Ottomans, lush plants, irregular-shaped objects, and sumptuous rugs––here are Wrensilva’s® design tips for tuning a room.

Cut a Rug

Rugs are cozy on the feet, easy on the ears, and they reduce sound reflection between the floor and ceiling. For positioning, think about where listeners will be lounging most often and place the rug between that space and the console. Thick padding is ideal. Bonus: it also makes lying down on the floor to listen to your favorite vinyl more enjoyable.

Photo: Frank Frances Studio; Design by Kelly Behun

Rock the Ottoman

Heavily padded furniture is excellent for the room’s acoustics—with no echo to be found. Consider swapping the glass coffee table for a padded ottoman. Plus it serves both your cups and your feet. Now that’s a win-win.

Photo: Kiren Patel

Sound Library

Who doesn’t love a unique book-laden wall in their space? According to Wrensilva’s Chief Product Officer, Scott Salyer, bookshelves enhance room acoustics. And there’s no need to stress over symmetrical design either. He explains that placing books, records, and favorite objects unevenly on the shelves in irregular-sized openings can allow more sound to flow through the room. Sounds good and looks good.

Curtain Call

Heavy curtains and tapestries are your acoustic friends—and an intelligent design decision that supports optimum sound and aesthetics. Salyer recommends drapes that hang from floor to ceiling, keeping more sound in the room where the jam session is happening.

Photo: Pablo Enriquez; Gold-Diggers LA Interior Design by Night Palm

Go Green

When it comes to full sound, plants are great room additions. Beyond brightening the mood of almost any room, they have a positive and symbiotic relationship with music. And the bushier the plant, the better. As explained in a previous Journal, studies have shown that plants grow faster and larger when music is played for them, especially classical music.

Photo: Slimline

Clap and Listen

There are tons of tiny (and easy to implement) design decisions that can optimize any unwanted echo in a space. The best way to test for any echoey areas is to walk around, clap and listen. When you hear excess echo or hollow sounding areas, consider adding plants, objects, or even a piece of furniture across from them. When these spots are, well, spotted, your favorite album will sound even better than it did before.

Photo: Duoma Atelier