Trend Alert: Sound Attenuation and Some Ways Design Can Help

Ever walk into a restaurant so loud that you wanted to leave immediately? You might have wanted to actually talk to your friends but the sound in the restaurant bounces all over and seems to get louder the longer you’re there. You think you can withstand the din, but pretty soon your head starts pounding and you can’t hear anything. You look at ways of dampening sound, but the same old same old choices are there, design wise. What to do? Hang on and we’ll show you some new ideas we came across from our recent trip to NeoCon! By the way, if you missed our last post on NeoCon, here it is: NeoCon 2022.

How do you design soundproofing?

Dampening sound has been big for a long while (flat on the wall cut outs or hanging acoustic tiles), but the newest sound attenuation ideas are giving it depth, dimension, shape, and complexity in its design. Dampening sound is like using a shock absorber to dampen sound waves. The shock absorber deadens the sound and stops its amplification. Historically, acoustic panels and fabrics that hang on the wall or from the ceiling have been used. With the new designs, it’s more about dampening sound, though. It’s also about creating a beautiful and welcoming space. By the way, if you’d like to learn about how acoustic panels work, here’s a great article from Loftwall.

Can you create a welcoming space with design?

In the past, those who wanted sound dampened were stuck with just a few choices. Jump to today, where there are more choices and ways to create a welcoming space. Check out some of the designs we’ve highlighted from our recent NeoCon trip and you’ll see what we mean. They’re exciting, fun, and functional! And if you’d like to know more about how architects can use soundproofing, here’s An Architect’s Guide to Soundproofing, by Sound Cow.

What’s the best shape for soundproofing?

While many designers choose the eggcrate because of its versatility, today there are many design choices. According to this article from Hush Echo, the strip shape offers “better sound absorption properties than a smooth shape while offering a similar low-key design.” However, we think there are so many choices out there that you might be surprised at the designs you can find that check all the right boxes.

Colors and textures are braver than ever!

In the soundproofing world, Turf and Spacestor Aeonica are the superstars! We love the Aeonica system! See the five pieces you can use for an endless variety of pods! We absolutely loved seeing both Turf and Spacestor Aeonica and we think you will, too!