How to Improve Acoustic & Thermal Insulation Without Major Renovation

Insulationg without major work - tips Studio Bisson — Work in Progress - Source Pinterest

Whether acoustic or thermal, insulation is one of the key aspects to consider when renovating a home.

Good thermal insulation helps reduce both environmental and energy costs by limiting heat loss, while acoustic insulation plays an essential role in our overall well-being. Noise can have a significant impact on our mental state, creating discomfort, stress, and even affecting sleep quality and concentration.

For optimal thermal and acoustic insulation, these elements should ideally be considered from the construction stage — or, when that’s not possible, during a renovation. Insulating layers can then be integrated into walls, floors, and ceilings, combined with double (or even triple) glazing and carefully selected materials. While protecting a space from noise, it’s also important not to compromise ventilation, which remains essential for maintaining a healthy indoor environment.

Unfortunately, large-scale renovations aren’t always an option — and going back in time to rethink the original construction isn’t either. So, is it possible to improve insulation without undertaking major work?

There are materials specifically designed for thermal insulation and others for acoustic insulation. In this article, we approach both in the same way, as aside from certain highly specialized solutions for “perfect” insulation, many practical strategies apply to both thermal and sound insulation. In everyday interiors, the two often go hand in hand.

This article is therefore dedicated to sharing all of our practical tips!

I. Our tips

How can you improve insulation? To answer this question, it’s important to understand two fundamental principles: the law of mass and the principle of airtightness.

The law of mass means that the heavier a material is, the better it insulates. The principle of airtightness encourages us to block air leaks — because wherever air can pass, sound and heat can travel as well.

Avoid Air Leaks
If undertaking a full renovation isn’t an option, it’s still possible to carry out small interventions to improve airtightness. For example, applying silicone or rubber seals around window frames and door surrounds can significantly reduce air infiltration. A simple draft stopper placed at the bottom of a door helps prevent air currents, providing insulation not only against the cold but also against noise.

2. Pay Attention to Electrical Appliances

Refrigerators, printers, computers… even when on standby, these appliances can generate noise — some more than others. That’s why it’s important to check their noise level when purchasing new equipment, using the information provided on energy labels.

Of course, we don’t expect you to replace all your appliances to improve the acoustics of your space. When equipment is already in place, using felt pads or anti-vibration feet underneath appliances can help, as well as defining their area with small partitions. These can take the form of bookshelves, acoustic foam, or lightweight mobile screens — each project calls for its own tailored solution.

3. Textile

Fabrics — especially when they are heavy and thick — absorb sound and bring warmth to a space. The more textile elements you introduce, the less echo you’ll experience. Consider placing oversized rugs on the floor, wallpaper or fabric wall hangings on the walls, and thick curtains at the windows or as room dividers.

While most fabrics naturally provide some level of sound insulation, you can enhance their performance by choosing acoustic curtains or even sound-absorbing paint.

4. Optimize the Layout for Better Comfort

Avoid placing your bed against a wall shared with household appliances, a bathroom, or neighboring apartments. Instead, reserve these walls for functions such as a home office, dressing area, or bookcase. Similarly, for better thermal comfort, try to keep distance from exterior-facing walls and windows. This principle applies to all living spaces — including where you place your sofa in the living room.

5. Structure large spaces

Large, empty spaces are often prone to sound reverberation. At the same time, it’s important to preserve the feeling of openness that makes these spaces so appealing. To achieve both, we recommend defining distinct zones using furniture and, if needed, lightweight partitions. These can be made from acoustic panels, allowing you to organize the space without compromising its visual volume.

Furniture itself absorbs sound while remaining flexible and easy to move. There’s no need for major construction work, and you can continue to adapt your interior as seasons and needs change. The good news? These partitions can also be customized.

Lofts, restaurants, open-plan offices — all of these spaces deserve both comfort and thoughtful design 😊

6. Furniture: Our Greatest Ally

Wooden furniture is an excellent insulating element within an interior. By incorporating shelving units, wardrobes, or — most importantly — a large bookcase, you can significantly improve the insulation of a room. Wood is a very effective insulator due to its low thermal conductivity. To give a point of comparison, wood’s thermal conductivity is six times lower than that of brick and fifteen times lower than that of concrete.

This gives a clear sense of the insulating impact a full-height wooden bookcase can have when covering an entire wall. The effect is further enhanced by the objects placed within it: books, plants, and decorative pieces all contribute to absorbing sound and limiting air movement, depending on their material.

So don’t hesitate to fill your shelves — they play a much bigger role than you might think.

II. Our Signature Approach

At Studio Bisson, we approach insulation as part of a broader interior design strategy — not as a standalone technical fix. Improving acoustic and thermal comfort means looking at the space as a whole: its layout, materials, finishes, furniture, and how it’s used on a daily basis.

Over the years, we’ve developed close collaborations with skilled artisans and material experts, depening our understanding of technical materials like glass wool or acoustic foams, which can be discreetly integrated behind fabrics and finishes.

Rather than focusing on a single object, we now incorporate these solutions into complete interior projects — through wall treatments, built-in elements, partitions, and carefully selected furnishings. By combining architectural design, thoughtful material choices, and technical performance, we create spaces that are both comfortable and coherent, without compromising aesthetics.

This approach also opens up new creative possibilities. Textiles can soften a space visually and acoustically, technical layers can remain invisible, and materials like wood, fabric, and mineral finishes can work together seamlessly. Comfort becomes part of the design language itself — subtle, efficient, and tailored to each project.

Conclusion

Identifying where noise and heat loss come from is the first step toward choosing the most effective solutions — without necessarily resorting to major or costly renovation work. As we often say, designing better also means consuming more thoughtfully.

Today, at Studio Bisson, we approach these questions holistically, as part of a broader interior design process. By analyzing your space as a whole — its layout, materials, furniture, and everyday use — we’re able to propose solutions that improve comfort while remaining coherent with the overall design of your home. Thoughtful interiors are built through careful observation, informed choices, and a deep understanding of how spaces are truly lived in.

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