possible, preferably to the floor. The curtains are constructed of three layers: a layer of heavy decorative fabric such as velvet, a fire retardant wool middle section and a blackout lining. You can make these curtains at home, but they are very heavy and should be hung from a sturdy support.
Acoustic Curtains
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Acoustic curtains are normally used commercially by music and dance troupes to reduce echo during practices and performances. They are not just used as window coverings but are also hung in front of other reflective surfaces such as painted walls. They are manufactured not only in the form of curtains but also as panels to hang on walls and can be useful in a domestic setting to reduce echo in bare rooms with hard floors that have little soft furnishings to absorb noise. Several manufacturers make decorative versions of these curtains for domestic use.
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Fabrics for Blocking Sound
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The best fabrics for blocking sound are thick and heavy. Velvet is a good choice as it looks elegant; however, it can be difficult to keep clean and will require specialist dry cleaning. It is also expensive and difficult to sew. Velour, or mock velvet, is not as thick as velvet so does not work as well as a soundproofer; however, it is considerably cheaper and washes well. Brocade, a thick embossed fabric, was traditionally used for stage curtains to block backstage sound. It is available in a range of finishes and looks sophisticated in a domestic setting. Good quality brocade is expensive but provides a nice result.
Modern Fabrics
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Traditionally, materials used for noise-blocking curtains have been thick in an effort to absorb sound. However, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) has developed a lightweight, translucent material with good noise-reducing properties. Developed in conjunction with leading textile designer Annette Douglas, the silk material has been specially woven to maximize its noise-reduction properties and is the first lightweight fabric of its kind.
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