What to Consider when Thinking About a Sauna of Your Very Own

Keep these tips in mind when planning

Craig Lahti of Finnleo offers these tips:

When planning/designing your sauna, you should consider the following when determining the size and location of the sauna:

  1. How many people will be using the sauna at one time?
  2. Who will be using the sauna? Will it be your own private retreat, or perhaps you and your spouse? Do you plan to enjoy the sauna with family and friends – perhaps host a sauna party?
  3. How do you intend to use the sauna, lying or sitting?

Where is the sauna going to be installed? Do you have enough physical space? Do you have easy access to the outdoors (for cooling off on a deck, or perhaps for a quick dip in a nearby pool). A true traditional sauna session involves at least two events of heating up followed by a quick cool down. For infrared sauna use, it is important to take a rinse-off shower immediately following your sauna session to rinse the toxins from your skin.

Is there a shower near the sauna or is there plumbing for one to be installed?

The first three questions will help you to determine the size of the sauna you will require to accommodate your needs. If you intend for no more than 2 people to sit in the sauna, then the sauna can be as small as 4’ x 4’, but if room allows you may be more satisfied with a 4’ x 6’ sauna. However, if you intend for a family of four to use the sauna at one time, with some people lying down while others sit, then a 6’ x 8’ room with an “L” shaped bench configuration may better suit your plans.

Our experience has shown that the most popular size home sauna – year-in and year-out – is 5’ x 7’ or 6’ x 6’, due to the relatively small foot print, but with an upper L-bench providing room for two people to lie down at once, or four or five people seated on the top bench. An easy rule of thumb to use in your planning is “Two feet of upper bench per person seated.”

Once you have determined what size room you require, carefully consider your home’s design. If you intend to use the sauna as a couples or personal retreat, then consider adding the sauna to your Master Bedroom Suite. If the sauna will be used as part of a work-out routine, consider adding the room to your fitness area. If the sauna is to be used by the family and friends, then choose an area large enough to accommodate the sauna as well as a changing area. For all applications, it is advisable to have a shower nearby to rinse off after the sauna.

Proper planning will allow you to fully appreciate the relaxing and restoring properties of the sauna experience.