The Easy Wins
Before spending money on acoustic treatment: close the door. Use a draft stopper or door seal to block sound gaps. Hang a heavy blanket or curtain behind your desk to absorb echo. Add a rug if you have hard floors. These free/cheap changes make a noticeable difference.
Acoustic Panels
Foam acoustic panels ($20–$50 for a pack) absorb echo and reduce room reverb. Place them on the wall directly behind your monitor (where your voice bounces back) and on any wall facing you. You don't need to cover every surface — strategic placement works.
White Noise
A white noise machine or app masks background noise without distracting you. Useful if you can't eliminate noise from other rooms, traffic, or construction. Some noise-canceling headphones have built-in white noise modes.
For Calls
Noise-canceling headphones block incoming noise. A directional microphone (cardioid pattern) rejects sound from the sides and back, only picking up your voice. Software like Krisp provides real-time noise cancellation. The combination of NC headphones + directional mic + Krisp is the ultimate call setup.