In multi-story buildings, acoustic underlayment is added beneath hard floors to absorb noise transfer from lower levels. If the flooring is already in place and neither of these solutions are practical, strategically placing area rugs and rubber mats can add some noise-absorbing mass to the flooring surface.
Acoustic furniture
Cushioned, upholstered furniture does a better job of absorbing sound than more sound-reflective metals and plastics. However, traditional cushioned furniture does not always perform well outside of lobbies or waiting rooms, with more rigid desks and chairs preferred by many professionals for maintaining proper work posture.
Some companies have taken this into consideration to blend both these functions and produce sound-absorbing furniture fit for the office. With cutting-edge engineering that makes use of fabrics, angles, and built-in barriers, this type of innovative furniture works wonders for enhancing localized productivity in larger commercial spaces.
Acoustic paint
Although it is not the most impactful means of soundproofing a commercial building, acoustic paint is another way to help achieve some level of sound mitigation. As its name applies, paint is rolled or sprayed onto interior surfaces to help deaden some of the sound in noisy facilities.
Due to its relatively minor mass, acoustic paint is not as effective at soundproofing as the other materials listed. However, it does have the benefit of being fast and affordable. It can also have some utility in older structures which have many cracks and crevices in the walls and window framing. Spray-on acoustic paint can effectively penetrate these areas and provide some sound defense.
