If you have an apartment with Pergo or hardwood floors in an older building that doesn't have a lot of insulation will rugs, curtains and the like help with reducing noise transmission to other units?
I imagine the carpets would help reduce echo, so would lots of things in the room. Heat would help as well. You can't really reduce the sound and could probably only make a small effect after the carpet and curtain way
It's funny you mentioned water torture. Actually, having a water feature like a fountain or anything that makes a running water noise will help. Place it near a window. I once lived a few doors down from a pedestrian crosswalk in Japan that beeped with one sound for all blind people crossing one direction, and a different beep for going across the other side of the intersection. It was 24 hours a day, and switched about every 25 seconds. I thought I would die at first, but after 3 years (ha ha!) I barely noticed it! Good luck to you!
Enormously. Just the addition of a few rugs and curtains will significantly deaden noise. If you want proof--go to your bathroom and remove all the rugs/shower curtains/window coverings you have in that space. Even if you don't have shower curtains (like a glass door, instead) remove everything you have on the counters or hangers--towels, etc. That hollow sound you hear in the bathroom, it happens all over your house, its just in larger areas so you don't notice it with all your furniture and things there. If you put a rug over a hardwood floor, It will definitely help to deaden the sound of footsteps to the neighbours below. Curtains/ bamboo shades/ etc., even light ones, will both make a significant difference to the sound that escapes your house and comes from other people outside AND to the coolness or warmth within your home.
