CURTAIN ADVICE
Improve room acoustics with curtains instead of foam panels
Compare movable curtains with other room treatments and plan coverage, air gaps and evidence for a useful acoustic change.
Originally published 2025-05-03 · Updated 19 October 2026
Choose by acoustic job, not appearance alone
Curtains offer movable coverage and can also provide visual screening or light control. Panels and other absorbers have their own tested performance. Neither form is universally best: compare the relevant frequency range, available depth and required room use.
Use the available wall area
Start with reflective surfaces that can be covered without obstructing equipment or circulation. Plan how far the curtain sits from the wall and where it stacks when open. Those decisions affect both the installation and which published configuration is relevant.
Keep the numbers in context
Fullness changes construction and material quantity. A 100% fullness curtain uses twice the covered flat width before making allowances, but that is not a promise of twice the room improvement. Read measured absorption data for the actual assembly.
Assess the wider room
Curtains may be one part of a treatment plan. Low-frequency problems, large untreated areas and sound transfer between rooms can require other measures. Use a room assessment when the project has a firm numerical performance target.
Evidence & next steps
Use the original manufacturer specifications and test reports for the selected material. The testing section keeps results beside their installation conditions; the document library links to the source PDFs. These guides support specification and do not certify a particular room or installation.