My Exciting Journey: Building the Perfect Home Recording Booth for Voice Overs - Part One

I’m embarking on a new adventure—creating the perfect home recording booth! And since no journey is complete without a bit of company, I thought, why not bring you along?

Finding the Right Space

As a voiceover artist just starting out, I quickly realised that having a dedicated space for quality recordings is essential. Not only does it elevate my sound, but it also creates a comfortable, distraction-free environment that fosters creativity.

This has been the toughest decision so far. I live at home with my mum, nan, and a menagerie of animal companions—so space is limited - and rather noisy!

At first, I considered getting rid of a ton of clothes (along with the dresser they live in), but let’s be honest—I’d only end up regretting it. No doubt I’d throw out a shirt I haven’t worn in three years, only to suddenly need it the next day. So, my bedroom became a no-go.

That said, maybe you have a quiet corner in your room that could work for a studio?

Then there’s the storage room—a space too small to be useful for much else, so it became the dumping ground for bits and bobs we weren’t using but didn’t want to part with.

And as it turns out?

It’s the PERFECT space!

So, I’m now knee-deep in reorganising and clearing out the room to transform it into my studio.

Storage room with everything that's been stored/dumped over the years. A hole in the plasterboard over the cupboard space to see how hollow the hollow wall is.

Today, I made enough progress to finally measure the full dimensions—which means I can start planning upgrades to make it truly recording-friendly.

Why Is This Space Perfect?

That’s a great question! Every voice artist has their own vision of what “perfect” means, but there are some universally ideal qualities:

• Small, cosy, and low on reflective surfaces.

• Away from noisy appliances and main roads.

• Minimal foot traffic to prevent interruptions.

This room checks all the boxes.

With just 4m² of floor space, it’s not too big (so distractions stay minimal) but not too small (where I’d feel claustrophobic and desperate to escape).

It also has a built-in cupboard, which—with a few modifications—will be the ideal spot for my computer/laptop/loud equipment, keeping them separate from the recording space.

One unexpected bonus? A sloped ceiling! This helps break up sound reflections, though it does mean I can only stand in one part of the room to record.

Challenges to Tackle

Of course, no space is perfect right away—here are a few things I need to fix before it’s fully functional:

• The window: It takes up a quarter of the exterior wall, providing light and airflow, but it also lets in sound reflection and external noise—so it needs covering.

• The hollow wall: There’s a thin partition between the cupboard and the room, causing echo and vibrations—which means soundproofing is a must.

• The door: It’s hollow and lightweight, so I’ll need modifications or possibly a solid-core replacement.

• Creaky floorboards: Even when I stand still, they somehow keep creaking—so I’ll have to pull up the carpet and investigate.

Despite these challenges, this space has serious potential. A few modifications, and it’ll be exactly what I need.

I’ll be keeping this blog updated as I go—so you can follow the transformation in real time!

Coming Next: Research & Materials

The next post will dive into further research and materials, so stay tuned!