Homes and businesses rely not only on decorations but also on functional comfort to make their space an enjoyable experience. From the air temperature to the draftiness and even the smell, a room can be off-putting or welcoming based on many factors beyond what a person can see.
One element most people don’t consider when curating a room’s décor is sound. Does the space produce echoes or high baseline noise that makes people uncomfortable? Acoustic wall art can help.
Acoustic wall art comes in many forms, the most common of which is a fabric-wrapped canvas that is customizable to display artwork, patterns, designs, and even photorealistic images as if it were a decorative portrait.
However, these pieces of art function in a second — and even more useful — manner. They can dampen noise in a room to make it more comfortable.
Here are some strategies and considerations for leveraging acoustic wall art effectively.
Acoustics: Absorption, Reflection, and Diffusion
Before you can decide where to place acoustic art, how many panels to buy, and more, you’ll need to understand the basics of sound structuring in a room. There are three primary ways that the environment interacts with sound waves.
Absorption
Some materials are soft, porous, or textured enough that they absorb rather than deflect sound waves. Because these sound waves cannot reenter the space from which they came, the entire room becomes quieter. Thus, absorption is one of the key elements to manage when trying to reduce noise levels.
Reflection
Flat surfaces allow sound waves to bounce off, where they can continue to be picked up by the ear repeatedly. This dynamic creates echoes and loud areas because the sound waves do not die out quickly.
Instead, the flat surfaces redirect them back into the space they have already passed through. Mitigating reflection is imperative when building a room design with sound in mind.
Diffusion
Some materials and even the orientation of furniture impact the direction in which sound waves go when produced. Proper diffusion helps spread noise out evenly. Conversely, poor diffusion can create a tunnel of exceptional noise in one area and an uncomfortable, muddy auditory experience just a few feet away.
Placement of Acoustic Panels
When installing acoustic wall art in your space, the placement of the panels is among the most important considerations. This decision encapsulates the principles of both reflection and absorption.
Place acoustic panels across from noise sources. For instance, a restaurant with a noisy kitchen would do well to place acoustic art across from the door leading to the kitchen. This arrangement makes sure sound waves exiting that space reach the panel and are absorbed.
At the same time, the acoustic panel covers the wall in this location, eliminating the possibility of noise reflection back into the room. In general, acoustic panels will do best when placed roughly at eye level (since human speech is one of the biggest drivers of noise), but each space is unique.
Acoustic Wall Art Size
Many people assume that for the biggest impact on noise levels, they should go for the biggest wall art they can find. However, bigger does not necessarily mean better; it’s all about application.
Acoustic wall art should, on average, take up about 20% of the surface area of a space’s walls. This proportion allows for noise mitigation without creating a stifling feeling in the room.
A space packed with huge wall art and no empty space can make people feel claustrophobic. Leave room for textures and other designs to enliven the space and add variety while simultaneously providing sound diffusion for a consistent experience.
How Many Is Too Many?
As with the previous point, you do not necessarily need as many acoustic art panels as you can fit in order to keep a room quiet. Most experts recommend at least a foot of space between each panel, but depending on the room’s design and your needs, you could go closer.
Just don’t go under three inches between panels. Each panel should have a dedicated function according to a specific noise source; use this information as your guide for how many panels are necessary.
Explore Acoustic Wall Art from the Pros
Even the loudest spaces can be managed with acoustic art panels to turn down the volume and create a more comfortable and functional area. What acoustic wall art looks like comes down to your home or business’s existing aesthetic and goals.
With such a wide breadth of customization options, the sky’s the limit. The experts at Tree Towns can help you understand the right number, placement, and thickness of acoustic art to transform your space. Contact Tree Towns to get started on an order.