Five interior trends that set you up for bad acoustics
Birgitte RellingShare
Have you ever wondered why your modern home is so echoey? Are sounds from setting the table sharper than at your friends house? You could be set up for bad acoustics by one (or more) of these interior trends.
#1: THE OPEN PLAN
Open plan homes look great! They feel spacious and light spreads throughout beautifully. Unfortunately, so does sound. An open plan usually means an interconnecting kitchen, living room and dining area. Noise is defined as unwanted sound, and in an open plan… that noise is free to travel around. Trying to relax in the living room is not easy when your spouse is willfully clanging dishes and pans in the kitchen.
#2: THE GEORGEOUS HARDWOOD FLOOR
Who doesn't love beautiful hardwood flooring and spotless gypsum walls? They sure look beautiful, but what tends to be forgotten is how they will affect the sound of the space. Sound waves reflect straight off these hard materials, causing a hard and echoey atmosphere. Essentially you lose that cosy feeling of being at home, and it sounds more like a stadium!
#3: THE MINIMALIST FURNITURE
Marble kitchen countertops, wooden dining tables, bookshelves, the list goes on! Furniture with hard surfaces all contribute to unwanted sound being bounced around your home.
