How do wall treatments affect room acoustics and sound quality?

Wall treatments significantly impact room acoustics. Textured surfaces like brick, wood paneling, and fabric wallcoverings absorb or diffuse sound, reducing echo and creating intimate environments. Smooth, hard surfaces such as tiles or glossy paints reflect sound, potentially causing reverberation. Choosing treatments that balance texture and hardness enhances sound quality; for example, combining a painted wall with soft furnishings or textured accents controls noise effectively for comfortable living spaces or media rooms.