Best Outdoor Sauna Designs 2022

Are you thinking of getting an outdoor sauna for your back garden? If so, you might want to look into the best outdoor sauna designs available this year. Once you see how many there are, you might get a bit confused, but don’t fret, I’ll make everything easier in this article.

Here’s what you need to know to choose the best sauna design for your back garden.

Best Outdoor Sauna Designs 2022

When choosing a sauna for your garden, you will notice that you get square saunas, round saunas, saunas that look like buildings and all kinds of in-between shapes and sizes. Let’s take a look.

Barrel Saunas

Barrel saunas are round tubes with seating inside of them. This design takes up very little space and is easy to install in your garden.

The design allows water to run off of the walls quite easily both on the in and outside of the sauna. The lack of corners also makes it easier to dry and maintain after use. The cost of maintenance for this design is decidedly low.

Sauna House

A sauna house is a bit more expansive than a barrel sauna. The difference is that it usually has at least two rooms. One room is generally used for changing while the second room is the actual sauna room. This design is also a lot more invasive and needs a proper foundation to work. If you’re willing to put in the extra effort to lay a suitable foundation, this sauna should bring you many years of relaxation.

Light-Filled Sauna

A light-filled sauna is a sauna with quite a few windows. If you’re worried about privacy, this might not be the best design for you. This type of sauna is quite expensive to install, but once it’s done, the maintenance costs are quite low.

Glass is also decidedly easier to clean than wooden walls which will half your cleanup duties after every use.

This sauna needs a proper foundation to work properly, but once that's done it should give you many years of relaxation without too much maintenance.

Sauna Cabin

A sauna cabin is a bit more complicated than a sauna room. Sauna cabins tend to have at least two rooms. One of these rooms is generally used for changing or storage of things like towels while the second room is the sauna.

This structure is a bit more invasive since you need a proper foundation for it. Once the foundation is done, however, this structure will last a long time with minimal maintenance.

Square Sauna Pods

Like the barrel sauna, these pods are quite simple to install. They do need a small foundation, however, to keep them stable. Some of these pods have large windows and others are almost completely closed up. You will need to decide if you want a lot of privacy or a view. Keep in mind that if you choose a steam sauna, the water in the air will quickly mist up any windows making it hard to see through them.

Sauna With Terrace

The best outdoor sauna designs for you doesn’t have to be just a room full of heat. You can have a stunning sauna with a terrace to relax on when the heat chases you outside for some fresh air. Saunas with terraces come in many shapes and sizes.

It's possible to find a barrel sauna with a terrace as well as just about any other shape. If your sauna doesn’t have one, you can always create one yourself by simply creating a nice platform in front of the sauna with something like a gazebo giving it shade.

Types Of Saunas

You might not know this, but the best outdoor sauna designs come in three different types. Once you’ve chosen a shape above, you will also need to decide how you want your sauna to be heated. Let’s take a look at how saunas can be heated.

Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas, also sometimes referred to as dry saunas, use electrical heaters to recreate the heat that would normally have been produced by steam. These saunas don’t need water to work properly and thus reduce your cleanup effort as well as the risk ofmould growth. If you’re happy with veering away from the traditional sauna setup, then this sauna will be perfect for you. Infrared saunas can come in many shapes and sizes, so it’s best to keep looking through this list for the perfect design for you.

This sauna is generally the preferred kind for indoors.

Traditional Sauna

Traditional saunas are usually outside rooms with a wood-burning stove. These saunas use wood to heat up rocks. Water is then poured over these rocks to create steam. Since very little water is used to create the steam, this sauna is still considered a dry sauna.

This is the most popular type of sauna. It still requires a bit more attention when cleaning up, however, since the steam will condensate on the walls and benches. When you’re done using your hot rooms, simply wipe down all the surfaces to remove excess moisture and leave the door open for it to dry out completely.

The traditional sauna is more comfortable to use than both the infrared and steam saunas. The reason for this is that the air isn’t completely dry like in an infrared sauna, but it's also not so wet that you feel like you’re suffocating. If you don’t like breathing water, but also don’t like feeling like you’re in a desert, then this sauna is for you.

This is also the best sauna for use outdoors.

Steam Saunas

Steam saunas use high levels of humidity to generate the required heat in the sauna. This sauna is classified as a wet sauna since it uses a lot of water to maintain the steam levels.

Generally, this sauna is more expensive to set up since it requires a lot of extra equipment like water pumps, fans and controllers to maintain the desired steam levels. Mostly, this sauna functions exactly the same as the traditional sauna, with the exception of the amount of equipment needed and the extremely high humidity level.

After using a steam sauna, you will have a lot of drying to do to get it cleaned up. Just like the traditional sauna, you will need to wipe down all surfaces to remove excess moisture and leave the door open to allow the room to dry.

Steam saunas are thought to be the best option for people with respiratory problems. The steam is thought to clear mucus stuck in the respiratory tract and lungs. People with asthma and allergies might benefit from this type of sauna.

Due to the high level of humidity in this steam room, it is best to have it set up as an outdoor sauna.

The Risks Of A Sauna

Saunas are generally thought to be extremely good for you, but this isn’t true for everyone. There are some risks involved with using a sauna. If you have hypertension or any heart problems, or instance, it’s better to avoid saunas all together. A sauna increases your body temperature which can lead to weakness, extreme sweating, vomiting and dehydration. This in turn raises your heart rate which means someone with problems might not feel too well during this whole process.

It’s very important to drink lots of water before and after using a sauna. You can even take some water in with you if you like. Drinking lots of fluid will help to counter dehydration due to heavy sweating. It will also help to lessen some of the other heat-related symptoms you might experience.

It’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor before you get a sauna. Your doctor will be able to tell you if a sauna is good for your health or not. In most cases, there shouldn’t be any problems as long as you take care to hydrate yourself and don’t stay in the sauna for too long.

FAQs

What does a sauna do for you?

Saunas are believed to relieve sore muscles, the tension in the joints and invigorate the body. This is due to the increased blood flow to these affected areas since the heat forces blood vessels to relax. Sweating also allows your body to excrete toxins.

How long should you stay in a sauna?

15 to 20 minutes max. The longer you stay in a sauna, the more you risk serious health problems like severe dehydration. It’s best to leave the sauna as soon as you start feeling overly hot. If you experience any symptoms like light headedness, muscle cramps or nausea, leave the sauna immediately

Does a sauna burn fat?

A sauna does not help you to lose weight. Saunas force your body to excrete large amounts of water in the form of sweat. If you weigh yourself immediately after being in the sauna, you will appear to be lighter due to being dehydrated. You will regain the lost weight as soon as you rehydrate yourself. Even the best outdoor sauna designs can’t help you to lose fat.

What should you wear in a sauna?

A loose-fitting t-shirt and shorts or a cotton wrap are excellent choices to wear in a sauna. These garments will help to shield you from excess heat while still allowing your skin to breathe. They will also absorb sweat from your body and protect the bench you sit on. Make sure the garment of your choice is clean when you dress for the sauna.

Final Thoughts

Have you decided on the best outdoor sauna design for you? Let us know in the comments what you like.Enjoy your new sauna!