For years, interior design has focused primarily on what is visible such as lighting, materials, spatial layout, and overall aesthetics. However, as interior environments become more complex to design and build (like open-plan offices, multi–family housing, hybrid work and hospitality spaces) one equally critical factor has begun to receive the attention it deserves: sound.
Constant noise, lack of acoustic privacy, and excessive reverberation can turn even the best-designed interiors into uncomfortable, stressful, or inefficient environments.
In contrast, well-considered acoustics directly support well-being, concentration, communication, and the overall experience for people who occupy and use a space.
Understanding why sound matters, and how it shapes the way we perceive an environment, is the first step toward creating interiors that are truly comfortable, functional, and human-centered.
Interior Comfort Is No Longer Just Visual
For decades, interior comfort was evaluated almost exclusively through visual and physical elements like good lighting, thermal control, ergonomics, and carefully considered aesthetics. Today, a new factor has become impossible to ignore– sound. The denser and more urbanized the environment we live in, the greater the need to address acoustic comfort within interior spaces.
How a space sounds has a direct impact on how it’s experienced. Even a well-lit and thermally stable environment can feel uncomfortable if noise is constant, conversations overlap, or reverberation interferes with communication. For this reason, sound has shifted from being a secondary concern to a core component of interior comfort.
This shift has accelerated in the post-pandemic context. The rise of hybrid work, multifunctional spaces, and increased mental loads in daily life have brought greater attention to interiors that support well-being, focus, and mental clarity. Noise is no longer perceived as a temporary inconvenience; it’s now recognized as a factor that can increase stress, reduce productivity, and negatively affect the overall user experience.
In fact, prolonged exposure to poorly controlled sound environments can impact health, making acoustic comfort a serious and increasingly relevant issue in contemporary interior design.
How Sound Affects Well-Being, Focus, and Human Experience
Sound has a direct (and often invisible) impact on how people feel and perform within a space. Continuous exposure to noisy or acoustically unbalanced environments can lead to
- Stress
- Mental fatigue
- Anxiety
This is true even when noise levels don’t seem particularly high at first glance. Unlike other stimuli, sound cannot be easily ignored. Our ears remain active at all times, and our natural alert system is constantly engaged.
Persistent background noise, overlapping conversations, and reverberation force the brain to make extra effort to process information. This reduces the ability to focus and increases cognitive fatigue. Over time, these conditions can result in lower productivity, more frequent errors, and an overall negative experience of the space.
This is one of the reasons why good aesthetics alone do not guarantee a comfortable environment. A visually appealing interior can still be frustrating or uncomfortable if sound isn’t properly considered. When acoustics fail, the overall perception of a space deteriorates, regardless of the quality of materials or the attention given to visual details.
Sound is also an integral part of the user experience and the identity of a place. The soundscape (the combination of sounds that define an environment) influences mood, shapes how people interact within a space, and affects how an experience is remembered.
In offices, restaurants, hotels, and commercial environments, well-managed acoustics can reinforce a sense of calm, energy, or professionalism, while chaotic sound conditions can negatively impact brand perception.
For these reasons, sound control isn’t merely a technical consideration but a fundamental element of human-centered design. Understanding how sound affects well-being and human experience is essential for creating interiors that function not only on a visual level, but also on an emotional and sensory one.
What Acoustic Comfort Really Means in Interior Spaces
Acoustic comfort is often perceived as something subjective, but in reality, it’s not. While individuals may tolerate sound differently, there are shared principles that determine when a space feels acoustically comfortable.
Simply put, acoustic comfort is achieved when sound doesn’t interfere with the primary function of a space, whether that’s resting, working, communicating, or concentrating.
It’s important to distinguish between silence and acoustic balance. A silent space isn’t always comfortable. In fact, environments that are excessively quiet can feel unnatural or even tense, as they amplify minor sounds and heighten awareness of every noise. The goal of acoustic design isn’t to eliminate sound, but to control it and adapt it to the intended use of the space.
Concepts such as echoes, reverberations, and background noise help clarify this distinction:
- Echoes occur when sound reflections are perceived as repeated sounds
- Reverberations refer to the persistence of sound in a space after the source has stopped
- Background noise consists of continuous sounds that accompany an activity, such as mechanical systems, traffic, or distant conversations.
For this reason, quiet doesn’t necessarily mean the complete absence of sound. Comfortable spaces tend to maintain a controlled and consistent sound level, where voices are clear, sounds don’t aggressively overlap, and the environment feels stable and natural.
What Are Comfortable Sound Levels for a Peaceful Indoor Life?
Talking about acoustic comfort doesn’t necessarily mean measurable sound levels. While the experience of sound is perceptual, there are reference ranges that help define when an interior space feels comfortable and when it begins to cause discomfort or fatigue.
Sound is measured in decibels (dB), but in interior environments the dBA scale is commonly used. This measurement approximates how the human ear perceives sound intensity, giving greater importance to the frequencies we’re most sensitive to.
In other words, decibels don’t work in a linear way. A small increase in dBA can represent a significant difference in how noise is perceived. That’s why a space that seems only slightly louder can feel noticeably less comfortable, especially when exposure is constant.
Recommended Interior Noise Levels for Comfort
Below are commonly accepted dBA reference ranges associated with comfortable interior environments, depending on how a space is used:
Space Type: | Comfortable Range (dBA): | Typical Sound Reference: |
Bedroom (Rest/Sleep): | 25–30 dBA | Whispering, rustling leaves |
Living Room/Study: | 35–40 dBA | Quiet office, low appliance hum |
Office/Library: | 40–45 dBA | Soft conversation, computers |
Kitchen/Active Areas: | 45–55 dBA | Dishwasher, background music |
These values don’t represent absolute silence, but rather, an appropriate acoustic balance for each activity. As a space becomes more active, the acceptable sound range naturally increases.
When Noise Becomes Uncomfortable to Live With
In interior spaces, the issue is rarely a single sound or an occasional noise peak. What truly affects comfort is sustained exposure to elevated sound levels. In general terms, when noise remains above approximately 60 dBA, many people begin to experience annoyance, mental fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
It’s also important to distinguish between constant noise and intermittent sounds or sudden peaks. A stable, moderate sound can be more tolerable than unpredictable, abrupt noises, even if those peaks last only a few seconds. At night, tolerance thresholds are even lower, as the body is in a resting state and becomes more sensitive to any auditory stimulus.
Understanding these levels helps explain why some spaces feel exhausting or stressful, even when they meet other comfort criteria. Sound control isn’t just about lowering volume. It’s about keeping sound within ranges appropriate to the activity and time of day.
Why Interior Design Decisions Shape Acoustic Comfort
Acoustic comfort doesn’t depend on a single element, but the combination of decisions when designing an interior space. Materials, layout, ceiling heights, and noise sources all interact with one another and determine how sound behaves within an environment.
That’s why many attempts to reduce noise fall short. Thick walls alone, for example, offer little benefit if an aging window allows sound to pass through freely. Acoustic comfort requires a holistic approach, not isolated fixes.
Materials: Sound Absorption, Reflection, and Transmission
Materials play a fundamental role in how sound is absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. Hard, smooth surfaces, such as glass, concrete, or rigid flooring, tend to reflect sound, while softer, more porous materials (like textiles, carpets, or acoustic panels) help absorb sound and reduce reverberation.
A balanced design doesn’t aim to eliminate reflective materials altogether, but to combine them strategically to achieve acoustic performance that aligns with how the space is used. The key lies in understanding how each material contributes to the overall soundscape.
Spatial Layout and Zoning
The way a space is laid out has a direct impact on its acoustic performance. Separating noisy areas from zones that require concentration or rest helps create natural sound buffers. In open-plan offices, multi–family housing, or mixed-use environments, acoustic zoning reduces interference without relying on invasive solutions.
Furniture placement, foot traffic, and the relationship between open and enclosed areas also influence how sound travels and how it’s perceived.
Controlling Noise Sources
Beyond materials and layout, it’s essential to consider noise sources from the beginning of a project. Mechanical systems, equipment, appliances, and exterior noise can significantly raise sound levels if they’re not properly managed.
Effective sound control starts with identifying these sources and making informed decisions about their placement, isolation, and sound output. A thoughtful acoustic strategy not only mitigates existing noise but also prevents future issues through conscious design.
Taken together, these decisions determine whether a space feels balanced or exhausting. When acoustics are integrated into the design process, the result is interiors that are more comfortable, functional, and aligned with how people actually use them.
Quick Tips to Reduce Noise in Interior Spaces
Improving acoustic comfort doesn’t always require a large investment. The basic principles below help reduce noise and create interior environments that feel more comfortable and balanced:
- Incorporate sound-absorbing materials: Carpets, heavy curtains, upholstered furniture, and acoustic panels reduce reverberation and prevent sound from reflecting off hard surfaces.
- Seal noise entry points: Doors, older windows, joints, and small gaps are often the main pathways for exterior noise. Addressing these areas can have an immediate impact.
- Use sound control glass when noise comes from outside: Laminated glass with acoustic interlayers helps reduce sound transmission without sacrificing natural light or design, particularly in façades and interior partitions.
- Organize the space strategically: Place active zones away from areas intended for rest or concentration to create natural acoustic buffers within the layout.
- Control noise sources at the origin: Choose equipment and mechanical systems with low sound emissions and plan their placement from the early design stages.
Acoustic comfort can no longer be treated as a secondary consideration or a luxury reserved for specialized projects. Today, it’s a fundamental component of interior design, on the same level as lighting, temperature control, and spatial layout.
Understanding how sound affects well-being, how it’s measured, and controlled makes it possible to create interiors that are healthier, more efficient, and more humane. Designing comfortable spaces inevitably means designing their soundscape and integrating acoustics from the earliest stages of the project.
Specialized manufacturers such as PRL Glass & Aluminum offer a range of laminated glass solutions designed to meet different architectural requirements, including sound control glass. These materials make it possible to integrate acoustic performance into the overall design of a space without compromising natural light or aesthetic intent.
