Home acoustics 101: What simple changes dramatically improve call quality?

Poor acoustics can undermine your professional presence on calls regardless of how good your microphone is. Many remote workers struggle with echo, reverb, and background noise that make them sound unprofessional or difficult to understand. Fortunately, you don't need expensive renovations or specialized equipment to dramatically improve your call acoustics. Simple, strategic changes to your environment can transform how you sound to others.

Understanding home acoustics basics

Most home acoustic problems stem from hard, flat surfaces that reflect sound waves, creating echo and reverberation. When you speak, your voice bounces off these surfaces multiple times before reaching your microphone, resulting in that "hollow" sound quality many remote workers struggle with. The goal of acoustic treatment is to add soft, irregular surfaces that absorb and diffuse these reflections.

The most problematic reflective surfaces are typically walls, uncovered windows, hardwood or tile floors, and large furniture with hard, flat surfaces. Identifying and treating these "reflection points" is the foundation of acoustic improvement.

Strategic soft surface placement

The most effective acoustic improvement comes from strategically placing soft, absorptive materials at the points where sound reflections occur between you and your microphone. Start by identifying your "first reflection points" – these are the spots on walls, ceiling, and desk where sound from your voice would bounce like a billiard ball to reach your microphone.

For most setups, the most important areas to treat are:

• The wall directly behind your monitor/camera
• The wall directly behind you
• The desk surface between you and your microphone
• Large, bare walls to your immediate left and right

A thick throw blanket hung on the wall behind you can dramatically reduce echo. For a more professional look, consider decorative acoustic panels or canvas artwork, which provide absorption while enhancing your workspace aesthetics. Mounting these panels at the height where your voice typically projects (usually 3-5 feet from the floor) provides the greatest benefit.

No-cost acoustic improvements

If you're not ready to purchase acoustic materials, several no-cost adjustments can still significantly improve call quality:

• Reposition your workspace away from the center of large rooms to reduce echo
• Work in smaller rooms with more irregular shapes when possible
• Position yourself near soft furnishings like couches or beds during important calls
• Place a folded towel on your desk between you and your microphone
• Hang clothing, towels, or blankets temporarily on nearby walls during critical calls

Even opening closet doors near your workspace can help, as clothing is excellent for absorbing sound reflections. Some remote workers use a busy light not just for signaling availability but also as a reminder to implement their temporary acoustic treatments before important calls. For more on how busy lights can support your workflow, see How do busy lights work in a home office?.

Simple purchases with major impact

If you're willing to make small investments, these items provide exceptional acoustic improvement relative to their cost:

• A small desk mat or mouse pad made of fabric rather than plastic
• A decorative tapestry or fabric wall hanging for the wall behind you
• Strategically placed bookshelves filled with books of various sizes (creating irregular surfaces that diffuse sound)
• A small rug if you have hard flooring
• Curtains for uncovered windows (which are major sources of reflection)

The key to effective acoustic treatment isn't covering every inch of your space, but rather identifying and treating the specific reflection points that impact your microphone the most. Even treating 20% of your reflection points can eliminate 80% of acoustic problems, making you sound dramatically more professional on calls.

For more tips on optimizing your remote work environment, see How can I preserve my voice when I'm on calls most of the day? and How do I recover focus between back-to-back meetings?.