Many new college students are heartbroken at the thought of not being able to play music in their dorm rooms without being a terrific annoyance to their neighbors. Even though your dorm wall might be cinder block constructed your sound will travel or worse you'll hear your neighbor blasting Miley Cyrus, which will certainly lead to your need to soundproof. Even if you don't play a musical instrument or have any loud hobbies, it's still always better to know that you have audial privacy. Most colleges are very strict about what you can and cannot do/alter in your dorm room, so trying to soundproof your dorm room can be a challenge. Fortunately, where there is a will, there is a way. There are several things you can do to make your dorm room more soundproof. Here are some ideas you can try out.
Furniture as a Buffer
One of the easiest ways to make your dorm room more soundproof is to arrange your furniture so that it blocks in sound. Try to move your dresser, desk, and especially your dorm bed close to your walls. Ideally, you want your furniture lined up against all your walls. This will help keep sound from escaping. Your dorm bed is especially thick, and is great for absorbing vibrations.
Wall Covering
The most important part of soundproofing is increasing the thickness of your walls. There are several ways to do this. The first thing you should do is check with your dorm advisor about wall adhesives and fire codes. Most dorms allow some form of wall adhesion. It may be possible to only use sticky wall putty for example, but even this stuff is strong enough to hold up some materials. You can cover your walls with heavy drapes, hang acoustical panels, or hang mass loaded vinyl. Any of these things can be very effective and require little adhesive if done intelligently. The best kind of wall covering however, is foam or fabric covered cork board. Cork boards are usually made for thumbtacks and hanging paper notes, but once covered with foam or fabric, they make amazing sound absorbers. Another great thing about using cork board is that it does not violate fire codes, and you can usually buy cork boards that are meant to be hung from walls. When covering your walls, don't forg et to install covering for your door as well.
Floor Covering
To soundproof your floors, your best option is a super thick rug. Rugs and rubber mats are amazing sound absorbers and don't violate any dorm room rules. You can pile on as many thick rugs as you want in your dorm room. It is best to use even three or four layers of thick rugs over large rubber bathroom mats. Rugs and rubber mats work by minimizing echoes and reverberations. Not only will you soundproof your dorm room, you will also have a comfortable, cushioned floor.
Window Covering
It is vital that you come up with some way to soundproof your windows. An easy thing to do is to install removable window coverings. These are window screens that attach to the inside of window frames with velcro strips. Sometimes you can use "storm window screens" that are usually meant to protect windows from extreme weather. They are amazing because they reduce up to 35% of noise, and can be found in any home-improvement store.
Whatever methods you try, it is important to keep in mind that everything you do to your dorm room must be undone. DO NOT make permanent alterations, as this can result in irreparable damage and heavy fees. Experiment with different materials on small areas of your room first before going through your whole room. This will save you time and money. Eventually, you will find something that is effective as well as dorm room legal. Good luck!
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