When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

Nothing makes a workspace more conducive for knocking out tasks than a feeling of control over the noise level.

That’s because there’s nothing obstructing soundwaves as they pass through the open air.

What is active noise cancellation

The softer and thicker, the better.

But anything is better than nothing.

For more preventative measures, read on.

A Steelcase Gesture office chair in a home office

But for those unacquainted, let me introduce you to the beauty of insulating foam window liners.

The thicker your curtains are, the more sound they’ll absorb.

They can also help keep heat in during the winter and block punishing sunbeams during the peak of summer.

Man insulating a window

Use noise-canceling headphones

Headphones with noise-cancellation features are a game-changer when it comes to blocking out ambient sound.

Thebest noise-canceling headphoneswork by listening to ambient noise and blasting back soundwaves with the same frequency but opposing waves.

When the two sounds meet just outside your ear, they cancel each other out.

Curtains on window

The result is flawless elimination of even the most persistent noise.

Theyre incredibly comfortable as well, and the sound is amongst the best around.

He and I both know the solution: investing in one of thebest microphoneswith noise-canceling features.

Sony WH-XB900N Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Much like headphones, microphones cancel out ambient noise by directly recording and interpreting it using an algorithm.

The Blue Yeti is ideal for multiple applications.

The five ideas I mentioned here were the most effective for me.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

More from Tom’s Guide

The Shure MV7I, a black microphone with a black muff, touch LED pad, XLR connection and TRS input and USB-C input at the rear, photograhped against a blue tom’s guide background with a pair of over-ear wired headphones

Blue Yeti

Vari Task Chair- Varidesk…

HON Ignition 2.0 4-Way…

Branch Verve Chair - High…

X-Chair X2 Management Task…

How to build a gaming PC: Picking your parts

White living room

A pair of prescription blue light blocking glasses

An angled view of the distraction-free desk setup I built around the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro

Using an under-desk elliptical while working seated at a desk

The FlexiSpot E7 Plus standing desk set up in a corner next to a fire place

The Steelcase Karman High Back in front of a desk

The Vari L-Shape Desk with a Vari Task Chair with a Tom�s Guide Amazon Big Spring Sale deals badge

A dual-monitor setup built around the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 and the Geekom A6 mini PC

A Haworth Fern office chair in a home office with a deal badge

MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) on a patio table

Bed bugs

Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.

Ninja Air Fryer

Christopher Meloni as Det. Elliot Stabler in "Law & Order: Organized Crime" season 5

John Cena confronts Cody Rhodes ahead of their WWE WrestleMania 41 match.

Fire TV interface on the Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd gen)