Dreaming of a better sauna? 14 clever ideas to inspire you!
Slatted benches, a skylight, and a TV in the sauna. Here are the most inspiring ideas for your sauna!
1. A sauna without benches
Who said a sauna must have traditional sauna benches? It’s just as easy to lounge in the warmth on a large platform or even chairs, as in this site, Chalet Pihla, at the Naantali Housing Fair. A light-toned sauna paired with black chairs results in a playfully modern overall look.
2. Benches like a giant’s matchsticks
There are many different kinds of sauna benches, but in this detached house in Raisio, you’ll find something unique. The sturdy benches were built from rough-cut aspen. A total of 38 meters of wood was left to dry for a year before it was ready to be worked. These “giant’s matchsticks” can seat up to 15 people at once.
3. Like freestanding furniture
The sauna in this row house home employs an interesting use of space. Instead of built-in sauna benches, it has modular furniture that can be rearranged according to the bathers’ preferences. The benches are made of aspen which has been waxed to achieve a light tone.
4. A dash of style from shingles
The beautiful wooden shingle surfaces bring warmth and personality to this modern sauna. The shingle wall extends into the ceiling throughout the whole shower area. The result is beautiful—and recycled. The shingles were leftover from a relative’s roof renovation. The shingle surfaces were treated with a colorless finish meant for saunas, and the spruce benches were finished with white wax for saunas.
5. Benches from a century-old barn
Consider recycled materials when planning your sauna. This 1950s house got a new sauna made with old boards from a century-old barn. Instead of traditional sauna benches, the seating resembles wooden sofas, where you can watch the TV hidden behind a hatch in the wall. This stunning, one-of-a-kind sauna was designed by the homeowner and crafted by a wood artisan.
Lighting is crucial for a sauna’s ambiance. Choose indirect and soft, or dimmable lighting.
6. Admiring the house’s foundation
If there’s no room for a sauna indoors or in the yard, how about placing one in the basement? In this home’s comprehensive renovation, a potato cellar was transformed into a luxurious spa area. This small and cozy sauna can accommodate two or three people at once. The bathers can chat away or watch the TV, which is safely behind glass. A fun detail is the window revealing the house’s foundation.
7. Benches facing each other
Side by side or facing each other—that’s the question. If space allows, facing benches are a neat idea: they accommodate more people, and if there are only two of you, each gets their own space to stretch out. Benches clad all the way to the floor create a cohesive look.
8. What a skylight!
Saunas can be located in surprising places. The family living in this home enjoy their sauna in a former feed silo, whose round shape inspired them to create a glass-roofed “northern lights sauna.” The circular sauna smells of tar and can accommodate even a larger group to admire the starry sky and northern lights.
9. Full of light
During the final phase of renovating this 1930s house, the homeowners decided to add a sauna. Daylight streams in from two windows—one facing outside and the other looking into the washroom. In the evening, the bathers enjoy the steam by candlelight, as no electricity was installed. The benches are made of aspen, and the walls are clad with beaded paneling.
10. Dark and light
A dark microcement wall contrasts sharply with this light sauna. The aspen benches by Warkoppi fit well in the square space. The Tulikivi Kuura stove, built into the benches, blends seamlessly with the wall.
11. Delightful slats
Different kinds of slat solutions are a major renovation trend at the moment. The downstairs of this home got a unique sauna with the help of architect Heikki Lamusuo and artist Jaana Partanen. The benches, made from slats by a boat carpenter, are the highlight of this sauna. Their flowing feel comes from the contrast of the light-colored slats against a black-stained frame and dark background. A small but notable detail is the firebox of the wood-burning stove, which opens into the hallway of the home’s fireplace room.
When planning a renovation, consider how you prefer to enjoy your sauna. Do you want to sit, lie down, or prop up your feet?
12. A black and white dream
The charm of this black-and-white sauna lies in its modern color palette, the park bench-style seating, and spectacular scenery. The coordinating sauna textiles complete the look.
13. Almost floating benches
The end wall and ceiling of this sauna are clad in charcoal-black paneling, while the other walls have the same resin coating as the adjacent bathroom. The airy benches are made from glued laminated timber, hiding the supporting structure.
14. Steam in a curve
In this sauna built in an old outbuilding, custom-made curved benches add a unique flair. Similar solutions can be found from Hermanni Sauna Seats. A tiled half-wall separates the bathtub and the sauna and defines the space.
