Acoustic Wall Panels: A Home Improvement Guide to Mental Health and Productivity

Introduction

All of the choices we make when designing our homes and offices - from how we choose to use each room, to how we furnish them, tile them, paint them, or panel them - have a profound impact on our mental health. These decisions combine to create unique atmospheres which can really strongly evoke our emotions.

If the space is calming, then this is a good thing. But if a room feels discordant, or is noisy and ill-lit, then spending time in that room can have a long-term negative impact on our well-being.

Hence why, in a recent episode of Business Daily on BBC World Service, the acoustics of office spaces for workers returning post-pandemic was highlighted as a priority.

In this article, we’ll take a good look at acoustic slat wall panels as an affordable means of improving the acoustics in your own Irish homes and offices, DIY. But first, let’s find out what acoustic wall panels actually are.

Introducing Acoustic Wall Panels: what are they and how do they work?

Natural wood has been used in the construction of acoustically-designed spaces for centuries and centuries. Owing to the many different qualities of wood, different types used in different ways can offer different acoustic qualities.

This is why when you go to a classical music venue or theatre, you’ll find wood is used abundantly in its construction.

When soundwaves hit the acoustic panels, the waves are absorbed and dispersed by the grooves, rather than being reflected back into the room. The effects of this design are twofold:

● Overall noise in the room is reduced, as soundwaves are absorbed in the grooves.
● The quality of sound in the room is elevated, made warmer and clearer with the removal of tinny echoes.

Acoustic slatted wall panels available in Ireland may be sold in a variety of wood-effect colours, as well as more modern, industrial colourations - to suit a range of tastes.

After all, acoustic panels have to look good whilst they do their work!

5 major benefits of installing acoustic wall panels at work or at home

We’ve just touched on a couple of the core advantages enjoyed by people who install acoustic panels when redesigning a space, but let’s take a deeper dive.

Elevate the quality of sound in your space

The reason that some concert venues sound better than others is down to their internal architecture, and the way soundwaves interact with the space.

The rooms which ‘sound’ best are those which minimise the tinny, treble-heavy echoes and vibrations from noise, and elevate the deeper, richer, bassy sounds below.

In essence, acoustic wall panels create a warmer, full-bodied sound from the noises hitting and reverberating off them. Noise becomes more pleasant to listen to.

Reduce noise levels and quash tinny echoes

Acoustic panels for walls also actively reduce noise levels, dropping the decibels no matter what kind of noise is going on. By absorbing the tinny upper-edges of sound waves, the harshness of a room’s sound is eradicated, and overall volume lowered.

Enhance the aesthetic of any room

On top of their acoustic, sound-proofing qualities, our acoustic wall panels are designed to look fantastic.

Whether you opt for a classic natural look like oak-effect or walnut-effect acoustic panels, or would prefer panels in grey, charcoal or off-white, the enchanting vertical lines of these boards offer a simple, budget-friendly way to completely transform a room for the better.

Improve mood and reduce stress levels

Studies have shown conclusively that our mental health and stress levels can often be directly linked to the spaces we inhabit on a daily basis. A large part of this is to do with the levels of noise we’re subjected to.

By using acoustic slat panels to actively reduce the noise levels in any given space, you concurrently are reducing the stress levels (and thus over time improving the mental health) of the people who inhabit that space.

Increase productivity

Similarly, studies into workplace productivity have shown that productivity and sound are intimately linked. Whilst absolute silence isn’t conducive to productivity, environments which are too loud can be extremely damaging to both mental health and a worker’s ability to focus.

The sweet spot is at about 45 decibels - the volume of birdsong. At this level, people have enough background noise to stay motivated, but not so much to distract them.

Sound-proofing panels for walls can be used to reduce noise levels until you hit this perfect sweet spot - it’s all about how many of them you use, and where!

Applications of acoustic panelling

Now that we’ve explored the 5 major benefits of acoustic wall panels available on the Irish market, let’s take a look at some of the environments they’re best suited to.

Home offices

In the wake of those strange and turbulent years 2020-22, many of us have emerged into an entirely new work culture – one which takes place at home.

Working from home has become the norm for many of us, but that doesn’t mean our homes are particularly well-equipped to serve as offices.

Installing a soundproof wall of acoustic slatted panels can help to minimise distractions and create an atmosphere which is more conducive to long-term concentration.

Office buildings

Similarly, employers welcoming their employees back to office work will have noticed that “back to normal” is not a phrase that can readily be applied. Instead, employees returning to the office are finding that the old-school way of doing office work no longer suits them.

More and more employers and office architects are understanding the necessary role of mental health and acoustics for productivity in the design of their buildings.

Strategically placed acoustic wall panels can not only make office spaces quieter and more productive, but also homelier and more welcoming at the same time.

Studios

Anyone who’s ever had to record sound for a project knows the value of professional-grade soundproofing.

Tinny echoes will absolutely ruin any attempts to get a clean, rounded, robust recording – be it for content creation, audiobook narration, or music production.

To create a budget-friendly studio space with solid, trustworthy acoustics, try acoustic wall panels.

Bedrooms

Some of us are heavy sleepers; most of us are not. Excessive noise from outside or other rooms in the house can throw a spanner in the works of our attempts to get a good night’s sleep.

Thankfully, by installing acoustic slat wall panelling in your bedroom, you not only get a gorgeous revamp of your interior design, but you also minimise the chances of being disturbed by someone else’s music, cars, or conversation. Time to catch some Zzz’s!

Living rooms

I don’t know about you, but when I’m cooried up on the sofa for a Sunday movie sesh, or sitting in my armchair listening to my records, I want to get the best sound quality from my entertainment as possible. Installing a feature wall of soundproof boards behind your TV and speakers is a one-way ticket to an enhanced audio experience worth shouting about!

Kitchens

Finally, it’s worth noting that just because acoustic wall panels have phenomenal acoustic properties, that doesn’t mean they can’t be installed for the pure aesthetics.

For example, a run of acoustic slat wall panelling could really elevate your kitchen’s worktop spaces with a chic, modern Scandi infusion. Or your bathroom for that matter, or your hallway… I could go on, but you get the picture!

These panels, when installed correctly, can turn even the drabest room into your new favourite spot in the house.

How many acoustic wall panels do you need?

The number of noise-reduction wall panels you “need” depends on what you want them for. If you want to create a completely echoless music studio, for example, then you’ll want to cover most of your exposed walls with panels.

On the other hand, if you’re buying acoustic wall panels to decorate an office space, then you want to hit that 45-decibel sweet spot, which means striking a balance between noise reduction and leaving space for gentle chatter.

Similarly, you probably don’t want dead silence in your living room or home office, but instead could opt for a single feature wall of soundproof panels.

Ultimately, the number of panels you need is up to you and the space you want to cover. Measure your space first, and that will help give you an idea of how many panels you’ll need in order to cover it. Panels are sold by the m2.

Acoustic panels: an installation guide

If you’re wondering how to install acoustic wall panels, then wonder no longer! Let’s walk you through the 6 super simple steps for DIY wall panel installation [watch how to install wall panels here].

Measure and prepare your walls

First step is to measure the space you want to cover in square-metres. You’ll use this measurement in the next step to order your panels. Next, you need to prepare your walls - that means making sure they’re clean, dry, and as level as possible.

Source your materials

Hop onto the Tile Merchant website and pick your perfect acoustic wall panels. Once you’ve settled on a colour and style, order enough to cover the wall area you measured in the previous step. And remember! We offer a free cut sample service if you can’t decide, or want to try before you buy!

Cut your soundproof boards to size

Once your soundproof wall panels have arrived, you may need to cut them to size, or create appropriate gaps in the panels to accommodate things like plug sockets, TVs, speakers and the like. You can do so by cutting horizontally with a precision saw.

Fix the first acoustic panel with Bostik bond

Lay your panels against the wall in the order you’ve chosen to mount them. Fixing acoustic wall panels to the wall is dead easy – all you have to do is apply some Bostik Turbo Bond to the reverse side of the panels, in diagonal dashes about one foot apart, from top to bottom.

Then, fix the glued side of the panel to the wall, sliding it quickly and gently into place. You can use a rubber mallet to gently tap the panel into place.

Repeat with additional panels, clicking them into place

Repeat step four with each additional panel, except as you slide them into place, make sure to join the panels together using their nifty tongue-and-groove design. You can use the rubber mallet again here, and practice joining the panels before you begin glueing.

Allow the bond to set and admire your handiwork!

Finally, step back and admire your work! The Bostik Turbo Bond will take just 15 minutes to set.

Conclusion: Where To Find Acoustic Wall Panels in Ireland

Acoustic wall panels are not some passing fad. They’re a tried-and-tested means of drastically improving the quality and volume of sound in our home and office spaces – an improvement which is directly linked to better mental health and increased productivity.

On top of their versatile acoustic properties, acoustic wall panels are designed to deliver maximum aesthetic impact for minimum expenditure or DIY effort. You can transform the look and feel of any room in your home - for the better - without breaking the bank.

To continue your acoustic wall panel journey, and perhaps find a style which would perfectly suit your home office, bedroom, company office, studio or living room, browse TileMerchant’s acoustic panel range today.

Why Tile Merchant?

We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise. We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our tile stores in Dublin and Ashbourne (Co. Meath) which are open 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.

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