Best Flooring Choices for Noise Reduction

What Flooring Choices Will Help Reduce Noise In Your Home?

A peaceful home is something everyone appreciates. Whether you live in a busy household with kids, a condo building with neighbours nearby, or a multi-story home, controlling noise can make a big difference in everyday comfort. Choosing the right sound reducing flooring can help soften footsteps, absorb echoes, and create a calmer living environment.

At Flooring Liquidators, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping homeowners, builders, and designers select flooring that balances beauty with practicality. With 16 showrooms across Ontario and shipping available nationwide across Canada, we offer a wide range of flooring solutions designed to enhance both style and comfort—including options specifically designed to reduce noise.

Why Flooring Matters for Noise Control

Not all flooring materials handle sound the same way. Hard surfaces like tile or traditional hardwood tend to reflect sound, while softer materials absorb it. The right flooring can significantly reduce impact noise—such as footsteps or dropped objects—and airborne sounds like voices or music.

Professionals often evaluate flooring using ratings like STC (Sound Transmission Class) and IIC (Impact Insulation Class). These ratings help measure how well a floor assembly blocks or absorbs sound. As explained in this overview of soundproofing, reducing noise typically involves combining materials that absorb vibration and prevent sound waves from traveling through structures.

With the right flooring and installation approach, you can create a noticeably quieter home.

Best Sound Reducing Flooring Options

Carpet: The Natural Sound Absorber

Carpet remains one of the most effective flooring options for reducing noise. Its soft fibers and cushioned underpadding absorb sound rather than reflecting it, making rooms feel quieter and more comfortable.

Carpet is especially popular for bedrooms, kids’ rooms, home theatres, and upper floors where footsteps might otherwise travel through ceilings. Carpet tiles can also be a great option for basements or playrooms where both comfort and sound control matter.

Explore carpet options here.

Cork Flooring

Cork flooring has become increasingly popular for homeowners looking for eco-friendly flooring with natural sound insulation. The cellular structure of cork contains tiny air pockets that help absorb vibrations and dampen noise.

In addition to sound reduction, cork flooring feels soft underfoot and offers natural warmth, making it ideal for living spaces and home offices.

Luxury Vinyl with Acoustic Underlay

Luxury vinyl flooring is known for its durability and versatility, but when paired with an acoustic underlay, it also becomes an excellent sound-reducing option. The added underlayment helps absorb impact noise while maintaining the sleek, modern appearance many homeowners love.

This makes vinyl flooring a practical choice for condos, apartments, and upper-floor living areas where sound control is especially important.

Rubber Flooring

Rubber flooring is commonly used in gyms and commercial environments, but it’s also becoming a popular residential option in spaces where sound reduction is a priority. Its dense yet flexible structure absorbs vibrations effectively, helping reduce noise from movement and impact.

Rubber flooring works particularly well in home gyms, playrooms, and utility areas.

Additional Soundproofing Strategies

Beyond flooring materials themselves, several installation choices can improve noise control:

• Adding high-quality underlayment beneath flooring
• Using thicker subfloor systems
• Incorporating area rugs in high-traffic areas
• Choosing professional installation to ensure proper acoustic performance

At Flooring Liquidators, our experienced team understands how different flooring systems work together to reduce noise while maintaining long-lasting durability.

Create a Quieter, More Comfortable Home

Selecting the right sound reducing flooring can transform the atmosphere of your home, making it feel calmer, cozier, and more enjoyable for everyone who lives there.

Flooring Liquidators carries a wide range of luxury flooring products—from hardwood and laminate to carpet, vinyl, and specialty materials—sourced from trusted domestic and international brands. With over two decades of experience and 16 locations across Ontario, we proudly serve homeowners, builders, contractors, and designers across Canada.

If you’re ready to upgrade your space with quieter, more comfortable flooring, our professional installation team is here to help. Get started today by requesting a quote here.