Not a room for music, but a small office for my psychotherapy practice. I recently rented a cheap space in an old office building when I expanded my private practice to include one day a week in a town 30 miles away. I need some ideas for inexpensive fixes regarding the accoustics of the room, as well as some soundproofing.

I need to spend as little as possible to make it a workable space for it's purpose.

The office is 15 ft. square. 10 ft. ceiling. Marble floor. Plaster walls. One large 6.5 ft. x 5.5 ft. window. Wooden door to the corridor with open, non-closable wooden baffles at the bottom, probably for air circulation to the hall. The building was built in the late 50's, pre AC. (Has central AC now.) I need to deaden the accoustics, at least somewhat. Right now the echo and ring from our voices make it hard to hear, and makes it feel like a public rather than a private, safe space. I have several clients who are somewhat hard of of hearing, and I also have some hearing impairment. Voices get raised in an effort to compensate.

I can afford to buy a couple of area rugs for the floor but that won't be enough. I'm thinking that hanging fabric from the walls will help, but can't afford rugs or heavy tapestries or the heavy-duty hardware it would take to hang them. Anyone know how much effect hanging lighter-weight fabrics might have on dampening the sound in such an environment? I would like to not have to hang heavy curtains over the window and keep them closed. Natural light is good and it is a 4th floor office so privacy is not an issue. Would sheers have any sound dampening effect over the window?

I am going to put foam insulation over the door vent and bring in a white noise machine to set in the corridor. If I can deaden the accoustics of the room sufficiently, those two additional measures should insure that people in the corridor can not hear what is being said in the office. The only office next to mine is another psychotherapist, and we aren't there on the same days, so I'm not concerned about that.

Will appreciate any sharing of knowledge or experience.

Janie