20 Proven Acoustic Fixes On How To Reduce Noise In Open Offices?

To reduce noise in open offices, use a combination of solutions, including physical barriers, sound-absorbing materials, and a shift in behaviour. Tools such as office acoustic panels, noise-cancelling headphones, ceiling treatments, Acoustic furniture, soundproof curtains, wall and desk partitioners, Acoustic office pods, plants, and sound masking systems can help lessen noise or boost focus in a noisy environment. Additionally, smart offices include training staff to maintain a quiet work environment, limiting mobile device usage, or utilising digital tools.

A noisy workplace lowers productivity and increases stress; 63% of employees who quit say their work is poorly managed. According to the British Journal of Psychology, office background noise can impair memory and lessen cognitive performance up to 67%.

If your workers are in a noisy office, there are several practical ways to reduce the noise and create a peaceful workspace. Adopting these 20 proven ways to reduce open office noise.

Let’s get to it!

No#1: Install Acoustic Ceiling Panels To Absorb Echo In Open Offices:

Acoustic ceiling panels are one of the best office soundproofing techniques, creating a quieter, echo-controlled, and focused environment.

Ceiling boards and acoustic fabric wall panels provide durability, enhance workspace privacy, and improve comfort and productivity.

According to Global Market Insights, the office acoustic panels market size is expected to surpass $13.1 billion in 2024 and grow from 2025 to 2034 at a CAGR of 7.2%.

Additionally, the right acoustic ceiling solutions and panels absorb sound, provide better entertainment, relieve stress, and increase the security of kids, roommates, guests, and other employees, so you won’t hear your conversation.

• Acoustic ceiling panels UK range between £20-300£+

No#2: Noise-Cancelling Headphones To Open Plan Office Noise:

Noise-cancelling headphones are feasible and the easiest way to reduce open-plan office noise.

Noise-cancelling headphones feature a technology that blocks external sounds in real time through snug fits and padded ear cups, comfort and lightweight designs, long battery life(20-40 hours), and Bluetooth connectivity.

Use high-quality headphones in open office spaces from top brands that can block nearly 100% of noise with microphones and special processing to make sound waves head to the eardrum.

They are best for shared desks, hot desking zones, call centre teams, developers, writers, or focused roles.

• Noise-cancelling headphones are priced according to quality, usually £50 – £1000.

No#3: Rearrange Open Office Layout:

Rearrange the office layout to increase productivity, lower open workspace noise and separate quiet zones from high-traffic areas by observing open space needs, company culture, and design that best suits you.

Without proper management of office layout, open-plan office noise reduction becomes an issue that hinders productivity or frustrates employees. So

• First, identify noise zones and problems like external conversation, equipment noise, and external sounds.
• Use office acoustic panels, soundproof systems, modular walls, and demountable walls for future changes or to absorb sounds and add decor without sacrificing style.
• Invest in modular walls that add flexibility.
• Improved team member satisfaction
• More privacy with acoustic products

No#4: Design Quiet Areas & Soundproof Furniture:

Design quiet areas with soundproof furniture as they are best for the open workplace, lessen distractions, and enhance focus. Empty rooms made for work, within office layouts, are not too noise-absorbent; instead, quiet rooms are good because the furniture maker designed glass-encased, 100% soundproof office cubes.

Acoustic furniture, such as cushions, curtains, or fabric chairs, has designs where items have wearable features to absorb and disrupt sound waves.

No#5: Soundproofing Floor For Open Offices:

Acoustic soundproofing floors are a suitable technique for workplace productivity. Carpet, mats, or cork flooring work well in team member sessions or meeting rooms.

Use exceptional acoustic floor soundproofing from rubber, vinyl, or wood mixes.

Always reduce open-plan offices’ noise with carpets, vinyl or rubber flooring,  quality, safety, cleaning, and durability.

• Soundproof floors prices typically range £300-£600.

No#6: Using Desk Dividers, Rugs, Or Carpets:

Acoustic Desk dividers are included in innovative designs to reduce distractions in an open-plan office. They act as barriers that absorb sounds, reduce distractions, and are key to finding the right balance.

Select an acoustic desk divider material made from:

• Hard Plast dividers
• Glass or acrylic dividers
• Dark acoustic screen dividers
• Fabric-covered dividers

Don’t implement too many acoustic partitions, which can make the space feel more closed and less friendly—Utilise rugs or carpets made from wool, viscose, tightly woven, or higher-density polyester.

Standard Acoustic desk dividers size for open offices are :

• 400 mm, 500mm, 600mm
• 1200 mm, 1800mm, 1600mm
• “Acoustic desk dividers in the UK are typically priced £29-49£”.

No#7: Acoustic Wall Panels In Open Workspace Setting:

Acoustic wall panels are easy to install, offer thermal and acoustic open workspace advantages with many designs, colours, textures, and are easy to maintain. Wall panels are soundproof with intense and long-lasting effects, characterised by their extreme strength and durability. They have the best soundproofing features that reduce noise and add a customised look to your area.

Wall Panelling is best for open workspace settings due to its features:

• Decoration
• Soundproofing
• Thermal Insulation
• Waterproofing
• Weight bearing
• Cladding

Common types of structural wall panelling are: Wood panels, Plaster panels, Plastic panels, Metal panels, UPC Panels, and Composite Panels.

No#8: Invest In Soundproof Doors And Windows:

Another smart or long-term way to make your office peaceful is to utilise soundproof doors and windows that absorb sound with soundproof glass, giving the space a modern building style.

STC values for soundproof doors and windows in open offices are.

• Single pane windows = STC 27
• Dual Pane Windows = STC 27
• Advanced soundproof windows = STC 45-55

Use soundproof doors and windows, double-glazed windows, and door swipes inside and between office corridors or sections to separate echo. Keep your meetings private and call quietly.

• “Soundproof doors and windows in the UK typically cost £300-£1500”.

No#9: Apply Soundproof Paints, Ceiling Clouds, or Insulation layers:

Applying soundproof paint, ceiling clouds, and insulation layers that reduce the noise and make your open workspace environment cosy. Soundproof paint is a special material that absorbs sound, rolling it on works better than a spring because it creates a thick layer that absorbs sound.

It is excellent for your office walls, comfort, and best feelings in meeting rooms and private spaces.

No#10: Advanced Acoustic Solutions To Reduce Noise In Open Office Settings:

Advanced acoustic solutions lessen office echo and add design to build a soundproof area where employees can work without external interruptions. Advanced acoustic solutions include ceiling panels, acoustic pods, sound masking systems, floor-standing acoustic screens, and acoustic fibres. This is the modern house where people need to quit their workspace for the well-being and productivity of users.

No# 11: Use Door And Window Seals:

Doors and window seals help to lessen noise and create an extra barrier to stop sound. Improve soundproof techniques to maximise gaps with seals around doors.

Combining seals with other materials boosts overall quietness in the office. These seals are easy to apply around the doors and window frames. For the best installation of door and window seals, give long-lasting noise reduction.

NO#12: Combined Acoustic Solutions In Open Workplace Settings:

Combine acoustic solutions with an acoustic strategy layered with the SoundPro system to control noise.

No single solution fixes everything, but you have to install the best or a combination of materials for the best noise reduction in the workspace or your office, so that you can work in a quiet environment with comfort.

The best acoustic solutions for open-plan office strategies are:

• Sound absorbing panels
• https://acousticpanels.co.uk/product-category/acoustic-lighting/
• Best office layout
• Quiet zones
• Dividers
• Noise policies
• Message forwarding tools

No#13: Cultural & Behavioural Way To Reduce Open Office Noise:

The cultural and behavioural environment impacts the office environment. It offers shared values, communication styles, training staff to work environment, mobile usage limit, and encouraging messaging tools to lessen open-plan office noise. Encourage employees to respect others in open office settings, train them to speak slowly and softly, use meeting rooms, and respect shared space.

No#14:Put Quite Pods And Small Booths:

Quiet pods and small booths in open offices are also a great option to lessen noise. Quiet pods are small rooms that block noise and provide quieter workspace settings. Workers can use them to take calls, have meetings, or do focused work.

No#15:Implement Soundproof Acoustic Blankets:

Add soundproof acoustic blankets to different locations in open workspace settings to lessen the echo. They can be hung over the wall and draped over windows to create a buffer between employees and noise.

No#16: Train Your Staff To A Quiet Work Environment:

Train your staff to create a quiet work environment, such as a noisy policy, workplace acoustics behaviour, so your work can be completed quickly and accurately. Reduce office noise by removing some habits.

Encourage your colleagues to:

• No loud phone calls at the desk
• Always silence your phone notifications
• Dont argue with your coworkers
• If you want to discuss a topic, then discuss it in the meeting rooms
• Don’t speak loudly or impolitely
• Implement signs at the suitable places
• Attach the étiquettes guides to reduce the office noise.

No#17: Limit the Mobile Usage To Reduce Open Office Noise:

Limiting the usage of mobile phones in office places is one of the good things to encourage employees or coworkers to work with focus by removing distracting factors. It leads to disenchantment among colleagues, affects communication, cybersecurity threats, and teamwork badly.

No#18: Utilise White Noise Or Masking Sounds Machines:

White noise machines play soft background noise to block large sounds. These help team members focus on their work better, making talking less distracting. This is an excellent option for a busy, open workspace setting.

No#19: White Lightning & Humorous Signs:

Acoustic lighting rafts lessen the noise in open office settings and absorb sounds to make the office quieter and comfortable. Attach clear, humorous signs at suitable places to show the accepted noise level and to respect others in the workspace.

No#20: Encourage Messaging Tools To Lessen Open-Plan Office Noise:

Encourage using messaging tools for digital communication instead of shouting in the office workspace.

Promote the messaging tools in the open plan office, like:

• Microsoft Teams– Best all-in-one business communication software
• Slack- Suitable for a communication workspace
• Zoom- Best video-based software communication tools
• Asana- Best communication tool for project management
• Trello- Best communication tool
• Proof Hub- Best centralised communication platform to cut down on apps
• Google Chat -Best for seamless communication in Google Workspace
• Yammer- Best for social style internal communication style
• Discord- Best for voice-first term tool

FAQ:

What Is A Healthy Noise Level In An Office Environment?

A healthy noise level in an office environment is:

• 40-50 dB for focused work.
• 55dB for typical conservation
• Over 65dB is disruptive

It is vital to manage and reduce distractions in an open-plan office.

Which Areas Of An Open Office Are Noisiest?

Common noise areas in the office are:

• Entrance and Exit
• Break Rooms
• Shared Workstations
• Meeting Rooms without walls
• Printers or Copy places
• Hallways and Walkaways

Tips For Reducing Noise In An Open Office Plan?

Use acoustic panels, ceiling treatment, carpets, and plants to absorb sound. Strategically arrange acoustic furniture to lessen open-plan workspace settings to improve focus and team member wellbeing.

How Do Indoor Office Plants Help Reduce Distractions In An Open-Plan Office?

Plants, such as ferns, Rubber plants, Baby tears, Norfolk Island pine, Palms, and money trees, absorb sound through their leaves.

Conclusion:

Creating a soundproof or noise-free open office is best to boost productivity by understanding the needs of the workspace and by correctly implementing the best office soundproofing techniques. Adopt proven ways to reduce distractions in an open-plan office by noise absorbing headphones, soundproof furniture, carpets, rugs, white lightning, soundproof paints/floor, ceiling and wall panels, desk dividers. Train your team to limit mobile usage and speak slowly.

Pick 4-5 easy fixes today and see the magic. Ready to create a powerful workspace. Explore acoustic panels UK now and build a quieter and productive open workspace.