Enjoying the warm caress of a sauna has become a daily routine for millions of Americans, although not everyone has the pleasure of doing so at home. But once people begin to explore the options and possibilities, then choose to make the investment in this fabulous home improvement, it’s a decision they never come to regret.
What kinds of home saunas are available?
For anyone new to thinking about planning a home sauna, this is undoubtedly one of the most common questions. The simple answer is there are lots of sauna designs available for residential use, each suited to different locations around your home or property.However, it’s also possible to narrow down home saunas into two main groups. If we look at the range of products available at The Sauna Place, one of the leading online suppliers in the United States, indoor saunas and outdoor saunas are where most people begin their search.
High-quality and popular home sauna brands in the US include Almost Heaven, Heritage, Dundalk, Cedro, Finlandia, Auroom, Thermory, and Haljas Houses. Each manufacturer has their own unique traits and features, offering a wide variety of designs to suit different styles and tastes, whether your preference is traditional, contemporary or modern.
Whether you prefer the idea of an indoor sauna or an outdoor sauna, both come with a variety of options when it comes to design and installation. These days, there are bespoke sauna kits that can be fully customized to your tastes, and easy-to-assemble prebuilt sauna kits that save on time and cost. Choosing from either will depend on your budget and preferences.
Indoor Saunas
As the term would suggest, indoor saunas are designed for interior spaces within your home, such as bathrooms or basements, converted spare rooms or anywhere you have suitable space. Electric heaters are typically used to heat the stones, therefore proximity to an electrical point is always an important consideration.
Now that modular designs are available, many of the leading indoor sauna manufacturers offer prebuilt or prefabricated saunas that are delivered in kit form, which means they can be assembled and ready for use in a matter of hours.
Additionally, some indoor sauna designs are built as completely self-contained units or cabins, offering much greater flexibility for installation. What’s really interesting about that concept is that should you decide to remodel your home, the sauna can be relocated with relative ease, and could even be taken with you should you move to another property.
Indoor saunas are also available in a large variety of sizes, adaptable to fit your available space, and how many people will be using this relaxation feature in your home. Indeed, there are small modular units for two people, and larger designs that can comfortably accommodate six sauna bathers.
Outdoor Saunas
When suitable space isn’t available indoors, then outdoor saunas are the ideal choice, allowing for greater freedom of placement in your backyard or garden. Likewise, outdoor saunas tend to offer more heating options, which means you can choose to power the sauna heater with electricity, gas, or even a traditional wood-burning stove.
Outdoor saunas come in a wide selection of designs and styles, each offering their own unique charm and appeal, depending on your own personal aesthetic preferences and the space where the sauna will be located. For example, your new sauna could be nestled among trees or placed to enjoy surrounding views, built within decking or a patio, maybe alongside other features like a swimming pool or outdoor gym.
The real beauty of an outdoor sauna comes in the choice of materials, particularly those sourced in the United States and Canada. Many are built using the finest red or white cedar, pine or fir, while Nordic spruce is another popular selection. All boast their own uniquely pleasing looks and thermal properties, designed to withstand the elements.
As for the shapes and styles, this is where outdoor saunas truly excel. If you prefer traditional designs, think about cute cabin styles or the rustic appeal of barrel saunas. For something that’s a little more contemporary, there are pod shapes and stylish designs that are all about the curves. And if you crave the ultra-modern look, there are designs built with glass and metal.
Think and Plan Carefully Before Choosing
Really, the biggest decision you’ll make surrounding a home sauna is your preferred location, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, and that means you shouldn’t rush when planning.
Think carefully about how you and your family will use the sauna. There are designs for indoors and outdoors to suit every taste, but consider how location, size and styles will fit your own lifestyle. Ask expert suppliers and contractors to share their experience, and seek advice about the pros and cons of each type of installation.
Finally, consider this a long-term investment that will add genuine value to your home, both aesthetically and practically. By doing plenty of research in advance, you will end up with a delightful home sauna that you can blissfully enjoy for years to come.
