Noise levels in an office can make it uncomfortable for employees, and you will struggle to increase their productivity if they are not comfortable in their workspace. However, there are things you can do to your office space to help you reduce noise levels and make your employees more relaxed and happier in their workplace. You can see some options below that can help you achieve this, and some options are not too expensive or challenging to do.
Insulate Your Walls
You need to add sound insulation to your walls, and an easy way to do this is to take the plaster off the walls and use sound block plasterboard. It is a relatively simple job, and the plasterboard is ready to finish once installed, so it is much quicker than regular plaster. When you finish the walls, instead of painting them, use textured wallpaper, which can also help absorb sound and reduce the noise level further in your office.
Break Up Large Open Spaces
If you have large and open spaces in your office, you need to use office partitioning to divide the areas and help reduce noise levels. There are various types of partitions you can use to help you do this, including:
- Demountable Partitions
- Sliding Partitions
- Drywall Partitions
- Switchable Glass Partitions
- Double-Glazed Partitions
You can choose from many options, but using glass partitions also helps maximise natural light in your office, making it more comfortable. Whatever type you use, the office partitions can help reduce noise levels and echo in a large office, making it easier to manage them.
Invest In Carpet
Although you may want a hard flooring material as they are easy to maintain and clean, they will also increase noise levels in your office. Instead, it is better to have a softer material for your office floors and invest in a high-quality carpet for your workplace. A carpeted floor can help absorb sound, reduce echo, and make your office space much more comfortable for your employees. A carpeted floor will require more maintenance and regular cleaning than a hard flooring surface, but investing in a hard-wearing one can last for many years, making it a good investment.
Insulate Your Ceiling
You will also need to consider adding insulation to your ceiling to help you control the noise levels. If your office has a suspended ceiling, you can use acoustic ceiling tiles to help absorb and reflect sound and ensure your workplace does not get too noisy. You can also use acoustic ceiling pods designed to break up sound waves in busy environments, and they can look like abstract ceiling art and are highly pleasant.
Bring Plants Into The Office
Plants are another addition to your office you can consider, which will also help absorb sound waves and reduce noise in your workplace. They also look fantastic and have been shown to increase worker happiness and productivity. Have lots of flowers and plants throughout your office, and encourage workers to have them on their desks, and it will help control noise and ensure your office space looks fantastic.