The ritual of sauna bathing in the UK has tended to be historically associated with health clubs, spas and gyms; an activity to enjoy whilst engaging in other wellness activities. However in recent years the trend towards enjoying saunas at home has really begun to take off.
The lockdown-hit COVID years were a huge catalyst to the growing home sauna industry’s popularity as couples and families alike realised that the many health and wellbeing benefits of sauna bathing could be enjoyed at home. As homeowners were spending more time in their homes, comfort and wellness became replacements for the holidays and socialising that the pandemic had put paid to.
The surge in home sauna popularity might have been sparked by the lost-to-lockdown years, but demand has continued to grow. In fact one Brighton architect suggests that over 80% of clients with larger houses now desire a home sauna to be included.
So as Britain embraces the home sauna boom, what should buyers be aware of when choosing a new home sauna? We’ve put together this guide to run through the top considerations when picking the right sauna for your home.
Type of Sauna
First things first. What kind of sauna are you looking at? You might be surprised with the array of options available and how they differ.
Indoor or Outdoor?
Indoor saunas can be either built-in or assembled within an appropriate space. Often people will consider a sauna shower combo unit when remodelling a bathroom, though these are usually fairly small and don’t offer an authentic sauna experience. In Nordic countries where home saunas are more commonplace you tend to find the sauna is its own separate distinct space, either attached to the property, in the basement or completely external and freestanding.
Bathroom saunas can give a taste of the authentic sauna experience but are considerably more limited than a more traditional outdoor sauna cabin. Not only do outdoor saunas typically give you more space but they are easier to maintain, far better for welcoming guests and serve as a true sanctuary, separate from your day to day home living.
Infrared or Heated Stove?
You might also be considering whether to look at an infrared sauna over a traditional wood-fired or electric stove heated sauna. Infrared saunas may be cheaper but they’re also far less rooted in the ancient sauna customs of the Nordics, so can’t provide an authentic experience. There are also question marks over their long term effects, when compared with the well-known and much studied effects of traditional stove heated saunas.
You can learn more about the differences between infrared saunas and traditional Nordic saunas in our previous blog post on the topic. Wildhut only build authentic luxury outdoor saunas in the traditional Nordic style and obviously we think there’s a huge world of difference between these and infrared saunas, but you should do your own research to determine what’s realistic for your budget and requirements.
Barrel kit or Premium?
Another lower cost option is the barrel sauna. These outdoor saunas are usually sold in kit form for assembly at home but come with quite a few disadvantages over a more solid outdoor sauna. You can read more about this in our blog post barrel saunas vs traditional outdoor saunas, but spoiler alert, we recommend the traditional outdoor luxury sauna!
Sauna Space Requirements
Once you’ve determined the right type of sauna for your home, based on your budget and how authentic an experience you want to be able to enjoy, you’ll need to be conscious of space. Obviously for an indoor sauna this means having a suitable space in your home, with plumbing, to suit the type of sauna you’ve chosen.
However, with an outdoor sauna there is greater flexibility and also the benefit of not having to do any interior works, potentially leaving you without a bathroom for several weeks! There’s also no need for designers and architects as your garden sauna can be erected anywhere the space allows.
Wildhut offer a family of luxury outdoor saunas in four standard sizes, so no matter the size of your garden, or your household, we’re sure to have an ideal sauna cabin fit for your needs. Below is a run-down of our different saunas and the space they require. It’s also worth noting that the level of access to your garden should be a consideration. If a flatbed truck and crane are able to reach your outdoor space we can simply lift and place your chosen sauna cabin into position. However, if your garden is less accessible, fear not, as we are also able to deliver all our saunas in modular form, making them easy to deliver, ready for assembly in place.
Smallest: If you have limited outdoor space, or you just want a cosy sauna cabin suitable for 2, the brand new OHK is a 2 person home sauna that provides a minimal footprint with maximum quality. Complete with all the premium features that come as standard with a Wildhut luxury sauna, the only compromise is in how many people you can fit inside.
The OHK measures just 1.65m x 1.6m and there are many customisation options available, with your choice of interior lighting, letterbox or picture window, and even optional inbuilt bluetooth audio!
Small: Larger than the OHK but still a great option for smaller gardens is our TULI small home sauna which comfortably seats up to 4 people. It’s also a treat in here to be able to lie down (with your knees bent up), as well.
Without a porch it measures 1.94m in length, whilst the optional porch makes it 2.7m long. The width is 2.2m and height 2.5m, so it packs a lot of punch into a compact size.
Medium: If you’re after a sauna for 6, the VESI might be right for you. This 4 - 6 person outdoor sauna is a popular option for families or those who like to entertain, or for those who like to sauna lying down. If you’re hosting guests, why not invite them to enjoy the soothing sanctuary of your high end garden sauna and you might find you’ve never been more popular!
The VESI measures the same width and height as our other saunas, 2.2m x 2.5m, whereas the length is 2.74m without the optional porch, or 3.47m if the porch is included.
Large: Where space allows, you may wish to consider our 8 person outdoor sauna, the MAA. The largest of our traditional Nordic sauna models, it’s a great space to stretch out in and can easily accommodate multiple sauna companions. In fact there’s space for as many as 10 people within its optimally designed frame!
Again, there’s no difference in width and height when compared with our other saunas (so 2.2m wide by 2.5m high) however the length on the MAA reaches 3.5m - or 4.23m including optional porch area. This extra space makes it ideal for sharing experiences with friends and family and it looks every bit as stunning as the rest of our luxury sauna cabins which are finished to the highest standards using traditional materials such as Canadian cedar.
Need to go Even Bigger?
Most people find there’s a Wildhut for their needs among our standard range however we do offer bespoke saunas on request, should you need something that’s a little different. We also work with hotels, health clubs and glamping operators, among others, providing commercial saunas which can really add value to a luxury experience provider, and is a brilliant selling point.
Additional Considerations
So you’ve worked out how much space you have and how many people would likely be using your new sauna, but what else should you be aware of?
One purpose of adding a porch area is to house a shower if you don’t already have one nearby. It’s also a really useful place to hang towels and robes, pop your phones and jewellery, and keep the outside out (mud, leaves etc.)
All our saunas can come with wood-fired or electric heaters, and both stove types are manufactured by the Estonian high end authentic sauna stove producer HUUM, meaning there’s no compromise on style whichever type you choose. However you do need to be aware that obviously an electric heater needs a power source so if you have a huge garden, the further it is from the mains electric, the more work may be required to connect it up.
Meanwhile with the wood-fired heater there’s no need for electricity but we would recommend somewhere dry to store your logs, which is why the optional porch is an ideal solution for this purpose. A rechargeable battery can power the interior lighting so this allows for a more off-grid option.
In terms of permissions to erect your new luxury sauna, the good news is that we’ve designed all our Wildhuts to fit within permitted development regulations, meaning no special planning approval should be required (though it is the client’s responsibility to confirm this with their local planning authority). You just need to prepare the site and let us put it in place ready for you to connect it up (if it’s going to use electricity and water). Their simplicity is their strength and you have the flexibility to take your sauna with you should you move, or leave it in place as a feature to add value to your property when selling.
The Very Best Home Saunas
Now we may be biased, but we genuinely believe there’s nothing like a Wildhut. For the most traditional and authentic Nordic sauna experience that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own garden, our Wildhuts are a completely different experience, both to use and to own, when compared to cheap barrel kit saunas or inauthentic infrared saunas. If quality and long term value are important to you, choose wisely, choose a Wildhut.
Contact us if you’d like to know more about our luxury outdoor saunas or simply take a look around the site to understand the Wildhut difference.