When you step into an empty flat and clap your hands or speak normally, the way sound bounces around tells you how “hard” the space is. Lots of echo usually means many hard, reflective surfaces – bare floors, plain walls, big windows – with little to absorb sound.
This doesn’t only affect how your voice sounds. It hints at how noise from neighbours, corridors or outside might behave once you move in. If sound is already bouncing sharply when the place is empty, you know you’ll need rugs, curtains, soft furniture and maybe even some acoustic thought to calm it down.
If the echo is very strong, footsteps and moving chairs may be loud to people below or next door, which might cause friction in flats.
You can tame acoustics, but it’s good to know what you’re starting with. An echoey shell means you’ll need to plan for softness.
