Reverberation in the home: causes and the most beautiful solution

Your new house is beautiful, sleek, and bright, with all the space you hoped for. But as soon as someone speaks, the sound bounces off all surfaces. At the dinner table, you almost hear yourself echo, the television sounds sharp, and a phone conversation reverberates through the room. Sound familiar? Good news: there's something you can do about it, and it doesn't have to be unsightly.

Why does a room reverberate?

In short: due to hard surfaces. Sound consists of vibrations in the air. When these vibrations encounter a hard, smooth surface, such as concrete, glass, a tiled floor, or a bare wall, they bounce back into the room. The more hard materials, the more the sound continues to reverberate. Soft, porous materials do the opposite. They don't reflect the sound but absorb it.

That's why a modern, minimalist interior often echoes more than a full, cozy home. Fewer curtains, rugs, and cabinets mean fewer soft spots to break the sound.

Reverberation, echo, or aftersound: what's the difference?

In practice, you notice reverberation because conversations become more tiring, the television has to be louder, and the room feels restless without you knowing why. This is particularly noticeable in an open kitchen, a hallway with a stairwell, or a new-build home.

How do you dampen reverberation at home?

You dampen reverberation by adding soft, open materials that absorb sound. We all know the classics: a rug, heavy curtains, a full bookshelf. These help, but they don't solve everything, and not everyone wants to adapt their interior to them.

There's a solution that dampens sound while adding something to your interior instead of hiding it: acoustic art. Such a piece of art hangs on the wall, just like any painting, but the material itself helps. That's the difference between it and a regular print or poster.

Does acoustic art really work against reverberation?

We're open about it: one piece of art won't make an echoing room completely silent. It noticeably dampens the reverberation, but the more felt you hang, the greater the effect. For a truly echoing room, a larger size or a combination of two works works better. Consider Noé and Noah, two of our bestsellers, which look beautiful together above a wide sofa and absorb more sound. And note: felt dampens the reverberation within your own space. It doesn't block sound from neighbors or outside. That's a different matter.

Customer Denise put it this way, after hanging one piece in her large, echoing space: “It's bizarre how much difference this one piece of art already makes.”

Where should you hang an acoustic artwork for the most effect?

Are you unsure about the size? First, tape off the dimensions on the wall with painter's tape. This way, you'll immediately see how it looks. Our rule of thumb is that an artwork above a sofa can be approximately two-thirds of the sofa's width. Larger is always an option and often even looks calmer. A piece like Noud can be custom-made in any size and twenty colors to match your interior.

How much do I need?

That depends on the size of the room and the number of hard surfaces. Start with one or two large pieces in the areas with the most significant reverberation. You can always expand later. If you want to know more precisely, send us a photo of your space. We'll be happy to advise you without obligation.

Curious how the colors will look in your space? Browse the collection of acoustic art or order a sample box; the amount will be refunded with your order.

Frequently asked questions about reverberation in the home

Will one acoustic artwork make my room silent?
No, to be fair. One piece will noticeably dampen the reverberation, but it won't make a room completely silent. The more felt you hang, the greater the effect. For a highly echoing room, we recommend a larger size or two pieces.

What best dampens reverberation in the home?
Soft, open materials that absorb sound: rugs, curtains, and acoustic art made of felt. The nice thing about an acoustic artwork is that it dampens sound while also being an eye-catcher, instead of something that needs to hide your interior.

Does an acoustic artwork insulate sound from neighbors?
No. An acoustic artwork reduces reverberation and echo within your own space. It does not block sound coming through walls from neighbors or from outside. That's called sound insulation, and it's different from dampening reverberation.

Does felt also work in an open kitchen or new build?
Precisely there, it works well. Open kitchens and new-build homes have many hard surfaces and few soft materials, so there's the most reverberation to gain from.