You won’t believe these 4 idyllic backyard saunas started as dilapidated shacks
A remarkable transformation! With a clever concept and skilled creators, even a run-down building can become a stylish, modern sauna. Check out these four impressive transformations and gather some inspiration!
Once a cowshed, a pig barn, and a hay barn—now a sauna!
In the yard of an Ostrobothnian farm stood an old utility building that had served many purposes for decades and had clearly seen better days. The farm’s new owners Jenni and Jani decided to renovate it and give it a new purpose.
Over the years, this building served as a cowshed, a pig barn, and a hay barn. Among other changes, they wanted a fully functional sauna space. What a transformation it underwent! Now you can relax on benches made from the thick planks of an old grain bin. The walls are tinted dark, and LED lights set a softly lit mood.
From a rundown shack to a relaxing oasis with a hot tub
You can come across unexpected finds when buying a property. When Päivi and Petri purchased their cottage, a run-down sauna building in the yard was part of the deal. The building needed a major renovation, and Päivi’s father offered to take on the project.
During the renovation, the interior was reconfigured to give the sauna more space. The updated sauna now has a new floor and new benches, which can be conveniently lifted up for cleaning. The washroom also got a complete makeover with new tiling.
Only the walls were saved from the old shed
Sometimes an old structure is in such poor condition that only the walls can be saved. That was the case when Heidi and Arto set out to renovate an old outbuilding overrun by mice and bats. Once used as a shed and sleeping hut, the little red cabin was transformed into a sauna with an adjoining lounge.
Now you can’t believe it’s the same building! The sauna is finished with beautiful, dark-stained log paneling, and there is underfloor heating beneath the pine flooring in the lounge.
Carpenter ants are now just a memory
Carpenter ants had taken over the sauna, which hadn’t been used for about twenty years. That did not scare Anu and Robert though—the couple decided to restore the dilapidated backyard sauna they acquired with their house.
There was plenty to renovate, and in the end they could save little more than the doors, windows, chimney, and part of one wall. But what a result! Now you can lounge on rattan chairs in the sauna, and the sauna lounge is warm and inviting right down to its textiles.
