The quest for quiet in a dangerously noisy world

The quest for quiet in a dangerously noisy world

Ioan Marc Jones | Financial Times

Start the year without a bang: as two in five of the UK population suffer from harmful levels of noise, the search for silence in the home has newfound zeal

In this Financial Times feature by Ioan Marc Jones, the growing pursuit of quiet is explored against a backdrop of rising noise pollution, with two in five people in the UK now exposed to harmful sound levels. From busy city streets to the sanctuary of the home, the article examines why silence has become an increasingly valued part of everyday life.

Drawing on research, design trends and personal experience, the feature explores how changing attitudes to noise are reshaping interiors, architecture and consumer choices. With insights from leading voices, including Quiet Mark’s founder Poppy Szkiler, it highlights how Quiet Mark certified products prioritise not just lower decibel levels, but better sound quality and acoustic wellbeing.

Together, these insights show how quiet is moving beyond a technical concern to become a marker of comfort, health and quality of life.

My kettle has won a certificate for keeping quiet, like a well-behaved child. Introduced in 2012, Quiet Mark tests products across categories, from Quiet Office to the more niche Quiet Material Handling, perfect for anyone looking for a quiet forklift. “It has taken years of dedication to create triangulation of core performance versus sound performance,” says Poppy Szkiler, its founder and chief executive. “Not just decibel levels, but sound quality.” Perusing the website takes me back to childhood days spent with the Argos catalogue, circling everything I was desperate to buy.

Read 'The quest for quiet in a dangerously noisy world' in The Financial Times

Above & Header: ‘The Quiet Home’ by Michelle Halford (published by Mitchell Beazley) © Photograph: Dario Borruto. Project design: Opus Atelier