Designing a Great-Sounding Piano Room

10 ways to improve the sound of your piano by changing the acoustics of your room.

When my fiancé and I bought our home, one of the most important factors in our search was finding a home with a proper music room. I had always dreamed of owning a grand and needed a dedicated space where that dream could come true.

Having sold over 1,000 pianos, worked with concert halls and conservatories, taken interior design and sound engineering courses, and finally bringing home my very own grand piano, I can tell you firsthand: your piano will sound different at home than it does in the showroom.

Of course the first thing I wanted to do was call my technician to voice the piano. I wanted it PERFECT right then and there but I know all to well, the last thing you want to do is touch the hammers. Voicing should be a final resort. There’s so much you can do before that to achieve a warmer, richer sound at home.

Below are 10 practical, proven ways to transform your room and bring out the best in your piano.

1. Room Layout and Design

• Avoid Perfectly Square Rooms: Square rooms create standing waves and uneven bass. If possible, use a rectangular space or angle the piano slightly.

• Keep It Off-Center: Avoid parallel walls. Grand pianos sound best when the lid faces into the room rather than toward a wall.

• Add Plants: Large, leafy plants act as subtle sound diffusers and absorbers, while softening the room visually.

2. Adjust the Piano’s Placement

• Uprights: Position the piano 6–12 inches away from the wall to prevent harsh sound reflections.

• Grands: Experiment with lid position. Try using the half-stick or closed lid creates a warmer, more intimate tone.

• Avoid placing any piano directly in a corner or alcove, which can amplify brightness and high frequencies.

3. Add Soft Surfaces to the Room

Incorporate thick fabrics and upholstered furniture to absorb high frequencies. Curtains, throw blankets, and plush seating all help tame harshness and smooth out the sound.

4. Avoid Hard Echoes

Bare walls, large windows, and tall ceilings can make the tone feel sharp or metallic. Hang fabric wall panels, drapes, or a decorative tapestry behind or near the piano to soften reflections.

5. Add a Thick Rug Under the Piano

On hardwood or tile floors, use a thick rug with a pad underneath rather than a flat rug. The extra cushioning makes a noticeable difference. It absorbs reflections and helps round out the tone beautifully.

6. Use Bookshelves as Natural Diffusers

A full bookshelf (with uneven shapes and depths) breaks up sound waves and prevents echo. Place it opposite your piano or along reflective walls for a balanced, natural tone.

7. Curtains and Drapes

Heavy, pleated curtains over windows reduce reflections dramatically. The thicker and more textured, the better.

8. Acoustic Treatments (The Most Effective Room Enhancements)

• Inside the Piano: For acoustic uprights or grands, small pieces of acoustic foam can be discreetly placed along the back braces of an upright or under bracing of a grand to absorb excess brightness. Do this carefully with very soft acoustic foam and do not pack foam. It should be lightly in place so as to not create any pressure against the sound board.

• Bass Traps: Corners amplify low frequencies. Adding bass traps helps even out the room’s sound.

• Wall Panels: Fabric-wrapped foam or fiberglass panels absorb mid and high frequencies that cause harsh reflections. Start with panels at ear level along the first reflection points.

• Ceiling Clouds: Hanging panels or thick absorbers from the ceiling reduces echo and adds intimacy. This is especially effective in high-ceiling rooms.

9. Tune Slightly Lower (Optional)

Some technicians tune to A442. Most tune to A440. For a warmer sound, ensure your piano is tuned to A440. Some technicians may even set the pitch a few cents below A440 for a gentler, more relaxed sound. The difference is subtle, but it can make the tone feel smoother and less edgy.

10. Have the Piano Voiced (Last Resort)

A skilled technician can voice the hammers to soften the felt, reducing brightness and creating a rounder, more mellow tone. This is the most direct and effective way to warm a bright piano but it should come after you’ve optimized your room acoustics first.

Final Thoughts

Pick and choose which options above are right for you. I recommend trying one thing at a time to discover which applications work best in your space. Not only will this help you save money, it will also ensure that you do not accidentally overly dull the acoustics of the space either. 

If you have tried the adjustments you feel comfortable with but still haven't achieved the optimal tone, call your piano technician and speak to them about voicing. You should NEVER attempt to tune or voice your piano yourself. 

Conclusion

Before you call your technician for a voicing, (which irreversibly augments your piano's hammers by needling or steaming the felt) look around your space. The warmth you’re seeking is often attainable through simple adjustments to the space rather than to the piano.