I get what you're saying about curtains being cheaper and easier, but honestly, I tried some heavy-duty ones myself and wasn't too impressed. They helped a bit with the background noise, sure, but anything louder—like motorcycles or garbage trucks—still woke me up every morning. Ended up biting the bullet and getting acoustic windows installed. Definitely pricier, but the difference was night and day. Curtains might be okay as a temporary fix, but if noise really bugs you, windows might be worth the investment long-term.
Totally feel your pain on this one. I went down the curtain rabbit hole myself—tried blackout, thermal, even layered two sets at one point (my bedroom looked like Dracula's lair). Helped a little, but yeah... garbage trucks still sounded like they were driving through my living room. Eventually caved and got acoustic windows too. Wallet cried a bit, but sleep quality improved big-time. Sometimes you just gotta accept that peace and quiet has a price tag, unfortunately.
Curtains alone rarely solve serious noise issues, since they're mostly effective against higher-frequency sounds. Acoustic windows, on the other hand, are specifically engineered with laminated glass and air gaps to dampen lower-frequency city noises like trucks or buses. Pricey, yes...but definitely worth it for sanity's sake.
Went through this exact thing last year. Curtains barely made a dent—still heard buses rumbling by at 2am. Bit the bullet on acoustic windows...night and day difference. Cost hurt, but sleep's priceless, right?
"Cost hurt, but sleep's priceless, right?"
Totally feel you on this one. We tried heavy-duty curtains first too—thought they'd be enough, but nope. Still heard the garbage trucks clanging at dawn and weekend party-goers strolling home late. Eventually went for acoustic windows, and man, wish we'd done it sooner. The quiet was kinda surreal at first...took a few nights to adjust, funny enough. Definitely an investment, but the peace of mind (and sleep!) makes it worth every penny.
Yeah, totally get the acoustic window love. When we moved into our first place downtown, I was convinced those thick blackout curtains would do the trick. They made the room dark enough, but the noise? Forget it. Our neighbors upstairs were apparently practicing tap-dancing at midnight, and every weekend there'd be a karaoke party across the street (and not the good kind). Finally bit the bullet and got acoustic windows installed. Honestly, I felt kinda silly spending that much at first, but after one night of actual uninterrupted sleep, I was a believer. Funny thing is, now when friends crash at our place, they're weirded out by how quiet it is—they joke it's like sleeping in a recording studio or something. Took some getting used to, but man, worth every cent. Curtains might help a bit, sure, but if your city's anything like mine, windows are where it's at.
Interesting to hear your experience with acoustic windows—I considered them myself a few years back. But honestly, for me, thick soundproof curtains ended up doing the trick just fine. Granted, my noise issues might've been a bit different. Instead of karaoke parties or tap-dancing neighbors, my problem was mostly traffic noise and early-morning garbage trucks rattling down the alleyway. I went for the heavy-duty acoustic curtains (the ones with multiple layers and dense fabric), and while they didn't completely silence everything, they reduced the noise enough that it wasn't waking me up at 5 am anymore.
I guess it really depends on what kind of noise you're dealing with, how sensitive you are, and your budget. Acoustic windows sound amazing but they're not exactly cheap. Curtains might not give you studio-level quiet, but for some of us, they're a solid compromise—especially if you're renting or don't want to commit to a big renovation project. Just something to consider before dropping serious cash on windows.
I get why curtains worked for you, but honestly, if traffic noise is your main issue, acoustic windows are a game changer. Curtains help with higher frequencies (voices, music), but low-frequency rumbling from trucks and buses usually needs something more substantial. I bit the bullet and installed acoustic windows last year—pricey, yeah, but the difference was night and day. If you're planning to stay put long-term and can swing the cost, I'd seriously recommend windows over curtains for city noise.
Interesting points about acoustic windows, and I totally get why you'd recommend them. But I'm wondering—are acoustic windows really the best solution for everyone dealing with city noise? I mean, sure, they're effective, but the cost can be pretty steep, especially if you're not planning to stay in your current place forever.
Also, what about renters or people in condos with strict HOA rules? Installing new windows might not even be an option for them. I've heard some folks mention secondary glazing as a middle-ground solution—basically adding an extra pane inside your existing window frame. Has anyone here tried that? Curious how it stacks up against full-on acoustic windows.
Another thing I've been thinking about is whether combining curtains with other simpler solutions might actually be enough for some people. Like, maybe heavy curtains plus weather stripping or sealing gaps around windows could significantly cut down noise without breaking the bank. I know curtains alone won't stop low-frequency rumbling completely, but could a combination approach get you close enough?
I guess my point is, acoustic windows sound great if you can afford them and have the freedom to install them, but maybe they're not always the most practical or necessary solution for everyone. Would be interested to hear if anyone's had success with alternative methods or combinations that are more budget-friendly or renter-friendly.
Totally get where you're coming from on this. Acoustic windows are awesome, but yeah, they're pricey and not always doable. I've actually tried secondary glazing in my old apartment—it wasn't perfect, but it definitely helped cut down the street noise noticeably. Also, your idea about combining heavy curtains with weather stripping is pretty solid... sometimes just sealing those sneaky gaps can make a surprising difference. Worth experimenting a bit before dropping big bucks on new windows, imo.