Unexpectedly many things in your home, like the materials your walls are constructed of and the items you use to decorate them, might weaken your Wi-Fi connection. The decor is one of the more unexpected factors that can weaken your Wi-Fi connection. When we think about Wi-Fi issues, we frequently picture things like concrete walls or other substantial objects, but there are some interesting cases of decor that have an impact on the signal. For instance, water is very effective at obstructing Wi-Fi signals. It’s like putting a damper on it to place your Wi-Fi router right next to a sizable fish tank. The side of the tank where the router is will have a strong signal, whereas the other side will have a weaker signal.
You can effectively create a large signal dampener by stacking enough books together, such as by lining an entire wall with bookcases. Books are quite dense. Even more difficult for Wi-Fi signals to travel the length of a tall bookcase. In general, it’s preferable to avoid placing a router or mesh node on a bookshelf, but this is particularly important if the location where a strong signal is required is at the other end of a long row of shelves. Speaking of metal, metallic furnishings can hinder your Wi-Fi. Even if it is on the opposite side of the wall from where you mounted your router, metal wall art can interfere with your signal.
Not everybody has large antique mirrors in their homes or giant fish tanks. However, every household has appliances, and when it comes to blocking Wi-Fi signals, appliances are essentially lead aprons. Your washer and dryer are similarly large metal machines in the laundry area that are not Wi-Fi friendly. Additionally, although they aren’t strictly considered “appliances,” your furnace and water heater have an impact on Wi-Fi signal quality.