What's the best way to add soundproofing to an open-concept stairwell that carries noise between floors?

An open-concept stairwell is one of the most difficult noise transmission paths to address in a home because it functions as a vertical chimney for sound — voices, television audio, kitchen noise, and music travel freely up and down through the open volume with almost no resistance. This is a particularly common complaint in Ottawa's newer two-storey homes across Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville, and Orleans, where open-concept main floors with dramatic two-storey foyers and open staircases are standard builder features.
The most honest answer is that you cannot fully soundproof an open stairwell without enclosing it, and even partial enclosure involves significant design and construction decisions. But there are several strategies that can meaningfully reduce the noise transfer, ranging from simple and affordable to more involved renovations.
Practical Strategies Ranked by Effectiveness
The single most effective approach is to add a door at the top or bottom of the stairwell. A solid-core door in a properly sealed frame — with compression weatherstripping on the jamb and an automatic door bottom seal — can reduce noise transmission through the stairwell by 25 to 30 dB, which is the difference between hearing every word clearly and hearing only a faint murmur. In Ottawa, having a carpenter frame in a doorway and hang a solid-core door with acoustic seals runs approximately $1,500 to $3,500 depending on the opening size and finish requirements. This is by far the best return on investment for stairwell noise.
If a door is not architecturally feasible or desirable, consider a heavy acoustic curtain spanning the stairwell opening. Products like Audimute or residential-grade sound curtains weighing 1 to 2 pounds per square foot can reduce noise by 10 to 15 dB when hung from a ceiling-mounted track. At $300 to $800 per opening, this is a lower-cost option, though significantly less effective than a solid door. The curtain needs to cover the entire opening with overlap at the edges and should reach the floor to minimize gaps.
Complementary treatments that help regardless of whether you add a door or curtain include: treating the stairwell walls and ceiling with additional drywall and Green Glue to add mass and reduce reflected sound energy bouncing up the shaft; adding thick carpet with a dense underpad on the stairs themselves to reduce impact noise from footsteps; and installing acoustic panels on the stairwell walls to absorb reflected sound and reduce the echo-chamber effect that amplifies noise transmission. The carpet and pad alone can reduce footstep noise by 20 to 25 dB compared to hardwood stairs.
For homes where the stairwell connects to an open-concept main floor, also consider the source of the noise. Treating the ceiling above the living area with acoustic panels to reduce reverberation, relocating the television to a wall away from the stairwell opening, and adding soft furnishings like heavy area rugs and upholstered furniture all reduce the amount of sound energy reaching the stairwell in the first place. A soundproofing professional can assess your specific layout and recommend the most practical combination of treatments — Ottawa Soundproofing's Sound IQ is a good starting point for understanding your options.Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:Luxe Painting and Renovations JC CarpentryEastern Residential SolutionPure Flow Water Solutions inc.CallandgoneView all contractors →