Tackling Sound Reverberation in Open-Plan Workspaces

Open-plan workspaces are known for their modern look and social atmosphere, but they’re also known for being noisy. One overlooked issue that affects these environments is sound reverberation. This is when sound bounces off surfaces and lingers in the space, making the room feel louder than it actually is. It can affect how clearly people hear each other and how comfortable they feel throughout the day.

When sound keeps bouncing around, small distractions can become hard to ignore. Conversations echo, phone calls overlap and background noise becomes constant. That makes it difficult to focus, communicate and work efficiently. For teams working in shared spaces, addressing this type of noise isn’t just about comfort, it’s about creating the right conditions for good work.

Understanding Sound Reverberation In Open Spaces

Sound reverberation happens when sound waves travel around a room, hitting walls, floors, ceilings and other solid surfaces. Instead of fading quickly, those waves reflect and overlap. In open-plan offices, where there’s little to break up these large surfaces, the sound has plenty of space to move and repeat itself.

This issue is more noticeable in rooms with certain features:

- Hard floors like concrete or wood
- High ceilings, especially without acoustic tiles
- Glass walls or large windows
- Sparse furniture or minimal soft furnishings like curtains or rugs

With fewer soft surfaces to absorb or break up the sound, conversations can easily turn into a continuous hum. The bigger and more open the room, the longer the sound hangs around. That’s what makes open spaces feel loud, even when people are just talking at a normal volume.

One team experienced this when moving into a newly renovated office. The open layout looked great, but without anything on the walls or ceilings, every meeting sounded like it echoed through the whole floor. Staff found themselves stepping out of the space just to focus or take calls. The layout wasn't the problem, the untreated surfaces were.

Spotting Trouble Areas Around The Office

It’s not always obvious where sound issues are coming from. Luckily, you don’t need special tools to figure out which parts of the office are giving you the most trouble. A few simple checks can help pinpoint where sound is bouncing the most.

Here’s how you can find problem zones:

- Stand in different parts of the room and clap once. In areas with high reverberation, you’ll hear a lingering echo or a fluttering sound
- Try talking in a normal tone while walking through the space. If your voice feels like it’s bouncing or coming back to you in layers, that’s a sign of too much reflection
- Find spots near hard surfaces — bare walls, high ceilings and glass panes are usual suspects. If these areas don’t have any soft materials near them, they’re likely to cause reflections
- Walk to the corners. Sound tends to get trapped and build up in enclosed sections where walls meet
- Listen from seated positions. Where staff commonly use laptops, take calls or do focus-driven work, lingering reverberation tends to feel more distracting

You might also notice people clustering in certain areas while avoiding others. That’s a sign that some areas are more comfortable to be in, sound-wise. High-traffic zones near meeting rooms or breakout tables are often the first to suffer from echo problems, especially if they’ve been designed with style in mind but lack sound absorption solutions.

Fixing this starts with knowing which zones have the biggest problem. As soon as you identify these high-reflection spots, you’re halfway toward solving the issue with acoustic foam panels.

How Acoustic Foam Panels Reduce Reverberation

Acoustic foam panels work by absorbing sound energy, preventing it from bouncing across surfaces. Made with dense, open-cell foam, these panels are built to reduce echo and control sound reflections. When applied correctly, they break up sound waves before they reflect back into the room, lowering overall reverberation time and improving acoustic clarity.

There are different types of panels made especially for workspaces:

- Wall-mounted panels: These are placed directly on flat surfaces around desks and workstations to absorb voices and office noise
- Ceiling panels (suspended or direct mount): These help in cutting down sound that moves through large overhead spaces, especially in rooms with high ceilings
- Corner traps: These are thicker blocks used in corners. They help catch low-frequency sound waves that get stuck where walls meet

The design of the panel can also play a part. Wedge, pyramid, egg-crate or flat-faced textures aren’t just for looks, they influence how the panel interacts with sound. In offices, panels with a clean aesthetic work well without overpowering the design of the room.

The key is placing the panels in areas where sound hits first. These are called first reflection points — places where sound would naturally bounce back toward the listener. Treating these points helps stop sound before it can spread, which keeps the environment quieter and more controlled.

When used correctly, acoustic foam panels don’t absorb all sound but manage it. They let conversations stay natural without turning the room completely dead. That’s the balance most offices need.

Practical Installation Tips For Acoustic Foam Panels

Once you've picked the right type of acoustic foam panels, the next step is figuring out where and how to install them. Good placement makes all the difference. Rushing the process or guessing at where they go often leads to less noticeable results. To get the most out of your panels, it helps to take a practical, step-by-step approach to installation.

Start by identifying the noisiest zones or the places where sound bounces the most. These tend to be near windows, large blank walls and high ceilings. Open desk clusters and shared meeting areas also benefit from treatment. Once you know these hot spots, you can choose the most effective surfaces to work with.

Here’s a straightforward method to get panels in place properly:

1. Clean the surfaces. Dust or grease can stop the panels from sticking well, especially on walls and ceilings
2. Use mounting adhesive suitable for acoustic foam or consider mechanical fixtures if you prefer a removable setup
3. Place the panels at head height first. These are common reflection points, especially near desks or seating areas
4. For large offices, install panels in a grid-like spread, with gaps between them. Covering every surface isn’t necessary — spread-out coverage still absorbs sound
5. Add corner traps where two walls meet. These handle bass build-up and can help balance the acoustics further
6. Ceiling baffles or hanging panels work well if floor space is limited or wall fixtures aren’t an option
7. After installation, walk around while talking or clapping again. If it feels more balanced or sounds less harsh, the setup is working

Remember to leave room for aesthetic choices. Acoustic panels come in different styles, so you can blend them into the office decor. They don’t have to be all black or grey. Some come in bright colours or with printed fabric wraps to make the space feel more engaging.

Long-Term Benefits Of Office Acoustic Foam Panels

It’s easy to treat acoustic foam panels as a quick fix, but the real benefit comes over time. Once in place, well-chosen and correctly positioned panels contribute to a noticeable shift in how people work and interact. Sharp echoes fade, unwanted overlap in conversations goes away and direct sound, what you want to hear, becomes clearer.

Less noise leads to fewer distractions. Staff won’t have to repeat themselves during calls. Group discussions stay contained. Those who need quiet corners for deep work can concentrate without wearing noise-cancelling headphones all day long. It changes how people experience the space without ever needing to touch their devices.

Over months and years, this kind of environment encourages:

- Better collaboration, because people communicate more easily
- Clearer meetings, even without private rooms
- Improved mood, as noise-induced stress goes down
- Reduced fatigue caused by background distractions
- More creative thinking, since calm spaces help people focus for longer stretches

Sound treatment also protects your investment in the office space. With fewer audio issues, you may not need to keep redesigning layouts or adding physical dividers to deal with echo problems. Acoustic adjustments with foam panels don’t interfere with flexible furniture or modern design — the upgrades sit quietly on walls and ceilings yet work every day to improve the space.

Creating A Quieter Office Environment That Works

Controlling sound in open offices doesn’t have to mean losing the open feeling. Acoustic foam panels let you keep your office layout intact while reducing the echo and reflection that lead to so many of the distractions people struggle with. Whether it’s a new build or just a space that’s got too loud over time, acoustic panels offer a clear path to turning things around.

Making these changes often has a ripple effect. When people feel more at ease in their workspace, they’re more likely to enjoy what they’re doing. The quiet improves everything from concentration to communication. With the right placement and choice of foam panels, you can improve the space without sacrificing its look or openness.

If sound continues to bounce around your office and you're not sure where to begin, take a step back and listen — literally. Often the space will guide you to where the work needs to be done. Then it's simply a matter of adding foam panels where they’ll do the most good. Done properly, acoustic control doesn't just fix a problem, it helps build a workplace that people want to spend time in.

If you're ready to develop an efficient workspace by addressing noise issues, explore our range of office soundproofing solutions at Advanced Acoustics. Our selection of acoustic foam panels is designed to reduce reverberation and enhance your office environment, fostering clearer communication and greater comfort. Transform your work area with our expertly crafted panels today.