The Home Sauna Guide: Types, Benefits, and How to Choose Yours

Adding a sauna to your home might sound like a luxury, but it’s increasingly popular. Whether for winding down after work, easing muscle aches after exercises, or a way to get a quiet moment, a sauna offers a kind of relaxation that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Choosing one for your garden can be exciting, but it’s more than just picking a stylish model you come across online. There are different types, heat sources, and practical considerations you need to factor in, whether you are looking for an outdoor barrel sauna or a classical design.

Why People Are Installing Saunas at Home

Saunas are no longer a preserve for high-end spas. Homeowners are now setting up garden alternatives as they offer several health benefits and even increase property appeal.

Everyday Stress Relief

A sauna is a natural reset button. It’s quiet, and the consistent heat helps ease physical tension. It’s a great way to wind down after work or carve out some self-time from a busy home day.

Recovery After Exercise

If you like going on a run or have a home gym, a sauna can help your muscles recover. It reduces soreness by improving blood circulation to muscles.

Better Sleep Quality

When you get some sauna time in the evening, your body will relax and ease tension. The post-sauna cooldown then mimics the body’s natural pre-sleep temperature drop, which helps get deeper sleep.

Low-Effort Skin Care

The sweating helps open pores and remove toxins. It also encourages circulation near the skin surface, which helps get healthier-looking skin with no complicated routines.

A More Personal Approach to Wellness

Instead of relying on the occasional spa visit, a home sauna lets you create a wellness routine around your schedule. It can be five minutes before breakfast or longer on weekends – it’s on your terms.

Types of Home Saunas

All home saunas aim to give you heat relaxation, but they do it in different ways. The type you choose will affect the experience you get, the budget, day-to-day running costs, and the installation process.

1. Traditional Sauna (Electric or Wood-Fired)

This is the classic Finnish-style sauna. It works with high temperatures and low humidity levels, but it has stones you can pour water over to create steam. The heating can be electric or wood-fired, with temperatures between 70°C and 100°C. These garden saunas are usually made from durable wood like cedar or spruce, which also helps add a rustic look to your space.

2. Infrared Sauna

Instead of heating the air, this type warms the body directly using infrared panels. The heat is more gradual, but it has a deeper penetration since it’s direct. The temperatures are lower, at around 40°C–60°C. Infrared saunas are more compact than other types, making them ideal for smaller spaces.

3. Barrel Sauna

As the name suggests, these are shaped like a barrel. The curved design is great at distributing heat quickly and evenly, and it also means that the sauna takes up less garden space than traditional ones. 

4. Steam Room 

Technically, these aren’t saunas, but they are commonly mentioned in the same breath. Instead of dry air, they use moist heat, which makes them feel softer on the skin. The humidity gives a feeling of high temperatures, but they typically operate at 40°C–45°C.

Choosing the Right Garden Sauna

Choosing the right sauna is more about considering your space, climate, and personal preferences. Here are some factors to consider:

• Choose a size that fits your space and intended use (solo sessions or the whole family).
• Pick a heating type that suits your routine and preferences. Infrared for quick, low-heat sessions, or the traditional ones for deeper and more intense heat.
• Ensure it’s made of high-quality timber, specifically slow-grown conifer wood. It should also be treated.
• The internal layout should match your use.
• The thicker the walls, the better the quality and heat insulation.

When you weigh those things properly, you are more likely to end up with a sauna you can use generally, not just something that looks good on day one.