Acoustic Solutions for Open Offices: Reducing Noise and Improving Focus

Open office designs have become increasingly popular for the modern workplace. These designs allow deeper collaboration with colleagues, flexibility, and give the office a more streamlined flow. However, with all the pros, this type of office design presents challenges, especially with noise control. Whether it is a conversation between two team members, phone calls, or other general foot traffic, noise can carry in these environments and be a distraction to you and your team. This can negatively impact productivity, concentration, and creativity. Despite these challenges, there are a few solutions and ideas you can implement to reduce noise in your office space. 

Install Acoustic Panels

One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce noise in your open office is to install acoustic panels. These panels absorb sound to prevent noise from bouncing around a large room or office space. Acoustic panels come in all shapes, sizes, and their appearance can even be customized to your brand colors or aesthetic, ensuring that they will seamlessly integrate within your office space. The panels are typically installed on walls or ceilings, creating a nice focal point for any office space.

Cost can be a crucial factor when considering acoustic panels. Custom panels made from premium materials will be more expensive, and do not forget to factor in labor and installation costs. For those on a budget, materials such as foam or fabric are less expensive but are just as effective in noise reduction, or you can opt for a free-standing partition or a sound-dampening screen.  

Don’t Overlook Your Office Layout And Furniture 

Having a strategic layout for your open office can play a key role in reducing noise levels. While acoustic panels go a long way in minimizing foot traffic and conversation noise, planning the layout of your office can lead to more focus and productivity with your team. Consider adding soft surfaces such as rugs and carpet to insulate and absorb extra noise. Adding soft furniture such as upholstered chairs, couches, and footstools reduces the amount of sound that bounces around the room.

Additionally, reconfiguring where specific workspaces are within the office is an easy change that greatly helps with acoustics. Ensure that workstations or desks are situated away from high-traffic and noisy areas such as conference rooms, kitchens, or entrances and exits. Also, providing acoustic furniture such as soundproof workstations or pods gives your employees a quiet space to work privately and focus. 

Consider New Technology To Control Noise

While adding acoustic panels and incorporating new furniture into your open office space helps manage sound, technology has come a long way in also providing a solution to noise. Using a white noise machine can help block out distracting noise and conversations and helps employees focus better on their tasks. This type of technology can be installed into an existing HVAC system or placed around the office in discrete locations.

Another technology to consider is a smart acoustic system. This type of system monitors noise levels and can adjust the acoustic environment based on the current work environment or number of people present. This system is great for ensuring that quiet zones remain quiet and areas for collaborative work remain open for free-flowing conversation between employees.

Don’t Let Aesthetics Get In The Way

It is common to think that acoustic panels and other noise-reduction solutions take away from the overall look and feel of an open office space. However, this does not have to be the case! Acoustic panels have come a long way from drab and gray wall installations and instead can be customized to match the aesthetics of your office. Custom wall panels, sleek dividers, and nearly invisible sound machines are three of many ways to improve the acoustics of your office without sacrificing the overall look.

A great example of a sleek and functional acoustic panel design was seen at the CREW Tampa Bay’s annual Summer Social, hosted in July 2024 at the Interior Fusion showroom. Red and grey acoustic panels were installed on the walls around the perimeter of the room which blended in seamlessly with the event space and theme. Over 200 guests attended the event, and these acoustic panels helped reduce noise and allowed attendees to enjoy conversations, hear announcements, and listen to music. This is just one example of how acoustic solutions can be practical and stylish.

Open office plans are an excellent way to encourage conversation and collaboration, but noise can sometimes be a factor. Adding acoustic solutions such as panels, white noise machines, or soft furniture helps to create a balanced work environment that reduces noise while still allowing an open and modern office design. These solutions enhance the overall work experience, increase concentration among employees, and spark creativity, leading to a happier workplace. 

Working with a team of designers like the team at Interior Fusion can ensure that these acoustic solutions function well but also look good while doing so. Get in contact with us today to discuss your options with a member of our team!