It’s always seemed amazing those people who can close their eyes and fall asleep literally anywhere –on a busy bus, next to train tracks, or with a party going on next door. Others are not so lucky – even the ticking of a quiet clock is too much sound! Or worse yet, a snoring partner or noisy neighbours. Many people have to really control their noise environment in order to fall asleep quickly and to stay asleep throughout the night.

If you are sensitive to noise, you might be searching for advice on how to soundproof your nightly sleeps, and you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been thinking about this for a long time and have researched the best ways to block out sound so that you can sleep, well, soundly.

Earplugs

Many people scoff at the idea of earplugs – that they are too uncomfortable, that they don’t stay in, or that it’s too disorienting to block out ALL the sound in a room. 

But earplugs have come a long way over the years, and they come in a wide range of options to choose from. In a pinch you can buy a bin of squishy foam earplugs, or if you are wanting to invest more you can get them custom made so that they fit your specific ears exactly. An in between option is to get earplugs that are made of wax so that they form to your ear, but are still an affordable option.

Earplugs do a great job of blocking out all the sound that would otherwise reach you and prevent or disrupt your sleep. They are a great option for those that need pure deadened sound to relax the mind to achieve a state of tiredness that will result in sleep.

Noise machine

For some, it’s the type of noise that keeps them awake at night. For whatever reason, sometimes our brains fixate on something like snoring or our neighbour’s video game sounds, while other sound like ambient noise is actually soothing.

If this sounds like you, a noise machine might be just the audio solution you need to be able to fall asleep at night. You don’t have to spend a pile of money, either – a rotating fan or even a portable speaker that plays whatever white noise static that you prefer can easily do the trick. Just like with earplugs, the options range from very affordable to super high tech.

Soundproofing

Noise has a way of sneaking in, and of getting louder as we lie down and try to calm the central nervous system for sleep. In order to give yourself the best chance of combatting noise, it’s a good idea to go around the room and see where you can prevent sound from sneaking in. For example, you can roll up a towel and stuff it along the bottom crack against the floor, add blackout curtains to your windows to deaden sound that way, and even have a conversation with your neighbours about agreeing to a sound curfew, or asking them to have a carpet down if they walk above your bed.

If it’s an option, installing new windows can make a huge difference to the amount of noise reaching your while you try to sleep. Single pane windows do little to block out any sound. You can also consider adding fabric panels to a shared wall, or even a bookcase or something that will absorb the travelling noise can really help if the noise is keeping you awake at night.

You might have to try a few things until you find what works for you. But we know from experience that investing in your sleep is one of the best investments you can make. This also includes creating good sleep habits, sleeping on a comfortable, high-quality mattress, and finding ways to sleep deeply each and every night. 

If noise is keeping you from having a good, restful sleep, then it’s worth exploring how to fix the problem. And if you are searching for a new mattress or more sleep tips, we’d love to welcome you at our mattress store in White Rock and guide you toward many sleep-filled nights ahead.