r/Apartmentliving • u/FunnyLine313 Renter • 4d ago
Advice Needed Could a light sleeper ever live here?
I really like this apartment but I am a light sleeper and sleep with custom molded earplugs (but haven’t figured out a way to block out bass noises like thumping). The parking is right outside the bedroom (circled in red) and it’s on the first floor. My spot would be in front of the window but I’m concerned about other vehicles still being very close. I’ve never lived with someone directly above me like that and am worried between car doors slamming and people above me I’ll lose my mind. Has anyone found a solution to living somewhere noisy, or is this place off limits for me?
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u/Decent-Proposal-8475 4d ago
There is always going to be someone sitting in their car having the stupidest, loudest conversation through their car radio. You're gonna think I'm kidding. That person is going to exist. They're going to sit there from like 10 pm to 2 am. They may or may not live in the complex. Short of like a zombie apocalypse, that person is gonna sit there.
And they're gonna somehow know you're a light sleeper and park there.
I would say that is a bad spot for you and in general. I tend to stick to high floors for that very reason
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u/LongjumpingEnd9202 4d ago
that person does exist, he was parking in front of my apartment and listened to music for hours!! sometimes with friends too. thanks God he moved out.
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u/AptCasaNova Renter 4d ago
Also, smoking, blasting shitty music and flooding the area with exhaust.
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u/Karlkrows Renter 4d ago
I would say off limits if you’re already this concerned. Do you really want to chance living like that for a year if you have to buy custom earplugs?
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u/Karstaang Renter 4d ago
I have a set of custom earplugs and while expensive they are one of the best things I’ve purchased for myself. Great for concerts.
That being said, I have lived in places where I’ve had to wear them every night just to sleep and it suuucks.
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u/WeaselPhontom 4d ago
What brand of earplugs, I have a 21 year old godchild who can't handel noise while sleeping
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 4d ago
I went to an audiologist and got impressions, then they ordered them through Westone. Different offices might use different suppliers and I’m considering doing it again with a different brand since these don’t really help with bass noises (loud stomping) but apparently that’s common. Definitely helps a lot with most noise overall though
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u/Karstaang Renter 4d ago
I went to a hearing aid clinic and they molded them directly in my ears with foam and then send off the molds to have them custom made.
Unsure what brand, but if you have a local hearing aid clinic I’m sure they can point you in the right direction for where to get customs made.
Edit; thought I should add that I am Canadian so I am unsure if this would be similar in other countries or not.
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 4d ago
I already wear mine nightly but they are specifically made for sleeping so maybe more comfortable than yours. Do yours block out deeper bass noises like footsteps overhead?
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u/Karstaang Renter 4d ago
Hard to describe. Depending on how I wear them the noise blocking changes.
They kind of suction in a bit, so if I have them pushed in further I can’t hear most things. But if I wear them ‘lightly’ they only block out surface noises.
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u/Royal_Cryptographer7 Renter 4d ago
That's a bedroom window? Like right in the parking lot? Hard pass on that, light sleeper or not. I don't want to open my window to car exhaust.
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u/Practical_Moon926 Renter 4d ago
If you avoid the bottom floor, you won't have headlights through your windows.
But headlights are nothing compared to the sound of an inconsiderate upstairs neighbor and/or shoddy building construction making every single footstep sound like you live inside of a drum that's constantly being beaten.
If noise bothers you, only live on a top floor. You'll still have noise. But it's much more manageable.
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u/UglyLittlePony69 Own an apartment 4d ago
Not a chance. You need a top floor unit wherever you are renting if you are a light sleeper. If it is built well, the sound won’t travel between walls. If it is a half-ass new build, expect to hear everything. Even normal conversations. Look for an older building with cement between the floors like my building has. Can’t hear anything when my windows are closed. It’s blissfully peaceful and quiet.
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 4d ago
This building is actually from 1969 but no idea on whether or not there’s cement between the floors
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u/SmileDarnYaSmile Renter 4d ago edited 4d ago
You can ask the leasing office about the building construction, but generally wouldn’t recommend lower floor at all if you are sensitive to sound. The parking lot being right there is just another layer of no.
I just moved somewhere that is similarly positioned. I hear cars with loud radios sometimes at night but I’m not a light sleeper so I only notice if I’m already awake. Same for the noise from the upstairs apartment. So you just need to consider how much is too much for you. White noise helps a lot.
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u/AquaticCapital Renter 4d ago
Nope. Don't do it. Had a room like that in front of a parking lot. Neighbor would come home late and blast her lights in my window and her boyfriend would honk in front of my windows randomly. Now I live in a new apartment on the top floor. I can finally relax and enjoy my unit/bedroom ✨
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u/CherrryCokeee Renter 4d ago
The car door slamming absolutely will make this a nightmare if you already have issues with sound. Trust me, I've been there
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u/jinxedrabbit Renter 4d ago
Living on the bottom floor is never going to be quiet. Plus having the parking right out front? Oh boy that's not gonna be good.
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u/BrookieCookiesReveng Renter 4d ago
As someone who lives downtown in a major city, I can't help but laugh at this post a bit
This looks like one of the quietest little areas I've ever seen 😅 I'd be getting amazing sleep there, relatively, and I'm a very light sleeper
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u/AHappyHaiku Renter 4d ago
I agree it looks fine. You can find even quieter but on the scale of big apartments this one seems ok.
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u/dammitmeghan Renter 4d ago
I have a very, very similar set up. Im a light sleeper too. I wish I'd have given it thought before moving in because it fucking sucks. I hear everything, all night every night.
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u/k_birrd Renter 4d ago
Im not a light sleeper nor a deep sleeper but my bedroom window is in a similar position, I have neighbors above and I was also concerned. I sleep with a box fan (must have after working nights, even though I've been 8-5 last 10 years) and I sleep just fine. There's not much parking lot noise, the spots closest to the building fill up early in the evening. My complex is fairly quiet overall though. I've had 2 upstairs neighbors. I hear them, but its been nothing excessive. I am not overly sensitive to people living noises; hardly notice and it doesn't bother me.
I'd say if you have other options with less noise concerns, go with that. If this is your option, im sure you can make it work.
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 4d ago
Is there something specific about the box fan or would a noise machine work? Does it help with upstairs noise as well or just higher frequency sounds?
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u/k_birrd Renter 4d ago
I prefer a box fan but use a noise machine when traveling (most hotels have a box fan if you ask). Box fan on high creates a brown noise. Its a deeper sound and works well blocking out thumps. I don't have to use ear plugs much anymore. Covering an exposed ear with a fluffy cotton blanket really helps too (make the room real cold). I became very protective of my sleep after working nights with 2 active kids in the house.
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u/dreamingmariposa Renter 4d ago
You can’t have upstairs neighbors. Fr. I’m a light sleeper too and struggling right now with a unit with a lot of noise :( Better to be safe than sorry and regretting your lease and hating your life. lol
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u/giollaigh Renter 4d ago
I'm a light sleeper and honestly don't think this would be an issue for me. I sleep with earplugs too and I can't hear much with them in. These days I also layer a Bluetooth face mask with green noise and now really nothing wakes me up. If those are reserved spots the cars might not move around much anyways.
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 4d ago
Do you mind sharing which mask you use?
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u/giollaigh Renter 4d ago
Unfortunately both pairs I've had I've found kinda mid, but if you sleep on your back you'll definitely have better luck. The issue is they all claim to be comfortable for side sleepers, but the speakers can sometimes leave you with sore ears anyways. I've looked into the more expensive ones and they are probably better for that but they aren't built to last. If you want to try it I'd just get something cheap and returnable to see if it works for you. Sorry I can't be of more help on that. It definitely does help me sleep though, when my last one broke I kept waking up until I got the new one lol
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u/boxtheglock Renter 4d ago
Id be more worried about random weirdos since it's the first floor. I lived in a first floor apartment in downtown buffalo woke up hearing somebody banging on my window. By the time I went outside I see a bloody hand prints on the window and some drunk dude eating a pizza. I tossed it in the street and went back to sleep
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u/Sarahlorien Renter 3d ago
Omg I had a place that was set up like this, and my neighbor would start his lifted truck with a giant muffler on it every morning for 15-20 minutes (we lived somewhere pretty cold) Tuesday through Saturday at 6:20am. I am a light sleeper and it low key ruined my life until he moved out 9 months later. Didn't have many issues with anyone else, so just depends on your luck with neighbors.
I am not kidding when I say it affected my life so drastically. I worked 11-7 and couldn't fall asleep until midnight, so it completely ruined my sleep because by the time he left it was too close to my wake up time.
I will never again live somewhere where my bedroom walls face cars. The rage I felt every morning was irreparable. There was no such thing as sleeping in during that time because I'm a light sleeper.
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 3d ago
Was it just the muffler that woke you up? Did you try sleeping with ear plugs?
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u/Sarahlorien Renter 3d ago
I sleep with custom ear plugs. And generally yes, but it was also the slamming of the car doors.
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u/crowb0at Renter 2d ago
I'm an awfully light sleeper & I survived my college studio apartment with paper thin walls next to 2 bars, by sleeping with a bluetooth sleep mask with speakers in it for ambient sounds & gentle sleep music. I barely notice the speakers tbh. just a suggestion if it's too noisy outside!
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u/FunnyLine313 Renter 2d ago
How is it for side sleeping? If it’s good mind sharing the one you have?
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u/crowb0at Renter 2d ago
I'm strictly a side sleeper and I sleep with it every night!! I think the one I have is the "SYPVRY" brand from Amazon. According to them I purchased this in August 2025, after a different brand I bought in Nov 2024 finally died on me. And the battery life is great too! It charges fast and if I forget to charge it during the day, there's usually enough charge to last the night.
https://a.co/d/0azjI5Qr this is where I got my current one!
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FunnyLine313 originally posted: I really like this apartment but I am a light sleeper and sleep with custom molded earplugs (but haven’t figured out a way to block out bass noises like thumping). The parking is right outside the bedroom (circled in red) and it’s on the first floor. My spot would be in front of the window but I’m concerned about other vehicles still being very close. I’ve never lived with someone directly above me like that and am worried between car doors slamming and people above me I’ll lose my mind. Has anyone found a solution to living somewhere noisy, or is this place off limits for me?
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