Whether your office is private or shared, noise is all around us, distracting us from the tasks we need to complete. Whether it’s traffic blaring outside your office, passersby making loud noises as they pass, or you work in a public building frequented by guests, concentrating for long periods and focusing on your work can be tricky amid all this noise.
If you or your employees are often distracted by the noises surrounding your workspace, you may want to consider sound masking. Sound masking is a fairly modern trend, and if you’ve never heard of it, you may be wondering what it is and whether you need it. Continue reading to learn what sound masking is, some benefits, and whether you need it in your office space.
What Exactly is Sound Masking?
Have you ever tried concentrating on one of your many tasks, but were distracted by a sound that filled your workspace? Anyone who’s worked inside an office has experienced distracting noises that make it difficult to focus, whether conversations near your desk, sudden noises like outside noises, coworkers on the phone, or loud keyboard clicks are all examples of sounds that commonly fill offices.
Even if you close your office door or put your headphones in, it’s nearly impossible to drown out all background noises, making it tricky to concentrate on your work. However, sound masking is a solution that’s rising in popularity, allowing employees and managers to concentrate better on their tasks. Rather than trying to block them completely, sound masking can make noises appear less distracting, allowing them to blend in and create less of a distraction.
Sound masking differs from soundproofing and noise cancellation because it’s a solution for making sounds, rather than canceling them. Instead of canceling or blocking sound waves, sound masking helps reduce the contrasts between steady and unexpected sounds.
Benefits of Sound Masking in the Office
Sound masking is a popular technique for offices, whether in healthcare, advertising, hospitality, or even homes. Because sound masking involves blending background noises to appear less distracting, they offer many benefits:
Limits Distractions
One of the main benefits of adding sound masking throughout an office is that it limits distractions. Because sound masking reduces the contrast between unexpected and steady sounds, there are fewer distractions from unexpected sounds. For example, let’s say you have steady sounds, like people shuffling in and out of the area, or phones ringing. Now, let’s say you have unexpected sounds, like clients visiting or construction outside, which easily distract your employees. Adding sound masking will contrast the two sounds, making them seem less noticeable, allowing them to focus and be less distracted throughout the workday.
Better Privacy
Some conversations between coworkers are meant to be private, and, depending on the industry you’re in, some conversations must be confidential, like in law firms or medical offices. Adding sound masking to your space improves privacy for private conversations or phone calls, making them less intelligible.
Increased Concentration
Increasing concentration at any office is great for boosting productivity and ROI, but did you know that background noise is one of the main factors that breaks employee concentration? According to a study by the National Institute of Health (NIH), distracting noises have a major impact on cognitive performance, making it difficult to concentrate. Adding sound masking dulls background noises, creating a quieter, less distracting environment.
Improved Productivity
Productivity affects your company’s success, and you rely on your employees’ productivity to keep things around the office running smoothly and efficiently. Background noise and frequent distractions decrease productivity since they distract your employees, negatively impacting how they concentrate on their tasks. However, adding sound masking throughout the office is a great way to improve productivity since it allows everyone to focus.
How SPACESINC Can Help with Sound Masking in an Office
If you’re ready to reduce background noise in your office space, consider sound masking to improve productivity, concentration, increase privacy, and limit distractions. Rather than soundproofing or noise cancellation solutions, sound masking can effectively create an acoustic barrier that keeps distractions to a minimum.
SPACESINC has been assisting local organizations for decades, taking a consultative approach to understand our clients’ needs and goals. We help organizations refresh their interior spaces without major construction, offering workplace solutions that deliver a strong acoustic barrier. From furniture, pre-fab, specialty, and fulfillment solutions, our systems meet or exceed standard requirements to deliver a strong acoustic barrier. We can completely redesign your interior space without messy, loud, inconvenient construction, all while providing exceptional communication. Furthermore, we can implement the following workplace solutions:
- Functional workspaces
- Flexible conference rooms
- Individual workstations around the office
- Acoustical ceiling and panels
- Beverage stations
- Cozy workspaces
- Demountable (movable) walls
- Prefabricated furniture walls,
- Pre-manufactured construction materials
- Glass walls
- Ergonomic office furniture
- & so much more!
Take a look at our portfolio for some inspiration and learn about individual projects that transformed workspaces into creative, collaborative, and productive environments with sound masking.
Trust SPACESINC’s Acoustic Barriers for Sound Masking that Complements Your Aesthetic & Employees’ Needs
Whether you’re revamping your traditional office or want a more modern feel, trust SPACESINC to design, build, and install workplace solutions that complement your aesthetic and employees’ needs, including sound masking. Whether you need office furniture solutions, interior construction, or architectural products like modular walls, acoustic treatments, and more, we have everything you need to transform your office into a modern workplace while creating a strong acoustic barrier. We’ll transform your office on time and on budget, keeping open communication and creativity at the forefront.
Our office furniture solutions include workplace furniture, interior construction, functional workspaces, and private office settings, among many others. Whatever your office’s needs, SPACESINC is a commercial interiors KC company that will design and build an innovative solution that makes the perfect environment to foster creativity and align perfectly with your goals. We’re ready and excited to serve you – get in contact with our team to get started today!
