Soft furnishings are how a room lowers its voice

You notice the echo after the sofa arrives, when the room is empty of cardboard and full of voices. By then the hard decisions are already paid for.

A rug with pile, lined curtains, and a fabric seat do more for conversation than another decorative bowl. They shorten the reverb you would otherwise talk over.

In the studio you cannot hear this. You can still plan for it: if every object you have dropped is wood, stone, or metal, add one large soft plane before you stop.

Quiet is a comfort with a shopping list. Put it on the list next to the table, not after the first dinner party.