Deadening sound in a VERY LOUD 1950's house?

[somewoman]

If you're willing to spend the money you could rip out the walls of that room and use soundproof insulation and plasterboard. Between the two they're meant to cut out something insane like 90% of noise. Add door snakes, rugs, talc and you should have the problem licked.

Seriously won't be cheap, though...

[AnyDream]

You could try hanging a decorative quilt on one wall, it will help mop up the sound the same way heavy drapes would.

[Netix]

Oooh, MD, much prettier than my idea! I was going to suggest canite panels. Sorry, not sure on the spelling, but its a fibre board that often gets used for pin boards. Cheaper than replastering (and putting in proper insulation) if you needed a stopgap. To pretty them up you could cover them in a nice fabric and even frame them (and just put a new fabric cover on for a change). Attach to the walls as large panels.

I think one of the underfloor insulations is called expol, and it fits up between the bearers, right under the boards. Its not like batting or anything, its very compact, and helps keep the floor from being too cold (which growing up in an old house with boards, would have been heaven!).

[CrazyLady]

You could try hanging a decorative quilt on one wall, it will help mop up the sound the same way heavy drapes would.

I have a giant indian woven wall hanging on the wall between her room and the dining room. It has stopped a little of the noise.

We have to replaster the room because it's the old rendered plaster on fibreglass back so might look at soundproofing materials. Maybe if we put that pinboard material inside the panels it might help.

Thanks for the input ladies, much appreciated