How to Quiet a Noisy Home Office Without Spending Much

Published: March 04, 2026

Most home office advice ignores noise — but if you're on calls or trying to focus, it's critical. Here's how to reduce sound without a renovation: 1) Use a draft stopper at the bottom of doors — blocks sound leaks cheaply. 2) Hang thick moving blankets temporarily on walls; they're cheaper than acoustic panels and work well. 3) Place bookshelves filled with books against shared walls — they diffuse sound naturally. 4) Use a white noise app (like A Soft Murmur) on an old phone or tablet — point it toward common areas. 5) Add felt pads under chair legs to stop floor scraping. These aren't perfect, but they're practical fixes that actually help in real homes. Bonus: they're renter-friendly.