How to Make Sound Absorbing Artwork Under $50

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If you followed our soundproofing journey, you know we dropped a LOT of money to get very little results.  Over the last several years reading articles, blog posts and forums about soundproofing, a lot of attached living peeps are losing a lot of sleep, having physical health issues or declining mental health from their neighbors.  There have been studies done that impact noises from neighbors can actually give you cardiovascular issues and sleep issues.  (I can vouch for the sleep and given I'm in a constant state of brace, I'm sure the heart stuff isn't far off either.)  

Every little bit you can do to make your home as peaceful as possible is worth trying in our book.  When throwing 5/8" 'soundproof' drywall, viscous soundproofing with caulking, puttying and the like at the problem, it created a different problem...echo.  Not only did the viscous material mentioned in the soundproofing posts not really work for us, it isolated the impact noises and made them LOUDER.  By putting all of that in our stairwell all the way around, it created an unbearable echo chamber that truly defies logic.  It reminds me of echo tunnels you would make in science class or at a museum.  This meant the slamming noises at 1 and 4am waking me up were now louder forcing me to a lifetime of raw ears from earplugs.  Before claiming a solid loss to the demons on either side of us, I had to pull out any remaining tricks to truly be able to say I did it all.

Artsy panels on Amazon and elsewhere were expensive and half of them got crappy reviews.  Well, we needed something sound absorbing, if there was such a thing,  in the stairwell and if I was going to do it, they were going to look the way I wanted them to.  I've used a company before called CanvasChamp.  (This is not sponsored- just who I used and let me be clear to use the wrap I suggest.  I got a few that were the smallest depth and it was SUPER cheap.  Pay the $3 extra.  They're still hangable but one had to be redone because it was damaged and shouldn't haven't gotten through quality control.  I'm looking for a comparable company for any future purchases.)  I ordered 20x30 prints and because I got 5 initially, I think I got one or two free.    

So here's what you'll need to make yours:

Digital print (I got mine from Etsy.  Just do a search for digital artwork.  Some of my favorite shops are North Prints, Waverly Prints, and Elm and Oak Prints.)

Canvas Print Service 

Picture Wire

Acoustic Panels

Felt Pads

Most Etsy creators will have various sales on their digital artwork.  You shouldn't need to pay more than $5-7 for your print.  (I paid lower with 50-60% off sales.)  You can also put the print in your cart and sit on it and often times within a day or less the shop owner will send you a coupon to complete the purchase.  Make sure the print has a large print option so it will print correctly when you send it off to be created.

Once you download your print, go onto CanvasChamp (if that's who you're using) and select custom size if you don't see it.

(These prices are screenshots at time of publishing.  They may vary)

Click Start Order then upload your print.

Along the left side are all of your options.  Select size will verify the size you entered.

Wrap and border is selecting how deep you want your picture to be.  Since I knew the panels I got were 3/4" deep, I chose the Thin Gallery Wrap (3/4") and did the mirror image so the entire image would be on the front of the canvas.  (You can do different edges if you prefer.)  The canvas lite wrap is flimsy, consistently horrible quality so absolutely do not choose that option unless you want a huge headache! I chose the ready to hang option which will give you the D hooks you'll need for your picture wire and under Options, I chose not to have them laminated which costs an extra $5.  It is recommended to protect it but I didn't want a shine to mine.  If it's in a higher traffic area for you, you may want to consider it which will bump up the total cost for you by $5 obviously.  Then go to the upper right corner, add to cart and it'll walk you through the rest.

I will say to make sure when you get it to check your pictures asap so you can report any potential issues.  I'm not a fan of their flimsy "box" wrapping given it has to go through customs and such but haven't had more than one small scratch on the side which wasn't worth going through a new process for me.

When you receive it, it's time to get to work.  I take the attached D rings off 

...measure down the side 4" from the top (or your preferred amount down.)  Mark it, then line up the D ring with the mark and mark the holes so you can drill a pilot hole for the new placement.  Drill your pilot holes with a drill bit slightly smaller than the screw and not too deep and attach the hardware.

Measure the hollow space on the back of your canvas where the panels will slide into and mark it on the panel.  I needed to use a utility knife to cut it because scissors won't work without wrecking your hands.  

Once you cut it, make sure it fits and doesn't need more cut off.  Ours did and when you've got the perfect fit, use that as your template to mark others if you're doing multiple pictures like we did.

Slide the cut acoustic panel into the back of the picture under the hardware you installed and it will be even with the back of the frame.  Now, grab your wire to get it attached.  We always follow this video when we're doing it because we can never seem to remember on our own.  

When the wire is wound and felt pads are attached to every corner, it's ready to hang! 

We hung the two of these at the top of our stairs since we could stack them on top of each other.

We love the way it looks, they're not too deep to interfere or be in the way.  This eliminated the echo in our hallway when we hung more and slightly reduced the sound of impact noise.  Just know this project works best for echo/deadening purposes in a space like a hallway or recording studio.

Here's the cost breakdown:

$16.17 acoustic panel

$26.50 canvas art service with sales for 20x30 

$5 digital art (maybe more or less depending on sales)

$.35 picture wire

$.26 felt pads

$48.28  (that's with using the items in the links provided and corresponding sales for CanvasChamp and Etsy which are pretty constant.)

I'm not saying these are going to solve all of your problems but having as many items to absorb sound between you and your neighbors, street noise, or whatever is peeving off your ears is worth it for any step toward a more peaceful home.  (Plus you get some cool art where you control what it looks like, not some company that would charge you a minimum of twice the price for it.  Another win!)

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