Soundproofing call centers and open-plan offices – Create a quieter and more focused work environment

Call centers and open-plan offices are among the most acoustically challenging work environments.
Concurrent conversations, ringtones, keyboard clicks, and movement in the room quickly create a high noise level that affects concentration, peace of mind, and well-being.
When sound bounces off hard surfaces, the noise is further amplified, making even normal conversations feel stressful and intrusive.

A poor acoustic environment in open-plan offices often leads to reduced focus, increased mental fatigue, and more communication misunderstandings.
In call centers, the problem becomes particularly evident—employees need to speak louder to be heard, which in turn raises the noise level throughout the entire space.
The result is a vicious cycle where productivity and work quality decline.

By taking a structured approach to sound absorption, it is possible to break this noise spiral.
With the proper placement of sound absorbers on ceilings, walls, and between workstations, reverberation and sound propagation can be effectively reduced.
This makes conversations clearer, reduces background noise, and creates a more pleasant and professional work environment.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to soundproof call centers and open-plan offices in a smart and sustainable way.
You’ll get practical advice on placement, solutions for different types of surfaces, and how to create zones for better focus and lower stress levels.
A sound-absorbing work environment is one that supports both performance and well-being.

Benefits of soundproofing a call center or open-plan office

Reduced noise levels
Inside call centers and open-plan offices, there is often a constant background noise from conversations, keyboards, and movement.
Using sound absorbers reduces reverberation and the perceived noise level, creating a calmer and more controlled acoustic environment.

Better call quality
When reverberation and echoes are dampened, voices become clearer.
This is crucial in call centers where clear communication is essential for effective customer interactions and fewer misunderstandings.

Increased concentration and productivity
Less noise makes it easier to focus on work tasks.
Employees can work more efficiently without being constantly interrupted by colleagues’ conversations or sounds bouncing off hard surfaces.

Reduced stress and fatigue
High noise levels over extended periods can contribute to mental fatigue and stress.
A sound-absorbing work environment makes for a more pleasant workday and can reduce the risk of headaches and noise-related stress.

Improved work environment and well-being
Balanced acoustics make the workplace feel more professional and well-thought-out.
This increases job satisfaction and can contribute to higher employee engagement.

Increased privacy during conversations
By absorbing sound, sound propagation between workstations is reduced.
This provides better privacy during conversations and is particularly important in environments where sensitive information is handled.

Flexible and aesthetic solution
Sound-absorbing products come in many shapes and designs—from ceiling absorbers and wall panels to room dividers and curtains.
This makes it possible to improve acoustics without compromising the office design.

Long-term and cost-effective investment
By addressing the acoustics, the need for temporary solutions and future adjustments is reduced.
A good acoustic environment is a sustainable investment that benefits both employers and employees over time.

Step-by-step: How to soundproof a call center or open-plan office – boost productivity

In open-plan areas, noise is almost constant. Conversations take place simultaneously, sound travels freely between workstations, and hard surfaces cause voices to “bounce” and amplify.
To achieve a noticeable improvement, a single measure is rarely enough—you need to work step by step and address both ceilings, walls, and surfaces that contribute to sound propagation.
Here is a comprehensive guide showing how to create a quieter and more professional acoustic environment.

Step 1: Map the noise and identify the most disruptive zones

Start by listening to the space during normal operation. Walk around the room and note where the sound feels most intrusive.

– Is there a “buzz” of many voices building up in the center of the room?
– Are certain teams heard extra clearly throughout the room?
– Are there surfaces where the sound becomes sharp, echoing, or piercing?
– Is the sound problem worst near walls, glass partitions, or in corners?

Once you’ve identified the most affected zones, it becomes easier to implement solutions where they’ll have the greatest impact.

Step 2: Start with the ceiling – the quickest way to reduce reverberation

In open-plan offices, the ceiling is often the largest free reflection surface. When you absorb sound at the ceiling, reverberation time decreases and the overall sound level drops throughout the space.

– Prioritize surfaces above workstations where most conversations take place
– In larger spaces, an evenly distributed “ceiling array” often provides better results than small, isolated installations
– The more hard surfaces there are (glass, concrete, drywall), the more important ceiling absorption becomes

This step usually provides the most noticeable overall improvement and makes the room feel calmer immediately.

Step 3: Dampen walls and early reflections for a clearer sound environment

Although the ceiling is most important, walls can account for a significant portion of disruptive reflected sound—especially in open-plan offices where sound travels far.
By installing wall absorbers on strategic surfaces, you can reduce reflections that otherwise amplify “background noise.”

– Focus on large, contiguous wall surfaces where sound bounces a lot
– Prioritize areas near meeting tables, collaboration zones, and hallways
– If you have a lot of glass, you’ll need extra absorption on nearby walls

The result is a less “harsh” soundscape, better speech intelligibility, and a room that feels more balanced.

Step 4: Create sound zones between workstations for a quieter work environment

In call centers and open-plan offices, the problem is often not just reverberation, but sound traveling directly between people.
Here, zoning is one of the most effective methods.

– Use sound-absorbing room dividers to break the line of sight between teams
– Create quieter areas for focused work and separate zones for conversations
– In call centers, partitions between workstations allow more people to speak at a normal volume

When sound propagation decreases, the noise level often drops automatically, as staff do not need to raise their voices.

Step 5: Dampen hard surfaces and glass with textile solutions

Large windows, glass walls, and smooth surfaces act as “acoustic mirrors” and can make sound feel harsher than it actually is.
Textile, sound-absorbing solutions help soften the room and reduce reflections.

– Sound-absorbing curtains are particularly effective around glass and large shiny surfaces
– In open-plan offices, curtains can also serve as flexible room dividers

The result is a softer and more pleasant acoustic character

Step 6: Reduce disruptive background noise—chairs, scraping, and contact sounds

In many offices, irritating sounds come not only from voices, but from chairs scraping, furniture being moved, and small vibrations against the floor.
These sounds create “sound peaks” that raise perceived stress levels.

– Add cushioning to chair legs to reduce scraping noises in meeting areas and at desks
– Review furniture that is frequently moved and create softer contact points

Small measures here can make the work environment noticeably calmer in everyday life

Step 7: Add smart wall features that also absorb sound

If you want to combine functionality and acoustics, sound-absorbing bulletin boards are an effective solution.
They can be placed where you want communication surfaces anyway, while also contributing to better acoustics.

– Place them in areas with a lot of reflections or where many people pass by

A good choice for team areas, project zones, and meeting spaces

Step 8: Test the effect and fine-tune where sound still “leaks”

Once the measures are in place, it’s important to evaluate them. Listen during a normal workday and compare with Step 1.

– Has the noise level decreased throughout the entire space?
– Are certain zones still too noisy?
– Is more screening needed between teams?
– Are there walls or glass surfaces that still reflect sound heavily?

Often, making local adjustments—such as adding more sound absorption to a problematic wall or installing an extra room divider—is enough to achieve that final, noticeable improvement.

Create a work environment where sound doesn’t take over

When you soundproof call centers and open-plan offices step by step, you’re not just lowering the noise level—you’re improving the entire work environment.
With shorter reverberation times, less sound diffusion, and clearer zones, conversations become more controlled, focus comes more easily, and stress levels drop.
The result is a workplace that feels calmer, more professional, and significantly more pleasant to work in every day.

Products best suited for sound absorption in your call centers and open-plan offices

To create an effective acoustic environment in these open-plan offices, products are needed that reduce reverberation, dampen sound reflections, and create acoustic zones.
Below are recommended solutions that work in practice—for both large spaces and workstations.

SilentDirect PES/PES Fabric for suspended ceilings – acoustic absorber for suspended ceilings
SilentDirect PES for suspended ceilings is a sound-absorbing panel installed in suspended ceilings to effectively reduce reverberation time in large spaces.
The absorber is available in both the original version and with a fabric-covered surface layer, providing both acoustic performance and an aesthetically pleasing appearance that works well in open-plan offices.

SilentDirect PES – sound absorber for ceilings and walls
SilentDirect PES/PES Fabric are lightweight and effective sound absorbers installed on ceilings or walls to capture reflected sound.
These products prevent voices and conversations from bouncing around the room, creating a more comfortable acoustic environment and improved speech intelligibility.

Silent Socks Original – sound dampening for chairs and furniture
Silent Socks Original dampen noise from chairs scraping and being moved, which often contributes to noise in open-plan offices.
By attaching these directly to the chair legs, scraping sounds, vibrations, and disruptive peaks in sound levels can be significantly reduced.

SilentDirect Bulletin – sound-absorbing bulletin board
SilentDirect Bulletin combines functionality with sound absorption.
It serves both as a bulletin board and as an acoustic surface, making it perfect for walls in areas where information is stored and communicated.
The product helps reduce reflections from wall surfaces without creating a “closed-off” impression.

Silent Divider Felt – flexible sound-absorbing room divider
Silent Divider Felt is a textile-based room divider that absorbs sound while creating natural work zones in open office spaces.
It is used to break up open floor plans, which reduces sound propagation and provides greater comfort at workstations and meeting areas.

Silent Curtain Felt – sound-absorbing curtain for open spaces
Silent Curtain Felt is a sound-absorbing curtain that helps reduce reflections from large glass surfaces, walls, and open areas.
The curtain creates a softer sound environment and is often used as a complementary solution when traditional absorbers are insufficient or where flexibility is needed.

By combining these products, you create a work environment where the perceived noise level is lower, communication is clearer, and the space is more comfortable.

Did you know that…

Why might two people talking at the same time in an open-plan office seem significantly more disruptive than ten people in a well-soundproofed room?
This is because reverberation and sound reflections make it harder for the brain to filter out background noise—not because of how loud it actually is.

Most often, the biggest culprit isn’t the sound level itself, but the reverberation time.
When voices bounce off ceilings, walls, and glass surfaces, each word is prolonged, causing conversations to blend into a constant, stressful noise even at moderate decibel levels.

Studies show that properly placed sound absorption can reduce the perceived noise level by up to 30%, without a single person speaking more quietly.
This means the work environment becomes calmer, more focused, and less mentally taxing—simply by controlling how sound behaves in the room.

So the next time an office feels unnecessarily noisy, even though no one is actually making much noise, it’s often the acoustics that are the problem—not the people in the room.