If you live in an apartment with thin walls or want some extra privacy from your roommates, soundproofing your door can make a huge difference.
The good news is soundproofing your room is easy, and you can do it by sticking soundproof foam to your door. You can do that by using command strips.
Here’s how you can apply soundproof foam to your door using command strips:
- Buy high-quality command strips
- Measure the door’s dimensions and cut the foam.
- Put the command strips at the center of each foam piece.
- Stick the back of the foam to your door.
This article will demonstrate in more detail how to stick soundproof foam to your door with command strips, along with a few other soundproofing alternatives that you might be interested in.
1. Buy High-Quality Command Strips
As with anything else you buy, you get what you pay for. It’s best to invest a little extra to purchase good-quality command strips that’ll stick to your door and not fall off easily. Luckily, command strops are readily available online, and in physical stores, so you should have no problem finding some.
I recommend the Command Large Picture Hanging Strips (available on Amazon.com). Based on the reviews, the strips stick well. These strong and versatile strips come in a pack of 14, so you should have plenty to spare for long-term use.
2. Measure the Door’s Dimensions and Cut the Foam
To measure the door’s dimensions, you can use a measuring tape. Once you have its width and length, start cutting up the foam to fit the door. You may cut the foam into a single large piece or multiple smaller ones.
However, most soundproof foam comes in smaller pieces, so make sure you have enough command strips for all of them.
When it comes to acoustic foam, I recommend going with the New Level 6 Pack- Acoustic Panels (also available on Amazon.com) for the job. They’re affordable and should fit the door perfectly. The product is made in the USA and tested in the CAL 117-2013 procedure.
3. Put the Command Strips at the Center of Each Foam Piece
Once you have the foam pieces ready, it’s time to attach the command strips at the center of the back of each foam piece. Depending on the size of the foam, you may have to use multiple command strips to make sure that they don’t fall off.
ROB HIPP has an excellent video explaining how to do this:
4. Stick the Back of the Foam to Your Door
Finally, stick the back of each foam piece to your door. The command strips have a strong adhesive that should cling very well. Align the foam pieces to the door and gently press them to ensure they’re stable.
You must avoid using the door in the first couple of hours until the adhesive does its magic and is firmly attached to the door.
Why Using Command Strips Is the Best Option
While using adhesive or nails to stick the foam to your door is a viable option, especially if you’re planning to keep the foam attached for a long time, these options can damage your door and cause problems if you eventually decide to take the foam off.
Before learning how to attach acoustic/soundproof foam to your door, make sure you get high-quality foam that’ll do a good job at keeping out noise.
Since nails and adhesive can damage your door, using command strips would be far more efficient. They’re much easier to install, and you can quickly remove them if you don’t want the foam anymore. Additionally, they allow you the flexibility to attach the soundproof foam only when you need it.
Other Methods for Attaching Soundproof Foam
Here are some other methods you can try to attach the soundproofing foam. Keep in mind that these may cause long-term changes/damage to your door. The methods are as follows:
- Use adhesive spray. Using an adhesive spray is another easy way to install foam on your door. Spray the adhesive on the backside of the foam and press it onto the door. Try not to move the door too much right after installing it to dry the adhesive.
- Try using strong double-sided tape. A double-sided tape might be better for avoiding damage to your door. Stick one side of the tape to the back of the foam, and press the other side to the door. This method is very similar to the command strips.
- Use pushpins. Pushpins will cause the most damage to your door, but they might be a good option if you’re looking for a permanent soundproofing solution. You’ll have to push the pins through the foam so they can penetrate the door.
Other Ways To Soundproof a Door
Sticking foam to your door might be the easiest soundproofing method, but it’s far from the most effective one. Here are some other ways you can soundproof a door and see more noticeable results:
Increase Door Mass
The key to making a door more soundproof is increasing its mass. While acoustic foam can be effective, it’s also fairly light, so you may want to use something heavier to maximize soundproofing.
For example, you can use a heavy-duty weather door curtain. These curtains are reasonably heavy, and unlike foam, are designed to be installed on doors, which makes them a lot easier to set up.
I recommend the YYHJ Thermal Insulated Door Curtain. It’s not too expensive and will keep your space warmer during wintertime.
Block All Door Openings
Unlike exterior doors, interior ones tend to have space at the bottom, sides, and sometimes around the door handle. Noise can easily travel through these openings, so you’d be surprised with how much of a difference it would make to cover them.
You can get creative and use home items like blankets. For the under door, you can use the Everlasting Comfort Under Door Draft Stopper from Amazon.com. It’s thicker than most similar products, so you can expect to see good improvement just from applying this to your door.
Is Acoustic Foam the Right Solution for Soundproofing?
Acoustic foam isn’t the right (or best) solution for soundproofing. While adding acoustic foam to doors or walls will probably absorb sound and make space slightly more soundproof, there may not be much noticeable improvement.
If you want to improve your room’s soundproofing significantly, you’ll need a larger construction project.
Conclusion
The easiest and least damaging way to install soundproof foam to your door is by using command strips. A double-sided tape is also a similar option. For long-term use, you can install the foam with push pins.
Note that acoustic foam isn’t the most effective soundproofing option. For better results, you may want to look into increasing the doors’ mass and cover any openings that make it easier for noise to travel in and out of your room.