Do You Feel Guilty Every Time You Say ‘Be Quiet’?#
Since starting remote work, how many times have you said these words?
“Be quiet”
“I’m in a meeting now”
“Talk to me later”
Warning family during every web meeting. Stopping children’s play sounds. Being on edge about partner’s living sounds. The guilt felt each time. And family relationships gradually becoming strained.
Remote work has brought “new stress” to many Japanese households. That is sound troubles with family.
According to surveys, people bothered by sounds during telework cite “family talking,” “children’s voices,” and “cohabitating family’s telework sounds,” with approximately 20% each. This is not just your problem.
This article will help you understand the essence of family sound troubles in telework and propose soundproofing solutions that protect family relationships while ensuring work concentration.
The True Nature of Stress from ‘Constantly Nagging Family’#
The Contradiction of Blaming Family When They’re ‘Not Wrong’#
What’s important here is that family did nothing wrong.
It’s natural for children to play. It’s natural for partners to do housework. When family talks to you, it’s because they care about you. They’re just “living normally” and not trying to disturb you.
However, you fear children’s voices during meetings, get irritated when talked to while trying to concentrate, and are on edge about living sounds. And you end up saying “be quiet.”
This contradiction brings strong guilt to you.
“Am I being cold to my family?”
“Am I hindering my children’s growth?”
“Is my home becoming an uncomfortable place?”
Such self-loathing and guilt accumulate daily.
Family’s Stress Is Also Serious#
This problem causes significant stress not just for you but also for family members.
For children, home was a “place to play freely.” But now it’s become a “place where they must be quiet.” If they’re loud they’re scolded, they must suppress laughter, and they feel cramped in their own home.
Partners are the same. They’re told housework is “too noisy,” when they try to talk they’re pushed away with “I’m busy now.” They might feel treated like “intruders” in their own home.
If this situation continues, family relationships will definitely deteriorate.
The Suffering of Having ‘No Boundaries’#
The fundamental problem of remote work is the lack of boundaries between work and life.
In offices, physical “walls” separated work and life. Office time was work mode, returning home was life mode. This switching was clear.
However, in remote work, both work and life occur in the same space. Meeting in the living room, creating documents in the bedroom, replying to emails at the dining table. For family, it’s impossible to judge whether you’re in “work mode” or “life mode.”
And you yourself can’t switch, constantly placed in a half-work, half-family ambiguous state.
The ‘Side Effect’ of Soundproofing: Restoring Family Relationships#
Physical Boundaries Create Psychological Boundaries#
Here the true value of soundproofing measures becomes apparent.
Soundproofing measures don’t just “block sound.” They mean creating physical boundaries, and those boundaries generate psychological boundaries.
For example, suppose you introduce a unit-type soundproof room. When you’re inside the soundproof room, family can clearly understand “now is work time.” And you can give yourself permission that “inside here, I can focus on work.”
Conversely, when you exit the soundproof room, you can switch to “now is family time.” Both family and you can respect each other’s “modes.”
The Liberation of Not Having to Say ‘Be Quiet’#
The greatest value of soundproofing measures is not having to say ‘be quiet.’
Inside a soundproof room, outside sounds don’t bother you. Even if children are playing or your partner is vacuuming, it doesn’t affect your meetings.
In other words, there’s no need to force family to endure.
Children can play freely. Partners can do housework without worry. And you can concentrate on work without feeling guilty.
This state of “not having to endure each other” dramatically improves family relationships.
Survey Data Shows the Importance of ‘Private Rooms’#
Japanese condominium surveys reveal that about 60% of teleworkers desire a private room of about 4.5 tatami.
This has meaning beyond simply “wanting a quiet place.” It’s an expression of the desperate wish to “have a space that separates work and life.”
Soundproof rooms realize exactly this “private room.” Even if installed in a corner of the living room, inside it becomes a completely independent “your workplace.”
Budget-Based Solutions: Creating Boundaries with Family#
[Budget Under ¥100,000] Simple Partitions#
First, as a low-budget measure to try, there are partitions.
Using commercially available partitions or tension-pole room dividers to partition a corner of the living room as a “work space.” Just this creates a visual boundary with family and signals “now is work time” to them.
However, there’s almost no sound blocking effect. Consider this as just creating a “visual boundary.”
Cost estimate: ¥10,000-¥50,000 (~$70-$350 USD)
[Budget Around ¥500,000] Soundproofing Existing Private Rooms#
If you have an unused room at home or a convertible room, there’s a method to soundproof that room.
Door Gap Measures
Apply gap tape to door bottoms and frames to seal sound entry routes.
Cost estimate: ¥2,000-¥5,000 (~$14-$35 USD)
Inner Window Installation on Windows
Blocks external noise and makes indoor sounds less likely to leak out.
Cost estimate: ¥50,000-¥150,000 (~$350-$1,000 USD) per window
Soundproof Curtains
Slightly reduces sound leakage from windows.
Cost estimate: ¥5,000-¥15,000 (~$35-$100 USD)
Combining these can transform an existing private room into a simple soundproof space. However, complete sound insulation is difficult and effectiveness is limited.
[Budget Around ¥1,000,000] Unit-Type Soundproof Rooms#
To fundamentally solve sound troubles with family, unit-type soundproof rooms are the most reliable option.
Unit-type soundproof rooms are “box-shaped soundproof spaces” installed inside existing rooms. They have the following features:
- High sound insulation performance: Dr-30 to Dr-35 (outside sounds almost inaudible)
- No construction required: Installable even in Japanese rentals
- Relocatable: Can be disassembled and moved when relocating
| Size | Use | Price Range | Sound Insulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8 tatami | Desk + chair only | From ¥770,000 (~$5,300 USD) | Dr-30 |
| 1.2 tatami | Desk + small storage | From ¥900,000 (~$6,200 USD) | Dr-35 |
| 1.5 tatami | Spacious work area | From ¥1,000,000 (~$6,900 USD) | Dr-35 |
Inside the soundproof room, family’s outside living sounds are completely inaudible. Conversely, your meeting voices don’t leak outside. In other words, you can both live without worrying about each other.
[Rent +20-30% Increase] Moving to Soundproof Rental#
Another option is moving to a soundproof rental condominium.
Soundproof rentals have entire buildings designed with high sound insulation performance, and sounds from adjacent units or upper/lower floors are almost inaudible. All family members can live without worrying about sounds, and QOL (Quality of Life) significantly improves.
However, there are the following constraints:
- Rent is 20-30% higher than market rate
- Extremely few properties (about 0.05% of total in Tokyo’s 23 wards)
- Limited locations
Soundproof rental is an ideal solution, but whether properties can be found depends on luck. It’s realistic to first search for soundproof properties in your living area, and if not found, consider unit-type soundproof rooms.
Comparing Unit-Type Soundproof Rooms and Soundproof Rentals#
So which is suitable for you, unit-type soundproof rooms or soundproof rental?
| Comparison Item | Unit-Type Soundproof Room | Soundproof Rental |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | From ¥770,000 | Security/key money (4-6 months rent) |
| Monthly Cost | None | Rent 20-30% above market rate |
| Soundproofing Range | Inside room only (0.8-2 tatami) | Entire home |
| Installation/Moving In | Same day to several days | Can move in immediately if property found |
| When Relocating | Can disassemble and transport | Must search for property again |
| Number of Properties | Can install anywhere | About 0.05% in Tokyo 23 wards |
| Family QOL | Freedom outside room | Entire home is comfortable |
Unit-Type Soundproof Room Merits: Can definitely introduce, can continue using when relocating
Soundproof Rental Merits: Entire family can live comfortably
Which to choose depends on your priorities.
Summary: Investment to Protect Family Relationships#
Continuously saying “be quiet” causes significant stress for both you and your family. If left as is, family relationships will definitely deteriorate.
Soundproofing measures don’t just “block sound.” They are means to create boundaries between work and life and restore family relationships.
Solutions by budget are summarized:
- Budget under ¥100,000: Create visual boundaries with partitions (can’t prevent sound)
- Budget around ¥500,000: Soundproof existing private rooms (limited effectiveness)
- Budget around ¥1,000,000: Unit-type soundproof room (most reliable)
- Rent +20-30% increase: Move to soundproof rental (few properties)
Investment in soundproofing is not a “luxury.” It’s “necessary investment” to protect your work quality, family relationships, and mental well-being.
Silence provides time for the brain to become “blank,” directly leading to improved concentration, creativity expression, and stress reduction. And above all, the liberation of not having to say “be quiet” to family transforms your home back into a “comfortable place.”
First, try searching for soundproof rental properties in your living area. If not found, try experiencing a soundproof room at a nearby music store. At Yamaha and Kawai showrooms, you can enter actual soundproof rooms and experience the silence.
In that silence, you should be able to imagine “a future where work and family coexist.”