Sound masking systems have grown steadily in popularity in office working spaces over the past few decades, with companies becoming more aware of how workplace environments impact their bottom line. Office spaces are often filled with lots of people working on different tasks, clicking mouses, having conversations or just generally producing distracting noise.

So, surely working from home removes all that distracting noise from the equation? Perhaps you would expect that to be the case, and for some people that may be true. But the fact is, even if you live alone, or have the place to yourself throughout the working day, you can guarantee that there will still be sounds that distract you from your work.

So what is sound masking and how can it help?

Sound masking is simply a method of dealing with noise within a room or travelling between rooms. Sound masking is an ambient or sound which operates at a frequency that targets other sounds within the room. What sound masking systems do is make a room seem quieter by raising the ambient noise level within the room, making other sounds less distracting. This includes masking other conversations, which is the number one most distracting factor. Sound masking makes speech noise less intelligible and therefore less distracting.

For an in depth explanation of sound masking, visit out information page.

But is the masking sound distracting on its own?

Good sound masking products are specifically engineered to match the frequencies of human speech. Some systems also calibrate and adjust depending on the level and frequency of noises within your space. Some cheaper sound masking products will simply create “white noise” at frequencies which actually become irritating and distracting. Basic white noise machines can be purchased for as little as £30, but just like a squeaking door, your ears will pick up that noise and thus become distracting on its own.

Should you consider a system for home?

If you have trouble concentrating during working hours, or relaxing out of working hours, the answer is yes.

The problem is, at this stage all good sound masking systems are designed for commercial office use. From my research, there currently is not a legitimate domestic sound masking product available. Properly engineered sound masking at home is a new concept in the general consumer world, but expect new products to be developed in response to changes to work patterns across the globe.

Sound masking isn’t a one size fits all solution for noise problems. Sound masking is especially effective for spaces which are already pretty quiet, as the system helps to mask and block sudden sounds which would normally be distracting. If the space you are working with is loud, and has already poor acoustic qualities then sound masking may not be the best solution for you

What can I buy?

Whilst there may not be a fantastic and comprehensive residential sound masking solution on the market today, there are some products which could help give a similar affect. These machines are further towards a white noise machine, so we can refer to these as “sound machines”. They don’t adjust and calibrate according to sounds within the space, they simply emit a static noise which fills the space with ambient sound. Traditionally these devices are used to help relaxation and sleep quality at night time, but are suitable for use any time of the day. Disclaimer: We have not tested these devices, we are simply linking a few potential options to check out following our research.

Of course, as usual Amazon has a few available: