There is no need to talk about the benefits of visiting a bathhouse for a person. Everyone knows how a Russian bathhouse has a beneficial effect on the body. In addition, this is also a great way to relax after a hard day at work with a cup of herbal tea. Well, what owner of a private house or cottage does not dream of his own bathhouse.
Of course, buying a ready-made bathhouse for your dacha or hiring workers for construction is not cheap, but any owner, given the capabilities and materials, can do it no worse than the professionals. Having basic skills in working with construction tools, you can build a bathhouse yourself.
In order to answer the question: how to build a bathhouse? First you need to understand some nuances:
- First, you need to draw up the right project for building a bathhouse.
- Secondly, study the literature describing the stages of construction and individual points.
- Thirdly, purchase the material necessary for construction.
- Fourthly, build a bathhouse and think about the necessary communications - water supply, lighting.
- Fifthly, decorate the walls inside the room and buy or make special furniture for the bathhouse.
A heat-resistant glass door, custom-made by Glasslinegroup, will provide a reliable separation between the washing room and the steam room.
How to choose a place to build?
Summer cottages and garden plots are usually small in size, and in addition to your own desires and preferences, you must be guided by existing standards and safety requirements.
Use these tips when choosing a place for a bath:
- It is better to build a bathhouse on an elevated place. This will greatly simplify the issue of draining water.
- If it is possible to build a bathhouse near a river or pond, then this would be an excellent option.
- In order to control the heating process of the bathhouse, it must be built so that the entrance to it is visible from the garden or private house.
- The bathhouse building can be attached to the main building on the site.
In addition, there are standards that must be followed during construction to avoid problems in the future. This issue can be studied in more detail in SNiP 30-02-97, paying attention to paragraphs 6, 7, 8 of the sixth section.
How it all began
Initially, at the dawn of civilization, no one thought about design, and no one even knew the word. Human life was fleeting, and functionality was put at the forefront, while beauty and nobility remained unclaimed. The first Russian baths were heated using black heat, so whether the interior was decorated or not did not matter.
After the first two months of using the bathhouse for its intended purpose, the walls, ceiling and shelves of the room acquired a deep black color, which would certainly be the envy of modern manufacturers of paint and varnish products. The situation changed radically after the invention of the chimney. The bathhouse turned white, and for the first time users thought that beauty rules the world.
The most powerful word in the design of baths, as such, in the realities of the ancient world was said by the Romans, with their immortal public baths - thermal baths and an ineradicable craving for beauty. Monumental columns, an abundance of marble and sculptural compositions to this day set a largely unattainable standard for the design of a bath space. In modern realities, these traditions are to some extent supported in the East.
Turkish hammam baths are still distinguished by a reverent attitude to the design of the interior decoration. Well, what can we take from the Turks, if among the men there, the highest manifestation of fashion and style is considered to be the presence of pointed patent leather boots, always bright red. With us everything is a little simpler. Including in the bathhouse world.
Selection of building materials for a bath
The choice of materials for construction is currently very large. Let's look at some:
Frame bathhouse - this type of construction copes with its purpose perfectly. In addition, its cost is quite affordable. Due to the light weight of the structure, the construction of the foundation will also be inexpensive.
Wood is a favorite material for load-bearing structures of bathhouses. Its cost is more expensive than the previous option, but you can save on insulation, since, unlike a frame structure, a wooden one does not need it.
Brick is not often purchased specifically for a bathhouse. A brick bathhouse requires a very reliable foundation, and this, in turn, requires additional costs in terms of money, time, and effort.
A bathhouse made of wood concrete is durable and retains heat well. Its cost, at the same time, is quite affordable. The construction can be either monolithic or block.
Bathhouse interior: ideas for decor and comfort
“To wash yourself in a bathhouse is to be born again,” they said in the old days. However, a good stove, shelves made of fragrant wood and the opportunity to take a dip in cold water are not everything. The interior design of the steam room is of no small importance for comfort. With a little effort and giving free rein to your imagination, you will create a bright and cozy bathhouse interior!
How to decorate a steam room with wood and pebbles
Linden lining is perhaps the most popular material for interior decoration of rooms with high temperatures. Pleasant to the body, aromatic, with a healing effect - perhaps the best thing is lining with embossing, which imitates various types of decorative coverings: snakeskin pattern, bamboo, etc.
The design of the steam room is in eco-style - the walls and ceiling are lined with boards, and benches are included in the “set” for them. An interesting idea for this style of bathhouse is a wall-mounted firewood rack indoors. Firewood for the stove is laid out in the form of panels.
A wall lined with pebbles will also decorate the room. It can also be used to finish the floor in a washing room. And if you don’t skimp, you can decorate the design for a bathhouse or hamam with a floor made of coins.
If you want to save space, a raised decorated floor will help: if you wanted to take a shower, you lowered it, you decided to swim, you raised it.
Bath design
The feeling of freshness will be created by the design of the sink in a beautiful natural style. Wildlife has a powerful calming effect. Therefore, in one case, the designers used large logs with untreated granite, in the other, they lined the inside of the wall with stone and tiles.
Design elements such as waterfalls from the walls would be appropriate in the bathhouse premises. You can decorate them with large shells instead of traditional faucets.
Fans of minimalism and new life for old things in bathhouse design will love a shower made from a large garden watering can.
If there is no room for a pool, then you can cool down after the steam room in the plunge pool. Fortunately, it’s easy to make it with your own hands – from an ordinary barrel.
A washbasin made from a simple barrel will help you “maintain style”
... and comfortable furniture from them - in the dressing room.
Decorative stucco elements will add charm to the wooden walls inside the dressing room or rest room. You can make a high-quality imitation of brickwork, three-dimensional figurines of animals and plants with your own hands, using a special mixture consisting of plasticizers and fiberglass. On FORUMHOUSE you can read in detail about graphite technology.
The floor may also be original. A cork covering with a “straw” pattern is more suitable for a country-style bathhouse interior. In addition to this flooring, you should take a bale of straw as a coffee table (an idea from the Hacienda show). Another interesting solution for the floor is a pattern made of boards and refractory bricks.
For an unusual bathhouse - the same doors made of natural materials - wooden, in the style of a country house. But these porthole windows will tell you how to use spare parts from an old washing machine.
Lighting and accessories
The best lamp for the interior of a bathhouse is one made by yourself. A chandelier in the shape of a stork's nest, redundant in the house, looks unusual and original. Materials: frame for a bouquet, braided with decorative raffia straw using wire. Natural antlers decorated with a lamp are also a suitable option for a natural style.
If you prefer something more modern, you need to choose lamps like these, hidden under the “torn off” planks of the interior decoration. An old basin used as a chandelier in the shower is another innovative solution.
We create a romantic mood by using candles. But bathhouses require special design. A basin or trough and ladles will do again.
In general, a basin in a bathhouse is a universal item. It is worth making such “shelves” for storing bath brooms, towels and other bath accessories. Wooden pallets can also be used in a steam room - this is a good solution for the main house.
Wicker baskets are also great for decorating a bath: large ones usually go on the floor as tables, small ones - on the wall.
From “warm” natural materials you can make a wide variety of decor that would be appropriate in a bathhouse and sauna: boxes woven from grass, reed, rattan, fern, corn, bast shoes and other items that are hung on the walls and placed on benches.
The best hangers for bathrobes would be items made from branches or small stones as hooks.
Bathhouse: interior in Russian style
The interior of a steam room in the Russian style will look complete if you complement it with decorative accessories. The room can be decorated with bath brooms, embroidered curtains, wood products - figurines, spoons, mirrors, clocks made from wood cuts, which are not afraid of humidity and will help to allocate enough time for important procedures.
Tapestries made from medicinal herbs, moss and roots will quickly decorate the walls, look great and fill the room with aromas. They can be woven using a hand weaving device called a reed.
In addition to aesthetic value, herbal rugs and tapestries also perform an important healing function. A bath mat made of willow bark not only decorates, but also helps against skin diseases and sweating of the feet, and relieves inflammation. A tansy towel used as a compress in a bath is the main folk remedy for joint pain. Applied to the head, it relieves pain and helps get rid of dandruff. Nettle cloths increase vitality. Tapestries made from several types of herbs (wormwood, peppermint, yarrow, St. John's wort, sweet clover, etc.) are not only excellent elements of bathhouse design, but also cleanse the human body of harmful microbes and have a tonic or calming effect.
How to design a bathhouse
Herbal products woven on a reed are strong and durable. The only condition is that direct sunlight should not fall on them. The natural aroma of tapestries can be enhanced by sprinkling them with water. For the same purpose, they are hung in the steam room.
Useful decoration for baths and saunas - decorative designer jars with sea salt and colored sand. If you look closely, you can see a pattern of mountains, sky and deserted beaches. And when you have enough of this decor, you can use it as a scrub.
The more shades of salt and sand you have, the more interesting the “landscapes” will look. Coarse salt and sand make paintings in jars worse.
Ideas for a bath
The interior of a bathhouse or sauna will be made more soulful by items made of wool: a portrait doll on a wire frame, brownies that protect the owners, humorous hats that are so pleasant to take a steam bath in.
Toys made of bast or straw are suitable for bathhouse decor. We suggest making a symbol of the coming year - a goat. And let it give you a new portion of good luck, health and a lot of happiness with each visit to the steam room! Have fun!
On FORUMHOUSE you will find ideas from our portal participants that will help you create the interior decor of a bathhouse with your own hands. You can also find out what a real bathhouse looks like: get acquainted with a virtual tour of one of the outstanding bathhouses in Moscow in the Russian style and its environs and invaluable material on the theory of the Russian steam bath. And in our video you will find more ideas for decorating baths and saunas.
Ceiling materials
This issue should be given increased attention, especially in the area where the stove and chimney are located. For the rest room and washing room, you can use materials with low thermal conductivity, and for the steam room, heat preservation is very important.
It is not recommended to use materials with paint and varnish coating for the bath, as they can release poisons when heated. In the area where the stove and chimney are located, it is necessary to make a ceiling from a non-combustible material - asbestos or metal.
Steam room
Only hardwood is suitable for finishing the steam room. Such wood does not heat up (you cannot get burned), does not emit resins, and also, which is very important, even with a little ventilation it dries quickly, preventing fungus from developing:
linden is attractive in appearance, does not darken over time, it is characterized by low heat capacity and density: it warms up quickly, but you cannot get burned when touched. When heated, it releases an unobtrusive, delicate, pleasant aroma. It is quite common, therefore it has an affordable price, especially in the southern regions
aspen is a traditional material for steam rooms in the northern regions. Durable wood, difficult to split or splinter, has bactericidal properties
alder – aesthetically attractive, pleasant to the touch, resistant to hot and cold water, steam and condensation, washing solutions (acidic, alkaline), easy to process
abash is just beginning to gain popularity, a tree native to the African tropics. This type of wood is especially good for making shelves - even in very hot conditions, it practically does not heat up, maintaining a temperature close to the temperature of the human body. Does not darken under the influence of steam, water and temperatures
Steam room oven
Very often there are bathhouse designs in which everything is done perfectly, and only the stove, or as it is also called, the heater, looks like a foreign spot in the interior. Many people hope that there is no way to improve it due to the specifics of its use, especially if it is a metal stove.
Meanwhile, it is very easy to refine even the most beautiful product by covering it with brick; among other things, this will improve heat transfer. Stones should also be selected individually - be approximately the same size and texture. Among other things, you can decorate the sauna heater with decorative elements in the form of arches or other elements and organize interesting lighting for this area.
Shelves in the steam room
To make them, it is necessary to use hard wood with low thermal conductivity - this will allow you to sit comfortably on them even at the highest temperatures in the steam room and protect you from burns.
The design can be of two types: open and closed:
- The enclosed structure is a continuous deck and is built on a solid frame.
- The open design consists of slats with gaps between them. The design turns out to be very light and light; you can arrange lighting underneath it.
Lighting
No one will argue that the interior design of a Russian bathhouse largely depends on the competent arrangement of lighting equipment. Light can give the interior a different mood, enliven it and highlight individual objects in the room, emphasizing its originality.
The main difficulty is that the bathhouse has very unfavorable conditions for electrical equipment. High humidity and temperature changes impose special requirements on lighting equipment. Not every lamp is suitable for such conditions, and this should be taken into account when choosing.
Room decoration
Since we are talking about a bathhouse for a garden plot, we will not pay attention to expensive and luxurious materials. Let's talk about the simplest and most accessible ones.
If you look at the photo of the bathhouse inside, you can see that the best option for its design is wood, for example, lining. The lining has ideal properties and qualities for a bath and, in addition, gives it an aesthetic appearance.
Baths outside: photo
Finishing the outside of a bathhouse is necessary not only to improve the aesthetic appearance. It is also needed to improve thermal and waterproofing performance, since a bathhouse is a place with high humidity. In addition, if it is located in close proximity to other residential buildings, it is worth choosing a finishing material that will ideally suit the general style of the area on which the bathhouse is located.
Based on materials from the sites: couo.ru, vasha-banya.com, hotbanya.ru, tutknow.ru
Building size
Having studied the photo of a bathhouse in the country, we can conclude that the optimal size of the building is 6x6 meters. Such a room can accommodate a veranda, a relaxation room, a shower room, a steam room, and even a bathroom.
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If the capabilities of the land do not allow such a scale, then build a mini bathhouse measuring 3x3 meters with a steam room and a relaxation room. The benefits and pleasure of visiting a bathhouse are unambiguous, regardless of its size.
Which room is better to place it in?
A sauna or bathhouse in an apartment is most conveniently located in the bathroom and adjacent rooms.
Then, immediately after the steam room, you can plunge into cool water, and not run to the other end of the apartment. In case of redevelopment, the toilet is combined with a bathroom, and a sauna is created in the vacated room. A small sauna is set up on a loggia, a spacious kitchen, in a storage room, it is only important to think through the ventilation and lighting system
It’s quite easy to set up a compact sauna in an apartment closet, especially if there is a bathroom behind the wall
A “dry” infrared sauna can be installed in any room, for example, in the living room or bedroom
When the apartment is on the ground floor, it is allowed to create an extension and arrange a steam room in it.
Main types of baths and saunas in an apartment
A properly equipped steam room in a modern apartment can be of any type. This is a Russian or Turkish bath, an electric or infrared structure, a miniature structure or an entire room.
A factory-made sauna is a kit equipped with everything necessary and ready for use immediately after installation
When ordering a sauna made to measure, you will receive a cabin according to your wishes. Furniture and equipment in this case can be purchased separately
A homemade sauna is the cheapest, but the construction process is quite labor-intensive and requires certain skills
Infrared
In a city apartment, an infrared sauna is also convenient - it deeply warms all body tissues. Some believe that the device causes harm due to its radiation, but an infrared sauna is easier to tolerate for people with heart problems, since it is impossible to overheat in it. You should not use cosmetics inside the structure, as burns are possible.
An infrared sauna is a compact cabin that does not serve as a source of moisture (unless combined with a shower)
An infrared sauna can be placed on an insulated loggia
Mini
The smallest option is a phyto-barrel. This is a heated structure with a bench inside that can accommodate one person, whose body, with the exception of the head, fits completely into the keg. The device operates from a regular outlet. There are also ordinary small structures that occupy less than one square meter. m. area of the room. They are easy to integrate into any niche.
Barrel-shaped structures are compact in size and can accommodate only one person
It would be easy to place such a mini-sauna in the bathroom of a city apartment.
Turkish
A Turkish-type steam room is installed in rooms with a height of at least three meters, equipped with ventilation, sewerage, and vapor barrier. There is high humidity, relatively low temperature, and a mild microclimate. This is a suitable place for a variety of beauty treatments.
A Turkish hammam can fit in an area measuring 1.5 x 1 m, plus you will need space to place a steam generator unit and filters
Finnish
Such a structure is suitable only for very spacious apartments, where you can allocate an entire room for a sauna. The structure generates dry air, so it is easy to stay in it for a long time; there is practically no steam. Manufacturing the structure is labor-intensive, installation is complicated.
Recommended area for a Finnish-type sauna is from 8 square meters
Russian
A steam or Russian bath requires medium temperature combined with high humidity. Warming up of the body occurs especially actively here, due to the formation of a thin film of water on the skin. The structure is heated with a metal or brick stove, preferably closed. Additional installation of a steam generator is allowed.
Of course, a home sauna will not replace a real Russian wood-burning bathhouse, the arrangement of which is impossible in an apartment, since solid fuel heating devices are prohibited in multi-storey buildings
Electric
The electric sauna installed in the apartment is heated using an electric stove-heater. The structure has a beautiful appearance, it is fireproof, since there is no need to buy special fuel. The main disadvantage is that energy costs will increase significantly.
The power of the heater depends on the size of the steam room; for a small sauna, an electric heater of 3–4 kW is enough for one person
Which sauna or bathhouse is better to choose for an apartment?
At home, the design of the steam room is selected based on the available area and the possibility of connecting communications. Electric and infrared saunas are the most convenient, since they do not require fuel in the form of firewood or other similar material. The frame itself can be built into any niche or assembled separately. The second option is preferable, since if you move, it’s easy to take the “bathhouse” with you to your new place of residence.
The simplest option for a home sauna is a shower cabin equipped with a steam generator.
To decide which sauna to place and where, they make a detailed drawing with dimensions and several location options.
It is better to place the sauna next to the bathroom, where there are already utilities
