How to improve workplace acoustics
Conversations, phone calls and meetings are part of everyday working life. But when sound lingers in a room or spreads across shared areas, it can become difficult to concentrate or follow a conversation.
Improving workplace acoustics starts with understanding how your spaces are used. From acoustic wall panels to suspended rafts and multifunctional furniture, there are several ways to introduce sound absorption while keeping design and everyday function in mind.
Start with the activities in each space
Different activities place different demands on a room. A meeting room needs to support clear conversation, while an open-plan office accommodates both collaboration and focused work. In a canteen, many people may be talking at the same time.
Before choosing products, consider:
- Where do people need to concentrate?
- Where do conversations and online meetings take place?
- Which spaces feel noisy when several people use them?
- Is speech difficult to understand?
- Does sound seem to linger after someone speaks?
These observations can help identify where improvements are needed. They can also reveal whether the layout brings together activities that would benefit from separate spaces.
Understand the difference between sound absorption and sound insulation
Sound absorption and sound insulation address different challenges.
Sound absorption reduces sound reflections within a room. Acoustic wall panels, rafts and other sound-absorbing elements can help reduce reverberation – the sound that remains as it reflects between surfaces.
Sound insulation concerns sound travelling between spaces. If conversations can be heard through a meeting room wall or door, the solution may involve the room’s construction, seals or other building elements.
Acoustic panels do not, on their own, soundproof a room. Identifying the type of problem helps you choose an appropriate approach.
Look at the surfaces around you
Glass, concrete and other hard surfaces reflect sound. In a room with limited sound absorption, repeated reflections can make conversations feel less clear and the space more reverberant.
Look around your workplace. Are there large exposed walls, glass partitions or areas with few soft furnishings? These observations provide useful context when considering where to add sound absorption.
Furniture, floor finishes and existing acoustic treatment also matter. The room should be considered as a whole rather than as a collection of individual products.
Explore different ways to add sound absorption
The available space, installation options and everyday activities can help guide your choice.
Acoustic wall panels
Wall panels introduce sound absorption on available wall surfaces. They can complement the interior or become a visual feature through colours, finishes and digital print.
Our DAMPA® Silent Board panels also provide practical functions, such as magnetic surfaces for notes and ideas. This can make them useful in meeting rooms and collaborative areas.
Suspended acoustic rafts
Acoustic rafts are individual sound-absorbing elements suspended from above. They offer an option where wall space is limited or where an overhead element suits the interior.
A raft can become part of the design above a meeting table or selected work area. Placement needs to account for suspension points, lighting, ventilation and other installations.
Discover our DAMPA® Silent Cloud here.
Multifunctional acoustic furniture
Multifunctional acoustic furniture combines sound absorption with practical uses, such as displaying notes or supporting collaborative work.
It offers another way to integrate acoustics into the activities of a room, alongside wall panels or suspended rafts.
Discover our DAMPA® Space as a multifunctional acoustic furniture.
Consider placement and quantity
Choosing a product is one part of the process. The amount and distribution of sound absorption also influence the result.
There is no single panel quantity that suits every office. Room dimensions, ceiling height, surface materials, existing furnishings and intended use all affect what is needed.
Avoid assuming that one panel will resolve every challenge, or that placing all absorption in one location will suit every room. Larger spaces, complex layouts or specific performance requirements may benefit from an acoustic assessment.
Make acoustics part of your design
Acoustic improvements can be planned alongside the visual identity of your workplace.
Choose colours that complement existing furniture, create contrast with surrounding materials or connect different areas. Digital print can introduce imagery or graphics, while a composition of wall panels can add rhythm to a large surface.
Consider practical needs too. A panel that provides space for notes, or acoustic furniture used during workshops, can combine sound absorption with an everyday purpose.
The aim is to find solutions that suit both the room’s acoustic needs and the way it looks and functions.
Review the space after installation
Once the solutions are installed, revisit the activities that originally caused difficulties. Are conversations easier to follow? Does the room feel less reverberant? What do the people using it notice?
User feedback can help you understand the everyday experience. Where a project has defined acoustic targets, measurements are needed to check whether those targets have been achieved.
Let us help you find the right solution
In our webshop you can explore acoustic wall panels, suspended acoustic rafts and multifunctional acoustic furniture.
Discover colours, finishes and design options, and see if you can find a match for your interior.
If you need any help, you are more than welcome to contact us to discuss relevant products for your space.
