apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think Harry Potter sells "Curtains of Silence" in his new Christmas Catalog - right next to his "Cloaks of Invisibility" and "Vanishing Cabinets"...

I know hotel rooms sometimes have "black out" curtains..but it's more for light than sound...
What about those "sound panels" that musicians use maybe you could make a sound panel shoji (spelling?) screens ..

http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/acoustical_drapery/acoustical_curtains.htm
"The Acousti Curtain is a revolutionary new product primarily designed to absorb more sound than standard decorative curtains. These curtains are ideally used where control of acoustic reflection off of glass and ambient light control are required. The Acousti Curtains product features a core material of naturally fire resistant wool fabric that is sandwiched between a decorative fabric and a blackout liner."

Bed Bath & Beyond sells curtains that are lined on the back with some sort of laminate that promise to reduce outside noise by something like 40%. I have found that they do help with noise, and are also extremely good at insulating against the cold from my old drafty single pane windows. They also block most of the light out so I only draw them at night, though that's when street noise is most annoying. Of course nothing beats a good pair of ear plugs when sleeping.

A still sheet of air against the window glass should help to block heat, and provide insulation against heat loss as well.

The acousticalsurfaces.com website (cited above) provides custom curtains, but I didn't find prices, and the fact that they have a "financing" link might be revealing.

However, there are also DIY solutions that ought to help with the problem. You might try a standard window insulation kit (~$12 at Ace).

Or, using a thicker clear vinyl sheet might be more effective and easier to live with. You can find vinyl yardage fairly inexpensively at most large fabric stores and/or websites. It comes in a 54" width that should be adequate for all but the biggest windows.

Here is an online example:
http://tinyurl.com/6z9g7j
The price is proportional to thickness, but starts at $5.35 a yard. You can cut the vinyl a bit larger than the glass, and use any non-destructive method to seal it to the casework of the window on all four sides. I would probably try taping it down with Gaffer's (i. e., theatrical) tape or, depending on the thickness and weight of the vinyl, ordinary double stick tape.

With any adhesive method, if the casing is painted, check somewhere inconspicuous that removing the tape won't destroy the paint, and be aware that it may become more solidly "stuck" over time.

Sorry- "Noise" in the first line.

I should use "preview comment" first...

I seem to remember seeing a blog somewhere where the author suggested sewing blankets onto the back of a curtain for heat insulation. It might work with noise too a bit.

At the very least you'd have your pick of curtain fabrics.

I had this problem a few years ago before the windows in our rental apartment finally got replaced (which really did the trick).

My idea was to use acoustic foam that professional musicians use, cut them to fit snugly inside the window frame, cover with a nice fabric, and just pop them into place when I go to sleep. I also toyed with making them into swing-out shutters or mounting them on a track above the window (kind of like the big fire doors in old warehouses) and sliding them to open and shut.

Good luck, whatever you do. Constant noise is so stressful.

I wish there was something that would block the sound of my neighbor's tv...and the sound of her yelling at her dog...and the sound of her yelling, I man talking on the phone.

I had the same problem, as my street is very noisy and we have a huge expanse of glass in the bedroom that the sound just carries right through. We ordered a pair of off white, block out curtains with full block out lining. That did the trick at night so we can sleep uninterupted!

They are also great for keeping out the strong summer afternoon sun whilst we are at work, keeping our cooling costs down in summer.

I need one of those "cloaks of invisibility". lol

dear appleton,

i hope you see this comment.. i am wondering which curtains you ordered, from where exactly, and how much the cost was:
"We ordered a pair of off white, block out curtains with full block out lining"

please help! i need these.