Open-plan office noise is one of the biggest frustrations for people working in shared spaces. From ringing phones and nearby conversations to the constant tapping of keyboards, staying focused throughout the day often feels like a challenge.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and the good news is there are practical ways to make your workspace feel calmer and easier to work in. Continue reading to explore simple but effective ways to reduce noise and improve your daily working environment.
Why open plan offices are so noisy
Open layouts remove physical barriers, which also removes natural sound blockers. Large rooms with hard floors, glass partitions, and bare walls reflect sound rather than absorb it. As a result, noise travels further and seems louder than expected.
Another issue is activity clustering. Printers, coffee points, and meeting tables are often grouped together, creating local noise hotspots. Over time, staff in these zones may experience ongoing disruption that affects comfort and concentration.
Thus, some of the common sound sources to look out for that often contribute most to open plan office noise are the following:
- Phone calls and video meetings
- Typing and office equipment
- Foot traffic near desks and doors
- Breakout conversations that carry across the room
Identifying the biggest offenders is the first step toward improving the acoustic environment.
How to reduce noise with smart design choices
Once the causes are clear, it becomes easier to tackle the problem with the right approach. Many businesses get started by exploring tailored office acoustic solutions that combine clever layout planning with sound-absorbing materials. This kind of strategy targets noise at its source while improving comfort across the floor.
One effective tactic is zoning. Noisy tasks like meetings and printing benefit from being placed away from quiet desks. In contrast, team areas that handle focused work often perform better when shielded by soft furnishings or partitions.
Another important factor you should consider is materials that help absorb sound. Remember that some surfaces reflect noise while others reduce it. Thus, it’s important to prioritise finishes that soften sound levels, such as:
- Fabric wall panels and ceiling rafts
- Carpet tiles instead of hard flooring
- Upholstered seating in breakout areas
- Curtains or acoustic blinds for windows
Practical changes teams might try right away
Several low-cost changes may make a noticeable difference within weeks, even without altering the physical layout of the office. Small adjustments in behaviour, layout, and spacing often reduce daily disruption and improve comfort at the same time.
To begin with, encourage staff to use headsets for calls and agree on quiet hours for focused work. This creates a healthier balance between teamwork and concentration across shared spaces.
Next, move loud equipment into enclosed areas where possible to limit how far sound travels. Printers, coffee machines, and scanning stations placed away from desks help reduce background noise where it matters most.
Adding plants or bookcases between desks also helps break sound paths and increase privacy. Soft furnishings and natural barriers absorb excess sound while also making workspaces feel warmer and more relaxed.
In addition, flexible layouts offer another practical way to manage noise without major disruption. Modular screens and movable panels allow teams to adapt the space as needs change without involving construction work.
These solutions suit growing workplaces that need adaptable arrangements without permanent alteration. Moreover, well-planned layouts often support better collaboration without raising noise levels, helping to create a calmer and more productive office overall.
Measuring success and planning next steps
Acoustic improvements work best when they are reviewed regularly rather than treated as a one-off task. Gathering feedback from staff and observing day-to-day changes in focus levels and comfort all help indicate whether improvements are making a real impact. Additionally, simple noise surveys provide useful insight into areas that may still need attention.
If your office continues to struggle, it may be worth seeking specialist advice. Effective planning blends layout, materials, and everyday behaviour into one practical approach. When these elements work together, open plan office noise becomes far easier to manage, helping to create calmer teams, better focus, and stronger performance across UK workplaces.
