The reason people want to soundproof their cupboards is simple- no one wants to hear the noise that’s inside it. So what can be done to keep the noise in that cupboard and have a little peace and quiet in the rest of the house?
How to soundproof a cupboard? You can soundproof a cupboard by using soundproofing items such as fiberglass, soundproof curtains, moving blankets and, most importantly, by making sure you have a great seal between your door and the door frame.
No matter how you decide to go about this, if you are doing this on your own, always make sure that you are keeping in line with safety recommendations set either by the equipment in the cupboard, paying careful attention to fire recommendation. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you are not breaking any rules and are safe.
How to soundproof a cupboard?
The first and easy step is to start by soundproofing the door. Sometimes all it takes is a well-sealed door to prevent sound from coming in and out of a room. Here are a few things you can do to soundproof the door:
1. Door Sweep:
A great way to seal the gap between your door and the floor. This is not only great as a sound blocker, but it helps prevent air from going in or out.
So, if you think your home is always cold in the wintertime despite the heat being on, you might want to check the seal in the door.
And as well all know, sound travels through air, so once you seal the gap, the sound will not have air to travel through.
Gap sealers are extremely cheap and are sold in most home improvement and general merchandise stores. If you prefer, you can order one online.
2. Add a Thick Rug
You can do two things with this. On the one hand, you can get a thick rug and put under the door as a decorative piece and to seal the gap to a certain extent.
On the other hand, you can vertically hang the rug as a decorative piece on the door to give it weight and cushioning to block sound from traveling through it.
3. Add Mass
This basically means that you need to add some weight to the door. Most modern-day homes have hollow walls and doors. That’s more air for sound to travel through.
So, by adding mass, you make a thicker barrier for the sound to pass through. There are a few ways you can do this:
- Get a New Door: This is probably the most obvious way to add mass. Shop for a thicker, heavier and dense door.
- Use MDF: This is a type of heavy wood that you can use to add to your current door to add weight to it.
- Textile: Lastly, you can use either rugs, layered curtains, or moving blankets on your door to add temporary thickness, which will prevent sound from getting through, reduce echo and seal any cracks the door has.
4. Weather Stripping
A properly sealed door is the most important part of any cupboard being soundproof. You would be surprised at how bad the fit is between most frames and doors. Almost all doors have about a 10 mm space between the floor and the door that lets air and noise pass through.
There are multiple types of weather-stripping tapes available online. There are the ones you can nail to the door frame and ones that come with an adhesive backing.
Whichever one you decide to use, they are simple to install. If you are using the self-adhesive stripping, make sure you give a few minutes before you open and close the door. If you want to see how to apply weatherstripping, check out this video:
Another thing to remember is that the weather-stripping tape will not cover the bottom of the door frame. For that you will need a door sweep.
A combination of the door sweep and the weather-stripping sometimes is enough to make the cupboard soundproof.
5. Magnetic Door Gasket
Similar to how the freezer door seals to the frame to keep the cold inside, a magnetic gasket is a great way to seal your door if you have a metal frame.
Once you seal the cupboard door, you should hear less noise coming from the cupboard. Less is not soundproof though.
[Related Article: Discover 5 Proven Ways to Soundproof Interior Doors]
Soundproofing Ceilings, Walls, and Floors
Another option is soundproofing the ceiling, walls, and floors. There are quite a few things you can use to do that. Some are expensive and will require a professional to install them for you, while others can be DIY projects to keep you busy on the weekend. Here are few ideas:
1. Carpet Tiles
If your cupboard has a wooden floor, then there are chances that they don’t block the sound too well. A great way to take care of that is by installing carpet tiles, which inexpensive compared to installing a carpet.
These will absorb the sound better and make the room less noisy.
2. Fiberglass
This is basically a material made out of melted glass and woven together to create the fiberglass.
There are two types of Fiberglass materials one that is commonly used for soundproofing while the other is used for insulating a home. Make sure when you pick the right kind of material for your needs.
3. Acoustic Blankets
These blankets can be made from different kinds of materials that help absorb the sound in a room better so that it can’t be heard outside as much.
Some of these blankets are made with fiberglass, while others can be made from polyester. Either way, these are a great inexpensive way to soundproof a cupboard.
4. Soundproof Curtains
Similar to the acoustic blankets, soundproof curtains are multilayered curtains made from a tightly woven heavy material that creates a seamless barrier. You can either hang these inside the cupboard or outside, but they accomplish the same thing, which is to keep sound inside.
5. Add Decor
This may sound simple, but it will take some thought to put together. You can use a combination of the above materials to make the cupboard look aesthetically pleasing, or you can buy and create stuff that will make the wall heavier.
Items on a wall make for better sound absorption. For example, add a shelf of books or other odds and ends, even add paintings will absorb sound. This works even if your cupboard is upstairs. Although objects on a wall don’t block sound, they do mute it somewhat.
This is an inexpensive way to reduce sound coming out from a cupboard.
[Related Article: 6 Of The Quietest Nespresso Machines You Can Find In The Market]
Final Thoughts
A combination of the above, in addition to a great seal on the door, can be a great way to make you cupboard soundproof, both on the inside and out. Sound waves travel through air, and if the air is kept inside the cupboard’s space can’t travel into your house, then the sound won’t either.
You will need a vent to let the air out. If you don’t have a way to vent air out through a wall or the roof, then it might be time to call someone who can help with that. After all, if the noise inside the cupboard travels to your neighbor, that’s their problem, right?
