There are numerous proven benefits of saunas, which improve not only your physical health but also your mental health. Imagine coming home after a stressful day at work and relaxing inside your sauna. They’re great for detoxifying and rejuvenating the body and mind. You don’t have to join an expensive club or hire a professional to build a sauna in your home; you can do it yourself! With creativity and imagination, you can build a DIY sauna that suits your needs, home, and space. Ensure it’s properly ventilated to prevent mold, has a moisture barrier, a safe heating system, and soft, ambient lighting. With some overhead planning, you can transform your home into your sweatbox.
Convert a Closet into a Sauna
You can convert your closet into a three-person sauna if you have little space in your home. This is especially ideal if it’s an unused closet. What better way to use that space? Install a small electric heater, cedar paneling, and proper ventilation to turn your basement closet into a rejuvenating daily retreat.
Build an Under-the-Stairs Sauna
Whoever said the crawl space under your stairs was useless? You can quickly maximize this underutilized space by cleaning it out, installing wood paneling, and turning it into a small sauna with foldable benches. The only downside is that your roof might slope, so you’ll have to lie down during your sessions!
Create a Repurposed Greenhouse Sauna
If you have an old, dilapidated greenhouse in your backyard, you can turn it into a shower, sauna, and lounge space. Add insulation and proper ventilation to build a sauna with plenty of natural light. Your greenhouse is likely already surrounded by greenery, making this a lush addition to your backyard. You could even add a hot tub to turn it into a full-on relaxing getaway!
Install a Sauna in Your Bathroom
The most obvious place for a sauna is the bathroom. If it’s your only space for a sauna in your home, you can use the bathroom space by integrating a sauna by converting a shower stall or a large, unused corner. Easily install a heater and wood paneling inside the glass panel, and you’ll have your sauna. You’ll be ready if it’s properly ventilated and has a moisture barrier!
Use Recycled Materials to Build a Sauna
You can use reclaimed wood and other recycled materials if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to a DIY sauna. This is an environmentally conscious way to build a relaxing retreat in your backyard. Besides, having a recycled materials sauna will give it some character through the mismatched pieces and colors of wood! Make sure you choose softwood like cedar or aspen. Basswood is another odorless option.
Use a Spare Room to Build an Infrared Sauna
If you have a small, unused storage room, you can turn it into an infrared sauna by installing infrared panels. This is an excellent option if you don’t want to build a traditional sauna, and it is more of a minimalistic approach. Always ensure an opening for proper ventilation and to prevent a fire hazard. Tile the floor to help with moisture, and purchase high-quality, long-lasting infrared sauna panels.
Purchase a DIY Sauna Kit
If you don’t feel like going out with the crafts, purchase a pre-made sauna kit for easy installation in any indoor space. All you have to do is follow the instructions to set it up. These saunas are durable and have the materials you need to build your sauna from scratch. If you have limited time and materials, this is a fast and effective way to have a sauna.
Build a Garage Sauna
You can use your garage’s unused portion and turn it into a detox haven. If you live near a busy street, add soundproofing to your garage walls to make it more peaceful. If your garage already has proper ventilation, then it’ll be a simple build where you can vent the sauna through the garage. Adding a drain to the sauna will help you mop up after each use without worrying about extra moisture.
Create Custom Sauna Pods in Your Backyard
You can design a pod-like sauna in your backyard if you want a more retro-futuristic look. Give it curved walls or an a-frame to make it look like you’ve pulled it straight out of a Space Age movie. If you want to go retro, add quirky beanbags and a comfortable lounge space before the sauna to relax after each session.
Build an Earthbag Dome Sauna
For sustainable insulation, construct your sauna using earthbags. Earthbags are sturdy sacs filled with organic, natural materials like gravel and sand. You’ll stack them on top of one another and cover them with cement. This is an excellent option if you’re looking for a sauna that blends well into the natural environment.
Construct a Custom Barrel Sauna
Using smooth cedar planks and a custom wood-burning stove, you can easily construct a cylindrical barrel sauna and place it in your backyard. Nestle between large, lush trees to turn it into a backyard oasis. Backyard saunas are great because of their natural space, especially compared to saunas built inside the home.
Build a Garden Sauna Shed
If you have a backyard garden sauna shed just taking up space, now is the time to turn it into a fully functional sauna! You can face the shed, which overlooks your garden, for a backyard retreat. Proper heating, insulation, and ventilation are the keys to turning your shed into a sauna. If you want to turn into full Finnish mode, you can install a portable cold plunge in your garden after you step out of the sauna.
Build a Hobbit Hole Sauna
Why not get creative with your sauna and transform it into a hobbit hole? This is easy if you have a small hill in your backyard where you can build the sauna. You can easily design a sauna that looks like a tiny hobbit house. Build it with earthen, clay, organic walls, rounded doors, and windows. Add greenery around the hobbit hole to give it that authentic hobbit feel. You can even incorporate tiny hobbit statues!
Grab a Portable Sauna Tent
If you’re hesitant about building a sauna in your backyard, you can opt for a portable sauna tent with a portable heater. This is an affordable mobile option. If you’re more interested in testing out a sauna in your backyard, the portable sauna tent will give you a good idea if you want to switch to a permanent one. They’re easy to set up and use and great for an on-the-go sauna.
Go Green With a Treehouse Sauna
It might sound strange, but you can build your sauna into the trees! If you look at the Finnish, they build their saunas everywhere. That includes on the tops of trailers, inside a sedan, or a camping wagon. There’s no limit here! Besides, building your sauna in the trees will give you a stunning view of the surrounding nature.
Get Cozy With a Log Cabin Sauna
You can opt to build a rustic sauna using logs. This gives it a cabin-like aesthetic that vamps up the coziness. Bonus points if you have a forested backyard! Even though this option might be slower to heat up, since the logs tend to absorb a lot of the heat, it’s an ideal way to add aesthetic to your backyard and detox retreat. Besides, who wouldn’t want to sweat in a sauna during a blizzard?
Be Luxurious With a Poolside Sauna
If you have a backyard pool, there’s no better way to tie the space together than by adding a poolside sauna. This is the ultimate relaxation experience. You can jump into your pool post-sauna to cool down. If you have a dark pool patio, go for a sauna built from richly-toned wood. It’s essential to make sure your backyard looks cohesive.
Go Earthy With a Stone Sauna
Consider building your DIY sauna using natural stone for the walls. This creates a durable, earthy sauna that blends well with a detailed stone garden. Stone saunas tend to take longer to heat up but will retain the heat longer than a wooden sauna. That means you can save money while keeping your sauna on longer. Cover the roof of the sauna with some greenery to make it blend in.
Build a Sauna with a Fire Pit
You should go all out when building a sauna in your backyard. Combine your sauna with an outdoor fire pit area to create a warm, sociable atmosphere. You can even take it further and set up a comfortable lounge space with cushions and a DIY movie screen for an outdoor movie, fire, and sauna night. The best part is that this is doable in any season!
Go Green With a Solar-Powered Sauna
Saving money might be a considerable factor when installing a DIY sauna. You can save money by installing large solar panels or glass windows that absorb sunlight in your sauna. This will power your sauna heater, saving you a hefty monthly bill and reducing your carbon footprint.
Add Greenery on a Living Roof Sauna
Nestle your sauna into the backdrop of your backyard by adding a green roof with plants to your sauna. Not only will this camouflage your sauna, but the greenery will add insulation. You’ll also have an additional garden in your backyard, which benefits the environment. You can add herbs like basil, thyme, oregano and vegetables like tomatoes and peppers to your home-cooked meals.
Go Tropical with a Bamboo Sauna
Bamboo has a particular aesthetic that’s natural and easy to look at. Instead of traditional wood, you can use bamboo to create a sustainable, tropical feel in your backyard. Design a lounge space outside the sauna with a tiki bar, lanterns, and colorful throw pillows to capture the tropical feel.
Build a Repurposed Camper Van Sauna
If you have an old camper or trailer in your backyard, you can convert it into a fully functional, detoxifying sauna. It’s a great alternative to removing something that’s not functional and repurposing it for something better. This aesthetic screams vintage. You can build the sauna inside as long it’s adequately insulated and ventilated,
Build a One-Man Water Barrel Sauna
A water barrel sauna is your best option if you live alone and want a small sauna. These tiny saunas easily fit into narrow spaces in your home or backyard. You can go all-out sustainable by repurposing a large water barrel and turning it into a small, rustic sauna. The simplicity of construction will make this sauna more appealing.
Include Clay Balls in a Clay Sauna
You can combine clay with straw or other organic, natural material for a rustic, farmhouse-style sauna. This charming, eco-friendly aesthetic looks great in a backyard surrounded by greenery. Inside your clay sauna, you can also include small clay balls that help increase body temperature and aid with detoxification.
Use the Sun’s Rays for a Geothermal Sauna
Utilizing the earth’s energy for your sauna is one of the best ways to incorporate an energy-efficient sauna experience into your home. Geothermal heating will save you tons of money in the long run and is good for the environment! If you save money, it might not seem suitable, but your bills will decrease. You can even build a steam room heated by geothermal steam bubbling from the earth.
Build a Floating Sauna Boat
If you love the open sea, you can add a bit of luxury to your hobby and build a floating sauna. After each session, you can jump directly into the water. You don’t need to worry about incorporating a pool or cold plunge! You’ll need a platoon platform and the necessary equipment, ventilation, and insulation.
Get Panorama Views in a Glass Sauna
You can build a DIY sauna using 8mm tempered glass for panoramic views of your surroundings. This works well in secluded backyards surrounded by nature. Since you won’t have much privacy, it works well deep in forested backyards, homes at the edge of a lake, or on the sea.
Go Scandinavian with an Igloo Sauna
Construct an igloo-shaped sauna for a winter-inspired sauna that’ll make you feel like you’re in Finland or Estonia. These look great during the winter months. This is where rustic meets modern, mainly if you use natural wood paneling outside your sauna and build several shingles layers. After every sauna session, You can even go Finnish and jump into the snow!
Get Luxurious with a Sauna Pavilion
Building a sauna is just one part of the equation. You’ll want an outdoor lounge space after each sauna session! Build an outdoor pavilion space when you’re done building your DIY sauna. You can build a small wooden deck with comfortable lounge chairs. Bonus points if you incorporate a fire pit!
Meditate with a Zen Garden Sauna
By building a Japanese-style zen garden next to your sauna, you’ll have an added measure of relaxation. After each session, head into the garden and close your eyes. You can add small statues, a bubbling waterfall, and tons of plants to make it feel like you’re in Japan truly. You could even incorporate Bonzai trees for added relaxation!
Reflect with a Mirror Sauna
You can completely camouflage your sauna by covering the exterior with many mirrors. This way, it’ll blend into the landscape and reflect the nature and gardens around it. You could even hide the doorway so your guests have an extra surprise whenever they visit you. These are great for romantic evenings, especially if you have a beautiful mountain or ocean view.
Build a Traditional Sweat Lodge
You can build a traditional sweat lodge using blankets, heated stones, a roaring fire, and branches. These are mainly used in Central and South America for traditional purposes. Burning stones in the center of your sweat lodge, with just a large blanket in the doorway, is a traditional way to sweat while having limited costs on your gas bill. You’ll use heated stones instead of gas or electric heat. The most important thing is to ensure it’s properly ventilated and the smoke escapes through the lodge’s top.
Create a Canvas Sauna
You can drape heat-resistant canvas over a frame for a quick, easy-to-build sauna that doesn’t require much effort or time. This will trap heat and make you sweat! This is a versatile option and works well with infrared panels. That way, you don’t have to worry about finding a heat source or having a fire inside, which would potentially be hazardous.
Get Natural with a Cob Sauna
Using sustainable, natural straw, sand, and clay materials can quickly achieve the all-natural cob sauna look. These saunas, called temazcals, are found in Mexico and Central America. The only downside to a cob sauna is that the material quickly absorbs heat, so you might need to heat it for more.