I'm living in an older apartment building where the ceilings are super thin. I can hear my upstairs neighbor's every move—like footsteps and chair scraping—but they're not hosting wild parties or anything. I've considered professional soundproofing solutions, but they're way too expensive for my budget. Plus, since I'm renting, I can't make any permanent changes to the apartment. I also want to maintain my ceiling height because the space feels cramped enough as it is. I'm looking for soundproofing options that are affordable, temporary, and effective enough to reduce the noise. Has anyone found successful, renter-friendly methods to manage noise from upstairs?
3 Answers
If you're willing to get a bit creative, you could try using foam board insulation on the ceiling. I put some up with double-sided tape—might look a bit silly, but it did help reduce the noise a lot! Also, hanging some heavy blankets from the ceiling could help absorb sound. Not classy, but if it's free, why not?
Interesting idea! I’d definitely be up for trying foam boards!
Have you thought about talking to your neighbor? If you can, maybe mention the noise? Sometimes they don’t realize how loud they are. You could even offer to help by suggesting they get some rugs or put gliders on their chair legs. It could be a win-win situation for both of you!
Totally! Plus, they might appreciate it and be more considerate after you talk.
That's a smart approach! Just an open chat can work wonders.
Honestly, you might not have many permanent options in a rental, but there are a few things you could try. Using a white noise machine or a fan can help mask some of the noises from upstairs. I'd suggest keeping your TV or music slightly louder during the day as another option. It's not a perfect fix, but it might help drown out the annoying sounds without breaking the bank!
Yeah, a box fan can do the trick too! I found mine at a garage sale for cheap.
Good call on the fan! I had one running non-stop during college, and it really worked wonders.
Just make sure those blankets are fire-retardant if you go that route!