In today's world, a large number of people are increasingly directing their attention to their own backyards, striving to create a wellness space close to nature. Nowadays, building a sauna in the garden is one of the most widespread trends in renovations; a garden sauna requires little space but allows you to spend time in an extraordinary environment combining relaxation with nature.
There are still many people who believe that a sauna in the garden is just "a small wooden house," however, in reality, a thoughtful design solution can turn this space into both convenient and comfortable. You can spend time there alone or with the family and friends. Below, you can find layout ideas for home garden saunas regardless of your yard size and design.
Here are the basic ideas for layouts of backyard saunas:
The "embedded layout design" is a good solution for creating a sauna in a small yard (15-30 square meters).In today's hectic time, more and more people are focusing upon their own backyard hoping for creating a wellness space amidst the nature without travelling far. The garden sauna has emerged as one of the hottest trends in renovations these days. It takes up minimum space but perfectly combines the daily relaxation experience with the nature around providing the owner with his own therapeutic spot right in the backyard.
Although people often think of garden sauna as just "a small wooden hut" but actually, a well-planned layout can make it a very functional, esthetic and comfortable space at the same time. Whether one wants to have some peace of mind or spend time with relatives and friends, there will always be a perfect atmosphere in their sauna. Today, we will present several layout ideas for private garden saunas that can be used in backyards of any size. You will find basic solutions in three dimensions: space planning, design matching and detail optimization.
1. Basic Solutions for Different Yard Sizes
Many people think that their yard is too small to accommodate a sauna, but in fact, it is possible to find a good solution for accommodation of the sauna in any yard regardless of space size.
Small Backyard (15-30 sq.m.): The "mounted embedded layout" is highly recommended.A sauna can be situated adjacent to the wall by one side of the garden, with a minimum passageway being reserved at least 1 or 2m wide, and the rest of the area will consist of anti-corrosive wooden blocks that would cover 2-3 sq. meters accommodating two outdoor loungers and a small side table. Such setting would ensure that no space is wasted. No sooner has one entered the sauna than one arrives at a semi-open area where one can enjoy fresh air and look at plants at once.
Medium Backyard (30 - 60 sq. m.): The "semi-autonomous courtyard layout" will work well here. The sauna will have to be placed in the middle of the yard with a walkway that connects it with a main activity zone (with planting aromatic species along the path).
Large Backyard (over 60 sq. m.): The "composite wellness layout" is to be applied in this case.Position the sauna next to the fence or wall one of the sides of the backyard, leaving a passage that is one to two meters wide, and build platforms of two to three square meters of anticorrosive wood in the rest of the area, applying two outdoor sun lounges and a small side table on it. This design will be space-saving and allow you to access the rest area that is semi-open and experience natural cooling after coming out of the sauna and enjoy the scenery straight away.
Small-sized yard (from 30 to 60 square meters): The design of the "semi-autonomous courtyard arrangement" works perfectly. Place the sauna in the middle of the yard and make a walking path going to the main working area, and plant low shrubs and aromatic plants, such mint, lavendel, and rosemary, on the way. While walking along the path, you will enjoy the pleasant smell of the natural fragrance. Next to the sauna, build an open-air shower and a site of rest made of logs and surrounded by a flower fence.
Large-sized yard (over than 60 square meters): Create a "composite wellness arrangement".Create an organic connection of the sauna with the wellness garden, establish it next to the landscape pool from one side and the degree flowers garden from the other side, divide the surrounding space into the area for meditation, the area for herb practice, and the social event space. This will help set up different functional sections that will make your experience more diverse. Once the sauna is done, you may walk by the path, enjoy watching plants or drink tea with relatives on the platform instead of it being just a single sauna unit session.
2. Core Elements of the Design to Enrich Experience
An excellent layout of the sauna garden should concern not only the sauna unit itself. It must unite the experience obtained indoors and outdoors, providing comfort in every session.
First of all, create the harmonious flow between indoors and outdoors. Ensure that the sauna door and the viewing window look at the yard best view and not at a wall or cluttered space. During the sauna session when sitting inside and looking through the glass into the green plants and sky in the yard, the nature surrounding the sauna becomes soft and foggy in hot air, which will make the experience much better. Also, it is necessary to narrow the height difference between the sauna and the surrounding ground. It is recommended to apply gentle steps or even no steps design solutions which will suit people of all ages.Secondly, it is important to create a design that is both easy-to-follow and easy to see. The path to the sauna should preferably be circular and should have a minimum number of forks. Different pavement types should be used to show the main and the side paths - for example, while the main path has stone slabs that do not allow you to slip, the little path by the flowerbed is covered with gravel. So even without any indications, it will be clear which path is which. Also, it is better not to create thickets of shrubs above the eye level on both sides of the pathways as you should be able to see the sauna from any corner of the yard. This will create a sense of security as the yard will look clean and open.
Lastly, you need to find the right balance between privacy and openness. People will probably think that privacy will be lacking in outdoor saunas, however, it is possible to enjoy being outdoors in peace and quiet without having to totally isolate yourself. The high pergolas and clusters of bamboo placed on the sides and behind the sauna will effectively keep potential intruders away.It is also possible to enjoy nature in the backyard even if you are outside.
3. Using ideas for the sauna throughout different seasons
The garden sauna does not only serve as a means of taking a sauna as there are ways to arrange the area around it to use it year-round.
In case relaxation is what you wish for, one can create a small semi-open space area for meditation equipped with timber seats and a table as well as surrounding any of the ornamental plants desirable. The sauna experience can get a sort of mellowness thanks to the silence you can enjoy while making a cup of tea and listening to the sound of winds through trees.
On the other hand, if you feel like spending time with family and friends, to ensure such an atmosphere it is nice to have a small bar table and some high stools put in the rest area. That way everyone after a sauna session may have a seat and talk together and have pleasant time.
In the rainy season and cool autumn days, the sauna has an amazing effect. You can hear raindrops on leaves outside forming the most soothing white noise. The heat in the sauna creates the effect of enveloping warmth and eliminates cold and moisture. Thus, there is no need to go far away from home to feel good!
Having an efficiently designed garden sauna does not require any extensive reconstruction and additional expenses as it can create all the conditions for relaxing and enjoying life in the fresh air to the fullest.
