Windows are the weakest point in any room when noise is the problem. Glass vibrates with every passing car, barking dog, or lawn mower, and that vibration carries sound straight into living spaces. True soundproofing requires structural changes like double-pane glass or acoustic inserts, but the right window treatments can meaningfully dampen noise and make a room feel noticeably quieter.
Not every shade or blind helps equally. Soft, dense materials with air-trapping structures absorb sound waves instead of bouncing them back into the room. Here are the seven window treatments that make the biggest difference.
7 Window Treatments That Actually Reduce Noise
#1. Double Cell Blackout Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are the single best window treatment for noise reduction, and the reason is their honeycomb structure. Each cell creates an air pocket between the window and the room. Air pockets absorb and diffuse sound waves rather than allowing them to pass straight through. Double cell construction doubles the number of air barriers, and blackout fabric adds density that further dampens vibration.
For bedrooms, nurseries, or home offices on a busy street, blackout cellular shades are the strongest single-product solution. Available in both 3/4″ single cell and 1/2″ double cell configurations, the double cell option delivers the best combination of noise dampening and energy insulation. A tight inside mount with minimal gaps around the frame maximizes performance. For help getting measurements right, Blinds and Shades For Common Window Sizes and Measuring Tips walks through the process step by step.
#2. Single Cell Light Filtering Cellular Shades
Not every room needs a total blackout. Rooms that benefit from natural daylight, like kitchens, living rooms, and sunrooms, still deserve noise reduction. Single-cell light filtering cellular shades use the same honeycomb air-pocket principle to absorb sound while gently diffusing incoming light instead of blocking it entirely.
Light filtering cellular shades use a spunlace nonwoven polyester material that softens both light and sound. For rooms where street noise competes with conversation but darkness is not the goal, a single cell light filtering shade is a practical, budget-friendly starting point. Pair with drapery panels for stronger results (more on layering below).
#3. Day/Night Cordless Cellular Shades
Rooms that serve double duty, like a living room that becomes a movie space at night or a bedroom that doubles as a home office, benefit from a shade that adapts. Day/night cellular shades combine two fabrics in one headrail: a light-filtering shade and a blackout shade that operate independently.
During the day, lower the light filtering panel to soften noise and glare. At night, pull down the blackout panel for maximum sound dampening plus total darkness. The dual-fabric design adds extra material layers at the window, which gives sound waves more to pass through. For anyone unsure whether shades or blinds are the better fit, Shades Vs Blinds: What’s The Diff? breaks down the key differences.
#4. Roman Shades with Blackout or Thermal Liners
Roman shades are a strong noise-reducing option because of how much fabric they put between the window and the room. Thick folds of material absorb sound more effectively than flat, single-layer treatments. Adding a privacy, room darkening, or thermal liner behind the face fabric creates multiple barriers for sound waves to pass through.
Solid roman shades and patterned roman shades both accept liner upgrades during customization. The heavier the liner, the better the noise absorption. Thermal liners pull double duty by improving insulation and dampening sound. Roman shades work particularly well in bedrooms, dining rooms, and formal living spaces where style matters as much as function. For more ideas on specific rooms, Bathroom Window Treatment Ideas covers another space where noise and privacy both matter.
#5. Layered Treatments: Shades Plus Drapery
Layering is the most effective approach to noise reduction with window treatments. Combining an inside-mounted cellular shade with floor-length drapery panels creates multiple barriers of different materials, each absorbing different sound frequencies. The air gaps between layers add even more dampening.
Start with cordless cellular shades mounted inside the window frame. Add heavy drapery panels on a rod mounted above and wider than the frame so the fabric extends beyond the window on all sides. Full-length panels that puddle slightly on the floor eliminate the gap at the bottom where sound sneaks through. Custom drapery with a thermal or premium blackout liner provides the densest fabric layer. For broader design inspiration on pairing window treatments, The Ultimate Guide To Window Treatments covers the full range of options.
#6. Blackout Roller Shades
Roller shades offer a clean, modern look, and blackout versions provide respectable noise reduction through dense, tightly woven fabric. While roller shades lack the air-pocket structure of cellular designs, their fabric density adds meaningful mass at the window that absorbs vibration.
Choose a cassette-mounted option for the tightest fit against the frame. A 3″ or 4″ rounded cassette with a fabric insert keeps the shade snug at the top where sound would otherwise leak around the headrail. Blackout roller shades are a strong choice for media rooms, urban apartments, and contemporary spaces where the honeycomb look of cellular shades does not match the design.
#7. No-Drill Custom Shades for Renters
Renting does not mean living with noise. No-drill custom shades snap into place using a tension headrail that secures inside the window frame without screws, tools, or wall damage. Made from premium materials and built to exact measurements, no-drill shades provide the same noise-dampening benefits as traditional installations.
Simply snap the shade into place for a secure fit, and remove it cleanly when moving out. For anyone in an apartment on a busy street, a no-drill cellular shade is a fast, landlord-friendly upgrade.
Tips for Getting the Most Noise Reduction
Gaps are the enemy. Sound finds every opening, so a tight custom fit matters more than fabric choice alone. Inside mount shades with accurate measurements outperform oversized shades with air gaps around the edges. An outside mount with 2 to 3 inches of overlap on each side is another strong option for covering the full window opening.
Thicker materials always outperform thinner ones. Double cell beats single cell. Blackout beats light filtering. Lined roman shades beat unlined. And layering two treatments together beats any single product.
Maintenance matters too. Dust and vacuum shades regularly with a soft brush attachment to keep fabrics at their full density. Never submerge any shade in water, including light filtering, blackout, and motorized styles, as water damages the materials and structure.
Custom shades ship in as little as 5 to 7 business days with free shipping across the continental U.S. A 30-day satisfaction guarantee covers free exchanges for any reason, up to four windows per household. Call (877) 702-5463 or text (858) 550-4750 for help choosing the right noise-reducing treatment.
FAQs
Double cell blackout cellular shades combined with heavy lined drapery provide the strongest noise reduction available from window treatments. The honeycomb cells trap sound in air pockets while the drapery adds dense fabric mass. Layering both together creates multiple barriers that noticeably reduce street noise, traffic sounds, and neighboring conversations.
Yes. Blackout fabrics are denser and heavier than standard light filtering materials, which means they absorb more sound vibration. A blackout cellular shade will dampen more noise than the same shade in a light filtering fabric. Adding a blackout or thermal liner to roman shades or drapery has a similar effect.
Absolutely. Adding cellular shades, lined roman shades, or layered treatments significantly reduces noise transmission through existing windows. The key is choosing dense materials, ensuring a tight fit with minimal gaps, and layering treatments when possible. For the strongest results short of replacing glass, combine inside-mount cellular shades with floor-length lined drapery.
Cellular shades have a honeycomb structure that creates air-filled pockets between layers of fabric. Sound waves pass through the glass and hit the shade, where the air pockets absorb and diffuse the energy instead of letting it travel into the room. Double cell designs create even more air chambers, increasing the amount of sound that gets absorbed before reaching living spaces.