Have you given thought to the noise level in your office, and what can be done to improve your office acoustics and its effect on your team’s productivity?

In today’s modern work environment, noise and acoustic distractions are consistently among the top employee complaints. As more businesses move towards hybrid work, and more people return to the office, businesses are packing more into less space. That means acoustics are a top priority for your workspace. Poor sound control leads to decreased productivity, poor concentration, and frustrated employees.

The Problem: Acoustics vs. Distraction

According to our partners at Haworth®, many organizations are seeing their physical footprints shrink while employee density is rising. With more people sharing open plans, cafes, collaborative areas, and even hallways, it leads to increased verbal noise, ambient sound, and more distractions.

Offices are also expected to balance environments that foster collaboration and allow focus when needed. That’s a bigger challenge in a large, open, echoing space.

Some Key Design Principles for Better Acoustics

Haworth recommends a few foundational tactics for improving acoustic comfort, for whatever the size or budget of your office:

1. Absorb unwanted sounds within spaces. This means using materials and finishes that soak up noise—acoustic panels, soft furnishings, ceiling tiles, rugs, drapery. These reduce echo and reverberation.
2. Block sound between spaces. Private offices, glass walls, partitions, pods (quiet booths) help isolate loud or private conversations from open work zones.
3. Cover intruding sounds with background sound (sound masking). This doesn’t remove noise, but makes it less noticeable by filling in acoustic gaps.
4. Diffuse sound energy evenly. Rather than letting sound bounce off flat surfaces, diffusion (through designed surfaces, architectural elements, varied textures) helps disperse sound and reduce hotspots of loud reflections.

What This Means for South Jersey and Greater Philadelphia Offices

If you run a business in the greater Philadelphia or South Jersey region, it’s likely your office shares many of the same challenges: open spaces, mixed‐use zones (lobby, collaboration, quiet work), and possibly older building materials that weren’t optimized for sound.

Upgrading acoustics can significantly improve employee focus, well-being and satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Steps You Can Take Right Now

• Do a walk-through of your current workspace, and identify the loudest spots (open desks, next to corridors, cubicles near HVAC systems or windows).
• Audit materials: are there bare floors, high ceilings, or no soft surfaces? Could rugs, acoustic ceiling panels, or fabric screens help?
• Consider investing in sound masking or acoustic pods/booths for private calls or heads-down work.
• If renovating, start acoustic design early—not as an afterthought.

Would You Like To Make Your Office Sound Better?

At Bellia Interiors Group, we can help you assess your current acoustic issues, and design custom solutions tailored for your space. Whether you want to partially upgrade, or build a new space, our professionals bring in the right mix of function, comfort, and aesthetics.

Reach out to Bellia Interiors Group today, and request your free workspace design consultation. Let us show you how we can make your workplace one where focus, collaboration, and well-being all thrive.

Source: https://www.haworth.com/na/en/knowledge/research/office-acoustics-and-distractions.html?icid=homepage|banner|sep-2025

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