When it comes to absorbing sound, there are popular choices that are commonly used to do the job.
One option is professional-grade acoustic panels, but what do you do if money is tight? Is there a way to dampen the echoes and noise in the room you’re working in?
Fortunately, if you’re on a budget or just starting out, there are other means of creating sound-absorbing panels. This way, you don’t need to overinvest and can still accomplish the task at hand.
With DIY acoustic panels, you can avoid emptying your wallet just to buy traditional acoustic foam panels. Instead, you’ll learn a simple method that can work just as well, even if you have a large area to cover.
Let’s face it, if you’ve been pricing professional-grade acoustic absorbing material, you’re probably still in sticker shock. Take a moment to catch your breath and sigh with relief because we’ve got you covered.
What Are The Best Materials For Sound Absorption?
Acoustic foam is the obvious choice, but people have used towels, pillows, moving blankets, cork, and other options such as carpet padding and egg crate.
When it comes to absorbing sound, the process is the same. You’re dealing with sound waves that are bouncing off surrounding surfaces. You need something that captures and stops the vibrations from bouncing about like a rubber ball on steroids.
One of the best choices is to use multiple towels or heavy moving blankets. When the sound passes through, it muffles it and stops the noise from traveling the way it would without the barrier.
In an article by Tom Scalisi, housing and building expert, Bob Vila’s site mentions that while sound panels are a choice to buffer noise, another you might not have thought of is mineral wool. And who hasn’t dealt with a loud snorer in their life?
An interesting source that speaks of different types of absorbing materials is SnoringSource.com. They mention ideas like using pillows, wall hangings, acoustic curtains, and more.
What Fabric Should You Use?
When it comes to affordability and easy-to-work options, we think towels are a great first choice. Another excellent option is a coarse woven fabric, but it will cost more than towels.
Moving blankets are another and can be found without paying a bundle. Hit up your local home improvement store, thrift store, or big box store for cheap towels, and get plenty so you can layer them. The thicker the layer, the better the sound-absorbing qualities.
Now that we’ve gotten the basics out of the way let’s get to building your budget-friendly DIY acoustic panels.
DIY Acoustic Panels – Step-by-Step Instructions
First, you’ll want to gather some supplies, so without further ado, here’s a list of what we suggest.
Materials and Tools Needed
- Wood (1×2’s, 1×3’s, or 2×4’s) You can use any of the three options mentioned, but I recommend using 1×2’s or 1×3’s so that the frame doesn’t end up being too heavy.
- Wood glue
- Screws
- Drill
- Drilling bits sized for the crews you are going to use
- Either a staple gun or small nails
- Sound absorbing material – towels, foam, moving blankets, or fiberglass insulation
- Tools that will be helpful: saw if you don’t have properly sized wood, screwdriver for screws, and hammer if using nails in place of a staple gun. A clamp can also be handy if you’re only relying on glue without screws – We highly recommend adding the screws for more reliable strength.
Design and Sizes
When building your DIY acoustic panels, consider the space of the room you’re working with. If you’re in a tight area, it might be easier to work with 1×3 lumber, whereas if you have a bigger space and decide to make bigger panels, we’d suggest 2×4 lumber.
You can make frames of different sizes. Standard sizes are 24×48”, 12×48”, 24×36”, 24×24”, or 12×12”. You could choose one size or mix and match different sizes to create a unique design.
Remember that you will need several frames attached to the wall to reduce echo and bouncing sounds effectively. The image below shows various examples of what you can make.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. The wood’s purpose is to create a box frame, so make sure you have smooth edges and avoid warped boards if possible. It should be cut to size. If you get it from a home goods store, like Home Depot or Lowes, they may be able to cut it to size for you if you don’t have a saw handy.
2. Create a frame from the wood into a rectangle or square shape depending on what design you choose to do.
3. Use screws to attach the corners to create a stronger hold. The glue alone won’t be as strong, and we recommend you add screws at this point. You want to attach the pieces of wood in a manner that will keep them together for a long time to come! Repeat this on each corner until you’ve completed the entire frame, making sure it’s secure. The image below shows you how to insert the screws on each corner.
TIP: I recommend pre-drilling holes before inserting the screws. Use a drill bit sized for the screw you are going to use. That way, the wood won’t split due to internal stresses when joining the corners.
4. Add a support piece to hold the filling material. If you’re creating a larger panel, you may want to put a support piece in place, which would simply go across the center within the frame. I recommend adding at least two support pieces if the frame is larger than 36 inches. The last thing you want is the material falling out when moving or installing the fame to the wall.
TIP: Make sure to cut the support beams to a smaller width than the rest of the frame. The reason is so that there is enough space for the material you are adding between the supporting beam and the front cover. When installing the support beams to the frame, pre-drill holes for the screws, glue the edges together, and join the support beam to the frame using screws.
5. Fill the empty box portion of the frame with the absorbing material of your choice. You’ll now use filling materials such as folded towels, foam, or fiberglass insulation. We recommend towels since they are affordable and easy to come by. In the space gap that’s left on the inside of the frame, layer more towels for better sound absorption. You can nail or staple the top backside towel to the frame.
WARNING: If you decide to use fiberglass insulation as the filler material, make sure to use eye protection, dust mask, gloves and handle it with care because this stuff is dangerous.
6. Take a towel, blanket, or any coarse woven fabric of the color you like and wrap it around your frame. Stretch it so that it lays smoothly. Using a staple gun or small nails, secure the edges into place on the wooden frame. Cut off excess material for a clean look.
7. One of the great things about these frames is that they can be added to your walls, which won’t take up floor space, or if you don’t want them out all the time, simply pull them out and lean them against your walls when you need them for recording.
The DIY acoustic panels lend themselves well to being temporary if you need to store them away between recordings. Slide them under your bed to take up less space, or stack them in the closet.
Another option is to use a towel the color of your walls, so they blend seamlessly and will hardly be noticed. Want to display them like artwork? Choose decorative prints for your outside framed towel.
If you have a little extra budget, get a couple of different coarse woven fabric colors to create a design that flows with your home studio.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, easy to make acoustic panels that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re just starting out or are limited on space or money due to your budget, these DIY acoustic panels are the answer you’ve been looking for.
Buffering sound doesn’t have to be a nightmare. A simple solution is to work with what you have. Not everybody has the budget to get professional-grade acoustic foam, but now you have an easy workaround.
Get back to what you love doing, and stop worrying about the chaotic sound of noise bouncing off the walls. Good quality sound comes down to understanding how things work. Sound waves, vibration, and energy. Once you know the basics, there are always workarounds!