Quick answer: Place acoustic panels first on the surfaces closest to where people sit and talk, then on one of each pair of facing walls, then on the ceiling in large or tall rooms. Hang wall panels at seated or standing ear height (about 1–2 m). In studios, start at the first reflection points and corners; in churches, the rear wall.

Key takeaways

  • Near the people → facing walls → ceiling.
  • Hang at ear height for the room’s use.
  • Spread panels out rather than clustering them.

The general order

  1. Near the people. The walls closest to tables, desks or seats.
  2. Facing walls. One of each pair to stop flutter echo (a fast, ringing echo between two bare walls).
  3. The ceiling. In big, tall or hard-ceiling rooms.
  4. Spread out. Several panels across walls beat one big block.

What height should panels go?

Centre them roughly at ear height for how the room is used: about 1.0–1.4 m for seated rooms, a bit higher for standing spaces. In halls and gyms, panels can go higher to avoid damage. Keep the bottom edge clear of chairs and tables that could knock the fabric.

Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our acoustic panels Singapore and recent projects.

Where to put acoustic panels first infographic

By room type

See the table. Each room has one surface that matters most, so start there. Then add panels on facing walls until about 20–40% of the walls (20–40%) are covered. In big or tall rooms, the ceiling usually comes next.

Where to start, by room

  • Meeting room · Start here: Walls beside table + screen wall
  • Open-plan office · Start here: Ceiling above desks
  • Restaurant · Start here: Ceiling, then long facing walls
  • Home cinema · Start here: Side walls at ear height, back wall
  • Studio · Start here: First reflection points + corners
  • Church · Start here: Rear wall, then side walls
  • Classroom · Start here: Back wall, then side walls

Studios and home cinemas

Start with the first reflection points using the mirror trick, then bass traps (thick corner panels that soak up deep, boomy sound) in the corners. Add a ceiling cloud above the desk or seat after that. In home cinemas, the side walls at ear height matter most for clear dialogue. See first reflection points and bass traps.

What we see on real jobs

A common placement mistake is putting panels high up on one wall because it was easy. Moving the same panels down to ear height on two adjacent walls can make a clear difference without buying more.

Get a straight answer for your room

Send us a photo or a short video of the room on WhatsApp (+65 8930 1905). We'll reply with whether panels are the right fix, how many you need, where they go and the price. If it's really a soundproofing problem, we'll tell you.

WhatsApp us a photo · Request a free quote · See prices

Related reading