Do you want to take your home to the next level? Home saunas are quickly becoming one of the most popular features to add to a property. Saunas allow you and your family to unwind after a long day in the comfort of your own home. As a bonus, they also give your property a unique selling point when you’re ready to sell.
Their aesthetic appeal and huge amount of health benefits have made them one of the top home remodel trends in recent years.The best part?
Installing a home sauna is no longer an exclusive perk for luxury homes or high-end spas. Homeowners of all types and budgets are finding out just how easy (and beneficial) it can be to install one.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Reasons behind the custom sauna boom
- Types of saunas you can add to your home
- Design tips for the most eye-catching installation
- Health benefits and value-boosting features
- Important things to consider before buying a sauna
Why Custom Saunas Are Trending in Home Remodels
The sauna market is growing. A report from Technavio predicts that the US sauna market will grow by $151.3 million between 2025 and 2029. That’s a huge jump, and it’s being driven by one thing:
People want home wellness.
Spending a few hours at the local spa or gym isn’t cutting it for today’s homeowners. Everyone is feeling the need to prioritize self-care, and many are taking that into their own homes. Of course, if you need help choosing a sauna to fit your home remodel needs, it can be a challenge when you’re not sure where to start.
But that’s where this guide comes in.
The more I thought about the increasing popularity of custom saunas, I realized one very important thing…
The design of a custom sauna gives you the chance to create a destination. It can turn an underutilized corner of your home into a stunning luxury retreat. Whether you integrate it into your bathroom remodel or install it as an outdoor showstopper in your backyard, a sauna always has an effect.
Types of Saunas That Will Enhance Your Home Remodel
The sauna you add to your home remodel depends on what type of space you have available as well as what your aesthetic goals are. While there are several types of saunas you can choose from, let’s narrow it down to these three:
- Traditional Finnish sauna
- Infrared sauna
- Steam room
Traditional Finnish Saunas
The traditional sauna is the original and by far the most common type of sauna you can get. A traditional sauna utilizes heated volcanic rocks. These sauna rocks hold in the heat and, when you pour water over them, create steam and regulate the room’s humidity.
Temperatures in a traditional sauna can reach anywhere from 160 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, you’ll need to make sure your installation has enough ventilation and space.
Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas are becoming more and more popular for use in homes. Additionally, infrared saunas work through infrared light panels that directly heat your body rather than the air in the sauna.
Infrared saunas are different, and they have several benefits:
- Comfortable operating temperatures (suitable for those new to saunas)
- Heat up in just a few minutes
- Use significantly less energy
- Easier to install
As infrared saunas are great for small spaces, many plug into regular electrical outlets. This means no need for wiring adjustments.
Steam Rooms
Steam rooms aren’t really a sauna, but they offer a very similar experience. Plus, steam rooms use moist heat instead of dry air. As such, they operate at a lower temperature than traditional saunas.
Steam rooms are waterproof and use existing drainage in the room. This makes them a great addition to your bathroom remodel when plumbing work is already being done.
Design Tips for Eye-Catching Custom Saunas
Saunas are flexible. You can fit them almost anywhere, and you can use a variety of different materials to match your aesthetic. Let’s look at a few of the best design tips to make your sauna stand out.
Choose Your Materials Wisely
The materials you use to build your sauna have an impact on the overall aesthetic. Different wood options provide different textures and colors. For example, the most popular sauna wood is cedar.
Cedar is known for being moisture-resistant. It also provides a great aroma, which is one of its most sought-after benefits. Other common materials include hemlock and spruce.
Higher-end materials also last longer, making your sauna more durable.
Placement Matters
Placement is important when you’re trying to maximize your sauna’s aesthetic. These are a few placement ideas:
- Bathroom integration: Adding a small sauna next to your shower creates a spa-like retreat.
- Basement oasis: Add a sauna to an underused area in your basement.
- Outdoor sauna: Build a backyard sauna that doubles as an eye-catching landscape feature.
- Home gym sauna: Place your sauna next to your home gym for pre and post-workout recovery.
Light It Right
Lighting is everything. The right light sets the atmosphere of the sauna and allows for increased visibility without being overpowering.
Salt lamps and soft LED lighting along the interior panels are some good options to consider.
Health Benefits That Add Value
Saunas are more than just luxury. The health benefits are real, and they appeal to home buyers.
Health and wellness benefits are some of the most attractive things about saunas. These include:
- Improved circulation and cardiovascular health
- Muscle relaxation and recovery after working out
- Stress reduction and a better sleep cycle
- Better skin health through deep pore cleansing
- Relief from sinus congestion and congestion
Buyers are looking for these benefits in the amenities of their homes. According to a National Association of Realtors survey, 42% of homebuyers are actively looking for a sauna in a home. That’s nearly half of all homebuyers interested in a property with a sauna.
When buyers are looking at a large inventory of homes, any differentiator can help your property stand out.
Things to Consider Before Adding a Sauna to Your Home Remodel
Before you get too far into planning out your sauna, make sure you have some of these things worked out first.
Space Requirements
Saunas don’t all take up the same amount of space. While infrared saunas can be as small as 30 inches in width, traditional saunas need at least a 6-foot clearance all around.
Measure your space before you decide to buy a sauna, and allow room for ventilation.
Electrical and Ventilation Needs
Traditional saunas usually need 240-volt electrical connections. Meanwhile, infrared saunas can operate on standard 120-volt outlets.
Ventilation is also important. Saunas need to be ventilated so moisture doesn’t build up, and you can breathe easily while using it.
Budget
Budgets for home saunas can vary widely. Pre-built infrared saunas can be as low as $1,600. Meanwhile, custom traditional sauna installations can run as high as $25,000.
Installation fees, electrical work, and other factors can add to the initial purchase price.
Maintenance
Saunas are low-maintenance. A little routine cleaning, the occasional wood treatment, and an annual inspection are all it takes to keep your sauna working for years to come.
Low maintenance is one of the reasons a sauna is so appealing to buyers. Saunas can provide a huge increase in luxury without being a huge burden to maintain.
The Bottom Line on Adding a Custom Sauna to Your Home Remodel
Adding a custom sauna to your home remodel is a no-brainer. The aesthetic is amazing and saunas offer health and wellness benefits that most homeowners have never even considered.
Saunas provide a huge amount of value to your home by standing out in the real estate market. From infrared saunas that fit into a small nook to full-blown traditional Finnish saunas that anchor your backyard, there are endless options to suit your needs.
Saunas are great for any home and any budget, so don’t be afraid to invest in this major luxury for your property.