Want to turn your dull backyard into an Instagram-worthy wellness retreat?
Outdoor home saunas have been blowing up in popularity over recent years. And for good reason too.
Saunas aren’t just for health and relaxation. They also pack a serious curb appeal punch. Here’s why…
Table of Contents
- The Growing Popularity of Outdoor Saunas
- Visual Benefits of a Backyard Sauna
- Choosing Your Perfect Sauna Style
- Where to Put Your Sauna for Maximum Wow Factor
The Growing Popularity of Outdoor Saunas
The stats speak for themselves.
According to market research, the residential sauna segment accounted for 57.1% of the market in 2023. That’s no small slice of the pie.
Household sauna installations are forecast to expand at 8.8% CAGR through 2030.
Why this sudden sauna boom?
Millennials and Gen Zs are all about the health game. Wellness has never been more important to homeowners than it is today. Self-care is the new golf.
Outdoor saunas tick all the boxes. They provide an easy way to de-stress at the end of a long day. Plus, they inject some serious style points into your backyard landscape.
The extra bounce in the step you’ll get from a daily sauna sesh is good for both physical and mental health. Reduce inflammation. Boost immunity. Elevate your mood.
Oh, and let’s not forget the envy-inducing curb appeal benefits. More on that to come…
Visual Benefits of a Backyard Sauna
Think of a home sauna as more than a wellness device.
Consider the style statement you’re making by choosing to install one in your backyard.
A handsome sauna cabin instantly becomes the eye-catching centrepiece of any outdoor space. The natural wood structure gives a warm inviting glow you can’t get from other features.
Just how striking are we talking?
Natural Finnish-style saunas use cedar, hemlock or spruce. Each of these wood varieties ages beautifully and develops a lovely deep patina over time.
The upshot? An outdoor structure that improves with every passing year.
It’s not just the sauna itself either. Consider the clever zoning that placing one in your garden naturally creates. Walkways leading up to the sauna.
Ambient lighting placed around its perimeter. Careful landscaping around the entry points.
It’s this level of detail and harmonisation of elements that makes an outdoor living area so inviting.
Rad, right?
Choosing Your Perfect Sauna Style
Warning: not all outdoor saunas are created equal.
The style you choose should match the existing architectural design and landscaping. Here are your main options to consider.
- Traditional Barrel Saunas: Rounded structures provide superior heat circulation and a classic Nordic vibe. Best for cottage-style and rustic gardens.
- Cabin-Style Saunas: Boxy design with a pitched roof offers a more conventional look. Great for traditional backyards.
- Modern Pod Saunas: Minimalist clean lines and compact footprint suit small or contemporary outdoor areas.
- Custom-Built Saunas: For full design control over every last detail. Match the sauna’s style with your home and outdoor area to perfection.
It’s all about cohesion. A sleek glass and steel monstrosity might look jarring in a 19th-century English cottage garden. A rough-hewn log cabin sauna might stick out like a sore thumb in a modern backyard.
Where to Put Your Sauna for Maximum Wow Factor
Fail to plan and you’ll end up with an eyesore.
Most newbie sauna owners make the mistake of only focussing on the sauna itself.
Location is everything when it comes to maximising visual appeal. Consider these aspects.
Privacy is crucial. No one wants to feel like a peeping Tom or Tom on Lady while they sweat out the toxins.
Planting some natural screening with trees, bushes or fencing is a great way to add some cosiness to the retreat feel.
Views also matter. Position your sauna to take advantage of the best vista in your garden.
Being able to step outside and immerse yourself in a scenic landscape after your session will only enhance the experience.
Walkways and paths leading up to the sauna are also worth considering. A little meandering pathway covered in gravel or stones can add a sense of occasion to the approach.
Electrical, drainage, and ventilation considerations should not be overlooked either.
Enhancing Home Value with Outdoor Saunas
Did you know…
Improving your outdoor area can have a big impact on the resale value of your home. A Zillow analysis of over 2 million home sales found that homes with outdoor features sold for 3.1% more than expected.
Saunas aren’t cheap, but as a high-end outdoor feature, they contribute to the overall sense that you’ve got a well-maintained, desirable property.
Potential buyers will see your house as having a sauna and think:
Wow, this homeowner really looks after their property.
This is a lifestyle purchase. This isn’t just a house.
That garden has clearly been planned with some serious care and attention.
Buyer impressions are worth their weight in gold when it comes time to put your property on the market.
Design Complements and Landscaping
An outdoor sauna doesn’t live in a vacuum.
The most beautiful outdoor sauna spaces work in harmony with a range of design elements.
Lighting is one of the most important factors. Pathway lights that lead the way to your sauna in the evening.
Accent lighting on the sauna itself to highlight the structure once it’s dark outside.
Landscaping is another area to consider. Native plants, ornamental grasses or a small water feature placed near the sauna.
Natural beauty and soundscapes to complete the picture.
Outdoor furniture is also an important component of the experience. A nice seating area close to the sauna for a pre-or post-sauna sit down.
Make sure it complements the sauna wood itself. Avoid cheap plastics and other materials that clash with the natural sauna structure.
Privacy screens can be the final piece of the puzzle. Natural hedging, tree trunks or decorative wooden screens are just a few ideas.
Wood Varieties for Outdoor Saunas
The wood used to build your sauna affects its durability and look.
Cedar wood is the gold standard. Naturally moisture resistant, it repels insects and decay. The reddish-brown hue only deepens and warms with age.
Spruce wood is lighter and tends to be more cost-effective. Thermally modified woods are also very popular. Treated to improve longevity, they often feature a darker rich colour.
Buyer beware: quality matters. Premium materials and construction methods ensure your sauna will last a lifetime.
Cut corners and you’ll find your sauna falling apart in as little as five years.
Tying it All Together
Outdoor saunas are one of the best investments you can make in your backyard’s visual appeal today.
They tick all the right boxes for health and relaxation. They provide a stunning focal point for your outdoor area. They turn a bland backyard into a full-blown wellness sanctuary.
The key is in selecting the right sauna and placing it with some serious thought. Pick a style that complements your home.
Choose the position within your outdoor space carefully. Consider other design elements that can work with your sauna to create a harmonious feel.
With the popularity of home saunas reaching a record high, now is the time to start exploring your options.
From traditional barrel models to modern minimalist pods, there’s an outdoor sauna to fit every garden style.
That journey from meh backyard to Instagram-worthy wellness oasis is easier than most homeowners imagine.
