Sound – or noise – in your office is important. Getting the right levels can make the difference between a happy, productive workforce and one that’s stressed and struggling to concentrate.
But office acoustics are often neglected in favour of more obvious, visual elements.
When we plan an office fit out, acoustic design is an integral part of it. We use modern design techniques and materials to make sure your workspace sounds as good as it looks.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why acoustics in office design are so important – and how you can make sure your office is acoustically good.
Understanding office acoustics
Before looking at the ways you can enhance your office acoustics, it’s important to know exactly what office acoustics means.
Office acoustics is the way sound moves through your office.
Imagine walking into a busy, open-plan office. You’ll be greeted by the clicking of mice and keyboards, the chatter of colleagues and the stilted conversations of people on video calls. That’s an awful lot of distraction if you’re trying to concentrate on your work.
And a standard office design can make the problem even worse. Hard, shiny materials reflect sound back into the environment, adding to the overall hum. And offices are often full of hard, shiny things like desks and walls.
But you can’t just ask people to keep quiet, and desks are integral to a workspace. So what can you do to improve your office acoustics?
The key elements of office acoustic design
There are a few ways you can make your office acoustics work better for your workforce, and the good news is they don’t all require a full fit out or redesign. Though if you’re having either of those things done, acoustics should be near the top of your list of considerations.
Here are a few things to consider if noise is causing a problem in your workspace.
Arrange your teams
Different employees work in different ways – so, different teams will produce different levels of noise. For example, your accounts team might like to get their heads down and concentrate, while your creative marketing team might need to chat all day, bouncing ideas off one another.
Neither way of working is wrong, but they’re not exactly complementary. So, locate them at opposite ends of your space, and make use of any office layout quirks – like corner spaces or annexes – to give people the volume levels they need.
Sound blocking
The problem with an open-plan office is that there’s nothing to stop sound from travelling. Using sound barriers can make a huge difference to noise levels. And it doesn’t have to be big heavy walls – lightweight, freestanding dividers can be enough to bring noise down to an acceptable level.
Sound absorbing materials
Like we said above, hard surfaces reflect sound, making for a noisy environment. Something as simple as switching from wooden flooring to carpet can work wonders for the background hum in your workspace. And there are plenty of more specialised options too, if you need them.
Covering the sound
There’s been significant research done into the effect of noise on productivity, and in general, it’s believed that silence can be just as bad as too much noise. The problem comes when background noise is too loud, or there are too many jarring noises (like doors slamming, or Jan from accounts slurping her tea). Using background noise – like a white noise generator – to mask sounds can help create a more relaxing workspace.
Acoustic solutions for modern offices
If you’re investing in an office redesign or fit out, or you just want to improve the acoustics of your current workspace, there are several products you can invest in to help control sound. You’ll need to make sure they’re installed correctly and in the appropriate locations, but investing in the acoustics of your office can have huge benefits.
Acoustic panels
Acoustic panels are one of the most popular solutions for controlling noise. They’re made from sound-absorbing materials and can be mounted on walls or ceilings. They come in various designs and colours, making them a versatile option for both functionality and aesthetics. You can integrate them into your new office fit out, or retrofit them to your current space.
Acoustic screens
Acoustic screens are used to create partitions between workspaces, to block and absorb sound. They’re ideal for open-plan offices, providing a degree of privacy while maintaining an open, collaborative environment. Again, there’s no reason you can’t add them to your current workspace, to help separate teams and control noise levels.
Acoustic pods and booths
Acoustic pods and booths offer isolated spaces within the office for private meetings, calls, or focused work. They block sound in both directions, so an employee can take a Zoom call in peace in one – and their colleagues won’t have to listen to half of a conversation.
Sound absorbing materials
Building sound-absorbing materials into your office furniture and decor can significantly improve acoustics. Thick carpets and upholstered furniture can reduce noise levels. But, there are plenty of other options too. Sound-absorbing ceiling tiles will stop noise from reflecting back into the workspace, and you can even get sound-absorbing panels that line the underneath of your desks, where they’re barely even noticeable.
The benefits of acoustic office design
We’ve talked about how you can improve the acoustics in your office – but why would you want to? Why is it important?
Here are a few ways having an acoustically optimised workspace can improve your business.
Enhanced productivity
You don’t need a silent workspace for employees to work their best. Some background noise can actually help concentration (which is probably why you so often see freelancers working on their laptops in coffee shops). But by removing or minimising distracting noises you aid your employees’ concentration.
Research shows that it can take as much as 23 minutes to fully regain concentration after a distraction, and with distractions happening as often as every 11 minutes that’s a lot of potential time lost.
Improved employee well-being
High noise levels can contribute to employee stress. Getting your office acoustics under control can help reduce stress levels and create a more comfortable working environment, which in turn contributes to your employees’ well-being.
Better communication and collaboration
Communication is vital to a successful business. And shouting across a noisy office or plugging noise-cancelling headphones in to block out the noise doesn’t help communication.
Effective, well-positioned acoustic design makes communication easy, whether it’s by minimising background noise or providing quiet spaces for employees to focus and take calls. A good design will also take into consideration that some collaborative spaces need to be louder.
Conclusion
Investing in office acoustics is not just about reducing noise; it’s about creating a workspace that supports productivity, well-being, and effective communication. By understanding the principles of acoustic design and implementing the right solutions, you can transform your office into a more pleasant and efficient environment. Whether it’s through acoustic panels, screens, pods, or other treatments, the benefits of improved office acoustics are clear and impactful.