2021 ᐈ

If the space and interior of the apartment allow, then why not arrange a personal sauna in it, where you can relax alone or with family and friends. After all, the benefits of bath procedures and healing steam are undeniable, and many serious diseases can be treated with the help of beneficial steam and heat. Therefore, in this article we will look at how to set up a sauna in an apartment, as well as all the pros and cons of such a step.

Sauna in the apartment

Sauna in a stylish bathroom

Sauna in a cozy bathroom

Styles and directions

If previously a bathhouse was considered strictly a place for hygiene procedures and little thought was given to its interior, now the issue of design is relevant. After all, the sauna has become a place for rest and relaxation. Therefore, it is important to think through the style of each room.

The steam room is quite limited in the number of design ideas. But there are some great options.

Maximum simplicity. Bright accents can worsen the situation. Under the influence of high temperature, the body experiences stress, and a flashy interior will only increase it. Therefore, the design should set the mood for relaxation and relieve fatigue;

If you want to get a positive charge when placing a steam room, it is recommended to add bright colors, but in moderation.

It is better to focus on originality. It’s enough to play with lighting, add details and materials of different textures and colors.

In addition to the steam room, you should consider the design of the relaxation room. There are many more options and you can realize the most attractive style. It is only recommended to organize everything so that the design of both rooms is combined.

Preferred design ideas:

Classic

Use natural materials, mainly wood. The palette is calm, without bright elements. The design is restrained, simple, but chic.

Modern

Place upholstered furniture such as a few armchairs and a sofa. Place a glass table opposite. You can hang a TV on the wall. Use more metal, mirror surfaces.

Eclecticism

You can mix several different styles. Decorative elements are suitable as an accent.

Country

Rustic style in a rough style. Use massive furniture and wide floorboards. Complete the room with appropriate decorative elements.

Ethno

It is recommended to choose a specific country and create a design that fully reflects it.

Waiting room and its purpose

This room is necessary so that those eager to take a steam bath can calmly undress; it also protects the steam room from cold air and dirt. Here you can prepare for bath procedures and prepare accessories.

Waiting room in the sauna

If the size of the room is limited, then a table is placed in the dressing room, where they then chat with friends over a cup of aromatic herbal tea.

The owners, as a rule, approach the design of this room with a creative approach, especially since there is now a large selection of various accessories for saunas: these are funny wooden signs, clocks, thermometers, original wooden buckets, felt hats. All this creates a unique flavor and sets you in the right mood.

Relaxation area in the waiting room

To decorate the dressing room, you can use coniferous wood, for example, Scandinavian spruce and pine. The design of the waiting room provides a lot of room for creativity. In its decoration you can use various styles and directions:

English style;
Oriental;

Oriental style dressing room project

country style;

Waiting room in a country-style sauna

Art Nouveau style;
eco style.

To create a room in the chosen style, accessories will help: mirrors in frames, furniture, all kinds of bedspreads, stylized towels and sheets, lamps, dishes, decorative sculptures, as well as figurines and much more.

If desired and there is a large space, you can also equip a sleeping place for guests.

Peculiarities

Visiting the sauna has a beneficial effect on the entire body. Now it has become possible to visit the steam room without leaving home.

You can equip a sauna right in your apartment, if, of course, the free space allows this.

The installation of such structures in the residential premises of an apartment building is not prohibited by any regulations and is completely legal. However, the installation of a sauna must be coordinated with a number of government agencies.

In large rooms you can equip a sauna with a total capacity of two people. In small rooms it is possible to install only small-sized structures for one person.

A steam room in a residential area, no matter what its dimensions, is a sealed glazed installation resembling a cabin in shape. Seating must be provided in the sauna. If the structure is large, then shelves are installed in it.

The installation operates on electricity. The air temperature can be adjusted by raising it to the desired degree and stopping heating.

The benefits of taking water treatments in a home cabin are no less than the benefits of visiting a regular sauna.

Where to install

When answering the question - how to make a sauna in an apartment - the first thing you need to do is choose a suitable place for it. What requirements need to be taken into account - useful tips:

If redevelopment is needed, contact with the relevant services is inevitable. It’s better to tune in to this right away - life in an apartment building imposes its own responsibilities and requirements on the resident.
Think about how installing a sauna will fit into your interior and apartment design. Of course, the best thing is a sauna in the bathroom or next to the toilet. This is the best choice, but it is not always suitable if the bathroom is small or inconveniently located - for example, at the very entrance to the apartment.
A bathroom combined with a toilet allows one of the vacated rooms to be converted into a sauna.
There are cases when a separate sauna is installed in a spacious kitchen. At the same time, it is closed and completely invisible - just the door is visible, and behind it is a small room. This design does not spoil the interior at all if the kitchen is large enough.
If the loggia is insulated and you do not live in the Far North, then a good option is to equip a mini-sauna on the loggia. In this case, ventilation is carried out directly to the street.
Be sure to think about how to ventilate. If this issue is not taken into account, the steam will settle wherever necessary - on furniture, shelving, mirrors, walls, leading to their gradual destruction and the formation of mold and mildew. All this can greatly spoil the interior and beautiful design of the apartment.

Mini sauna in the bathroom

Sauna with glass doors in the bathroom Small cozy sauna

Spacious sauna in the apartment

Finishing the sauna with two types of wood

Sauna interiors

Sauna finishing with wood and stone

Advantages and disadvantages

Home saunas are becoming increasingly popular due to a number of significant advantages.

Let's consider the main advantages of such structures:

For sauna lovers, installing a similar design in an apartment will save time and money on visiting public steam rooms.
Most models of heating equipment for home steam rooms have a remote control. Using the remote control, you can regulate the heating speed and temperature in the steam room.
An infrared steam room does not require large amounts of electrical energy to operate.
Regular visits to the steam room have a beneficial effect on the body. The only exceptions are those cases when, for health reasons, a person is contraindicated from visiting the sauna.

Home saunas also have certain disadvantages. Let us highlight the disadvantages of such structures:

Good quality models are quite expensive, and making a sauna yourself is not always possible.
Not all apartments can accommodate a steam room. The decisive factor in this case is the area of the room.
Not all people can visit the sauna. Serious diseases associated with the cardiovascular system or oncology are grounds for complete refusal of water procedures in the steam room.

Types of saunas

Barrel sauna

An ideal modern and original option for a small apartment is a barrel sauna. This type of steam room has an amazing beneficial effect on the body: strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves immunity, removes the effects of cellulite, and restores skin elasticity. However, despite the simple design, it is better to entrust the installation of a miracle mini sauna to professionals.

Barrel sauna in a home bathroom

This sauna is controlled using a remote control, and with the help of additional options, the procedure for taking steam treatments becomes even more comfortable. For example, it has the option of a balm sprayer. The most common options are with cedar wood and a built-in steam generator.

Internal structure of a barrel sauna

Sauna cabin

A cabin that is not too large in size can be placed directly in the bathroom, but an important condition for such installation will be the presence of a reserve near the floor and ceiling (a few centimeters). Typically, the height of finished booths is no more than two meters, otherwise their ventilation will be impaired.

Cabin-sauna for the bathroom

Cabin for one person

You can place such a booth even in a cramped bathroom, in a Khrushchev building. Such a cabin for one person resembles a “wardrobe”. The main advantage of ready-made saunas is that the equipment in them is placed according to all the rules.

Single sauna cabin

Sauna with glass doors

In miniature saunas, the doors are made of glass, or they are a wooden structure in the form of a frame into which glass is inserted. This was done more for the psychological relief of the person who will be in the sauna, so that the space does not put pressure.

Sauna idea with glass doors

Salt sauna

Another innovation is the salt sauna. Since ancient times, salt has been a unique natural material that people have used to benefit and strengthen their health. The salt sauna uses unique Himalayan salt that works wonders. As a result of the visit, the functioning of the circulatory system and organs of the cardiovascular system is normalized, and the body gets rid of harmful bacteria. In addition, there is a pronounced effect on the central nervous system. The condition of the skin improves, the functioning of the respiratory system improves, allergic reactions disappear, and the conditions of chronic patients are alleviated.

Salt sauna

Such a sauna can be easily and simply set up in a country house. Its arrangement is no more complicated than a regular sauna, and the benefits are obvious.

Salt sauna in a country house

Sauna with window

It is advisable to install a window in the sauna if the wall allows this technologically. Firstly, natural light will penetrate into the room, and secondly, again, from a psychological point of view, this will unload the room.

Idea of a sauna with a window for a country house

Designer cabin

If you wish, you can realize all your wildest ideas for arranging a sauna in your home if you leave the matter in the hands of a designer. Such a sauna can become the “highlight” of the interior and the “highlight” of the program when guests come.

Design idea for a sauna cabin

Sauna in the attic

Modern technologies are capable of realizing such an idea. A sauna can be installed not only in the attic, but also in the attic. Why not? Even in country houses, where there is space for arranging a pantry and dressing room, attics are usually filled with unnecessary trash and outdated things. Why not have a sauna there?

Sauna in the attic of the house

Sauna with swimming pool

This is the most ideal option for arranging a steam room. Taking a dip in cool water after a hot day is just a wonderful feeling. The pool can be built right there, and it may not necessarily be long, but deep, and more reminiscent of a “font”.

Home sauna idea with a small plunge pool

Sauna with wine cellar

Such a sauna can be arranged next to a round pool, and not far from it there will be a modern cellar. Moreover, the cooling and heating systems for both rooms are made common.

Infrared sauna

This is a modern installation for thermal procedures. Currently, this sauna is very popular. It can be found in beauty salons, sports studios, sanatoriums and hotels, and, of course, in the homes of advanced people. What is it? This is a miniature cabin that has infrared heaters. They are able to create a deeper and more effective, but at the same time, gentle effect on the body by emitting infrared rays. At the same time, thermal procedures are performed with maximum comfort, because the heating temperature does not exceed 55 degrees Celsius. But there is still debate about the usefulness of the infrared sauna, and opinions are divided.

Infrared sauna in the apartment

Sauna in stone style

You can get away from the banal design of a sauna with wood and decorate it with natural stone. This material can withstand high temperatures and is resistant to destruction and moisture. Its only drawback is its high cost, but the resulting appearance fully justifies the investment. You can combine both wood and stone in decoration, and the result will undoubtedly be successful combinations.

Finishing saunas with natural stone

Sauna with stone tiles

Stone tiles can also be used in sauna design. It will contrast with the shades of red wood.

This combination is a successful design technique. By using different materials and a variety of colors, the sauna room can be given amazing variety and a stunning appearance.

Finishing the sauna with stone tiles

Porcelain stoneware, which is stylized as marble, will give the room a special chic. Raw stone brings the breath of nature into the sauna room, returning to the origins of humanity. Taking treatments in such a sauna will be especially pleasant if you are in a country house built in the middle of a forest. Complete harmony of nature and man!

Porcelain tiles in sauna decoration

In finishing you can use a material such as pebbles. This unusual design technique gives the steam room an originality. Natural materials create a natural finish, and never look pretentious or loud. In addition, walking on pebbles is incredibly useful - after all, it is a natural massage of the legs, and, as you know, there are many points on them, by massaging which you can significantly improve your health. By using pebbles to decorate your sauna, you can get home spa treatments without leaving your home.

Finishing with pebbles in the sauna

If it is not possible to complete the finishing with stone, you can decorate only part of the room with stone, for example, one wall.

Projects

The design of a home sauna primarily depends on the free space in the room. Now you can purchase ready-made structures of various shapes and sizes, or you can make a cabin yourself. As for the placement of the sauna, cabins are most often installed in bathrooms.

However, placement options such as a balcony or even a storage room are also acceptable.

In a three-room apartment, you can equip a separate room as a steam room. As for private houses, it is much easier to find a place to place a steam room.

Basement or attic spaces may be involved here.

The placement of a sauna in a room largely depends on the layout of the room. Among the ready-made structures you can find both corner and wall-mounted cabins. In certain cases, it will be more advisable to make a steam room yourself.

According to the regulatory documents that regulate the design of these structures, the area of the sauna should not exceed 24 m². The minimum area of the steam room is 1 m3?. The optimal cabin height is two meters. The only exceptions may be mini-barrels.

When installing a home sauna that is equipped with a steam generator or an electric stove, you must remember about ventilation. Such structures are not installed close to the wall, but with a gap of at least 20 millimeters.

In addition to ventilation, it is important to take care of high-quality thermal insulation and electrical wiring. Mineral wool is most often used as insulation. High-quality thermal insulation material will save electricity for heating the sauna and will allow you to keep the cabin warm for a long time.

A separate cable coated with a thermal protective layer must be used for electrical wiring. The cord is pulled along the floor in the steam room and led out to the electrical panel.

Decorating the walls in the steam room using wooden lining

It is not without reason that the most popular material for covering surfaces in steam rooms is lining. With its help, you can not only create a reliable and durable design for a steam room, but also insulate the room. Lining has many advantages:

environmental friendliness (the material does not emit toxic substances even at very high temperatures);
excellent ventilation for all other building and finishing materials;
high aesthetic qualities;
with the help of such cladding you can hide the architectural imperfections of the room;
no condensation forms on the surface, which means there is no predisposition to the formation and spread of fungus;
clapboard cladding is able to “breathe”;
polished surfaces are pleasant to the touch.

Creating a sheathing

Linden lining has the optimal combination of price and quality. This is the most popular material for finishing steam rooms and dressing rooms in Russian baths and saunas. The algorithm for creating cladding from clapboard is simple. The preparatory stage includes the following actions:

first it is necessary to adapt the material to the microclimate of the steam room; for this, the lining is brought into the room;
if the walls of the steam room have differences, then they must be leveled using slats;
joints and cracks must be caulked;
installation of the sheathing begins with fastening the sheathing of slats with a pitch of about 50 cm from each other;
in order to mount the sheathing evenly, it is necessary to attach a thread to the outermost bars, which will serve as a guide for the rest of the products;
After completing the preparation of the frame, it is coated with an antiseptic
if the walls are perfectly smooth, then you can do without lathing and fix the finishing material directly to the wall.

Insulation and waterproofing of walls

In parallel with the creation of finishing for the surfaces of a bathhouse or sauna, the issue of insulating the room is also being resolved. In some cases, it makes sense to use mineral insulation, which is placed under the sheathing of wooden slats. But it all depends on the material used to create the load-bearing walls in the building. If the building is made of concrete blocks or stone, then it is better to do without insulation, otherwise you will subsequently have to solve the problem of poor quality and insufficient ventilation.

The second issue, which is resolved together with the implementation of surface finishing, is the creation of waterproofing of the room, because we need to protect all the load-bearing structures of the building. Previously, aluminum foil was the most popular material for waterproofing; these days it has been replaced by a modern analogue - vapor barrier film.

Installation of lining

After completing all the preparatory processes, you can begin directly covering the walls and ceiling of the steam room. It is necessary to select fasteners that can withstand high humidity and temperature changes. Ordinary nails will not work - they can rust from moisture and heat up when exposed to high temperatures - touching a wall with hot nail heads can lead to burns.

The lining can be mounted both vertically and horizontally - it all depends on the size of the room and the height of the ceiling. The lining elements are pre-cut to the required lengths and then attached to the prepared sheathing (or directly to the wall, if it has a perfectly flat surface). It is necessary that the lining fits tightly at the corner joints. Also, it is necessary to use a building level to create a not only reliable, but also aesthetically pleasing finish for the steam room.

Laying the lining starts from the corner. Staples and clamps are used as fastening elements. To finish the ceiling, you can use the same material as for cladding the walls. But it is important to understand that the highest temperature in the room will be under the ceiling; it is necessary to use lining made from wood species containing the least amount of resin (drops falling can leave a burn on the body). The covering of surfaces near the stove is usually made of refractory bricks or ceramic tiles.

In custody

All wooden elements intended for use in the steam room (benches, benches, stools, stands, holders) must be properly processed. Careful sanding and treatment with wax mastic will help reduce the swelling of wood from hot and wet steam, the appearance and spread of microorganisms on the surface of furniture and decorative elements.

Materials

Home saunas are most often made of wood. To ensure reliable sealing of the cabin, glass is used to produce cabin doors. Shower cabins with steam room function are made from high-strength plastic and glass.

Barrel-shaped structures are mainly made from cedar.

You can easily make a home steam room with your own hands. An important step in the manufacture of a sauna is the correct selection of materials. For finishing the floor, tiles are perfect, which are laid on a pre-equipped infrared warm coating.

Wooden floors are not recommended.

The frame, sheathing, external and internal cladding, as well as shelves must be made of high-quality wood. Don't forget about vapor barrier. You can use special parchment as a vapor barrier layer.

Mineral wool is well suited for thermal insulation of the walls of the structure.

As for wood, the material must be treated with a special antiseptic and fire-resistant compound. Not all tree species are suitable for making a sauna. The most suitable option is linden, valuable African wood species abash and aspen.

Each type of wood that can be used to make a home sauna has its own characteristics:

Abash is practically non-heat-conducting wood, which is why it is so often used for finishing baths and saunas. The material has high strength, which indicates resistance to mechanical stress and deformation. The surface of the wood is smooth and does not emit any resins.
Aspen is highly resistant to rotting. Resinous discharge does not form on the surface of the material.
Linden retains heat well, so it is ideal for interior decoration of a sauna. The surface of such wood is quite smooth, with no knots.

Canadian hemlock (hemlock) has a long service life and beautiful natural texture. This wood contains no resins.
Canadian red cedar is distinguished by a large number of natural shades from light to dark tones. The material is practically non-flammable, resistant to temperature changes and moisture.
Black alder (sticky) practically does not absorb water and can withstand very high temperatures. The material is resistant to deformation and has a low level of thermal conductivity.

Requirements for materials for finishing a sauna

Materials for finishing a sauna should not only be beautiful and capable of transforming the appearance of the room, but also meet safety requirements, be environmentally friendly and durable.

The finishing for the sauna should be:

durable (this is not a room where you can do repairs every year);
durable (high temperatures and humidity can destroy many materials);
environmental friendliness (under the influence of high temperatures, harmful substances can be released from low-quality materials);
with a high ability to retain heat;
with low thermal conductivity qualities (so that a person does not get burned during operation);
resistance to high humidity and temperature changes.

The sauna finish must be resistant to temperature changes

Wood is considered a traditional material for finishing saunas, since it fully meets all the qualities listed above. The tree has high aesthetic properties, is capable of aromatizing the air during steam procedures, and has an additional healing effect on the human body.

Wood is a traditional material for sauna finishing

Visiting a home sauna with friends at the end of the work week - what could be better? The following types of wooden materials are used for sauna cladding:

rounded log;

Sauna finishing from rounded logs

lining;

Finishing a home sauna with clapboard

block house.

Covering a sauna with a block house

All these elements will go well with brickwork, natural stone finishing or tiles.

Mandatory rule: when decorating saunas, applying paint and varnish to any surface of the room is unacceptable! This, firstly, is very harmful, and secondly, it will not withstand even the first dose of paired procedures.

Nowadays, a sauna is not only an object of hygiene, but also a place for leisure and relaxation. Therefore, it can consist of several rooms: a dressing room, a steam room, a shower. Other saunas may include a small kitchen area, a bathhouse, a bathroom, or a playroom.

Sauna consisting of several rooms

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kinds

Let's consider what types of home sauna modern science and construction technologies can offer.

Phytobarrel

Peculiarities:

This type is the most compact, suitable for a small apartment.
It is made in the form of a kind of mini-barrel, in which heaters are mounted.
Inside there is a small bench for one person, where a person sits down to enjoy the bath procedures. In this case, the head remains outside, and the whole body, including the arms, remains inside.
A homemade phyto-barrel allows you to make your skin fresh and youthful, and is generally suitable for people who want to improve their body health.
It works from a regular outlet, does not spoil the design and stylish interior with its appearance - after use it is easy to fold and put away.

Phytobarrel

Phyto-barrel in the interior of the apartment

Infrared

Peculiarities:

If a regular version of a sauna can warm up the body up to 5 mm in depth, affecting, in fact, only the upper skin, then infrared heats up to 4 cm - this is already a quite serious indicator.
Along with a decent heating depth, the infrared cabin is interesting because special rays maintain a comfortable air temperature. In such a sauna room you can enjoy a comfortable rest at 40-60 degrees, receiving all the benefits of infrared exposure.
Due to the low level of heating, the infrared cabin can be visited even by people for whom a regular bath is contraindicated - heart patients, epileptics, those suffering from skin diseases, etc. Such infrared heat will only benefit them.
A home infrared cabin helps remove harmful waste, sweat, toxins, fat deposits and other “garbage” from the body in an amount of approximately 20%, while a regular bath, despite profuse sweating, only 5%.

Infrared sauna in the apartment Infrared sauna in the interior of the apartment

Finnish sauna

This classic option is only suitable for decent-sized apartments, since proper arrangement of a classic sauna will require quite a lot of space. It is not available in a mini version, so for a small apartment it is an unrealistic option.
The big advantage of this option is that such a room can comfortably accommodate several people. That is, the owner of the house can receive guests here, even conduct business negotiations, and relax with friends. Of course, this will require an appropriate interior, modern or traditional, thoughtful design.
This type is capable of generating the driest air, therefore it is most preferable for sick people and children. It is easiest to stay in a room with very dry air for a long time.

Finnish sauna in the apartment Finnish sauna in the bathroom

Turkish steam room

Another name for such a steam room is hammam. It is quite possible to build it in your own apartment, but only if the latter has the necessary parameters: a height of 3 meters, sewer connections and ventilation. There must be a hood, vapor insulation and waterproofing. Not all apartments can provide such exacting requirements - a mini-option is not enough. There may be a combined steam room with infrared. But this option will cost more.

Turkish steam room in the apartment Mini hammam in the apartment

Small hammam in the apartment

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.

To decide which sauna to place and where, they make a detailed drawing with dimensions and several location options.

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, or in a storage room; it is only important to think through the ventilation and lighting system.

When the apartment is on the ground floor, it is allowed to create an extension and arrange a steam room in it.

Pros of a sauna

Let's consider what benefits our own home sauna will bring to us:

With each visit to the steam room, the body is cleansed, healed, becomes stronger, and is less susceptible to diseases and infections. This circumstance is very important in modern urban conditions. Even a mini-version of a sauna is suitable for recovery, which can easily fit into any design.
The massage, which is done using natural deciduous and coniferous brooms, helps to increase blood circulation. It is even used to treat some diseases. In addition, such a massage is also beneficial for the skin - women and men, after visiting a mini-sauna or steam bath, look younger before our eyes.
Bath procedures relieve stress, strengthen the nervous system and promote general hardening of the body. Just imagine - you came home from work, exhausted from the road and work problems - and your own sauna awaits you in the apartment, where you can completely relax and tidy yourself up, take a break from pressing problems. This awareness alone will make it easier to cope with the daily stress of the city.
In the case of colds, which is not uncommon in our climate, a sauna or bathhouse is an excellent healer. Even in a small sauna you can get rid of a runny nose, recover from a sore throat, warm your feet, etc.
A sauna in an apartment is most often equipped with special doors that close tightly - they do not let cool air in from the outside room and do not let out warm air from inside.
Some sauna models are equipped with a shower. Such options are designed for sufficient apartment dimensions. They can no longer be considered mini-models.
There are also saunas with hydromassage function. This option is very practical and useful, but it will be more expensive. This function will decorate the interior of the sauna and make its design more modern.

Large sauna in the apartment

Sauna stove

Sauna and shower in the bathroom

Sauna, bath and relaxation area

Sauna and shower in the bathroom View of the sauna in the apartment from the inside Beautiful lighting in the sauna

Unusual sauna design

Interior design options for a room with a sauna, bathhouse

Even the smallest sauna in an apartment is decorated according to all the rules. It is sheathed with heat-treated wood, preferably aspen or linden. Finishing begins from the ceiling, then the walls are finished. A wooden grate must be placed on the floor to prevent your feet from getting hot.

Less often, floors and walls are decorated with ceramic tiles, which greatly simplifies cleaning. Doors are made of wood, with tinted or frosted glass.

If the apartment is large and the ceiling height allows, a pool with a depth of one meter and a width and length of two meters is made in the room next to the steam room. Both rooms are separated by glass doors. Lighting is done only on the ceiling itself - lamps and LED strips located along the perimeter of the floor, under the benches, are acceptable options.

One of the walls is decorated with mosaics or natural stone, if this does not violate the overall style of the bathroom.

Why a sauna and not a bathhouse

As Russian people, we consider the bathhouse our traditional place for washing. But experts still recommend installing a sauna in the apartment. What are its advantages:

The sauna is easier to install. It is possible to install the finished structure even with your own hands in a room suitable for this, which makes the matter very easy and simple. You can adjust the installation to any interior and design. And the mini-sauna does not even require installation - the portable cabin is mobile and lightweight.
You won’t have to think about draining water and other household nuances, including the need to install additional ventilation equipment in the room. As a result, the room where the sauna is located and the apartment as a whole will not suffer from humidity. The dry steam of a sauna is no less useful than the wet steam of a sauna, but at the same time it does not spoil the interior and design of the room.
The sauna can be installed in a mini version. This cabin design is a convenient solution if you want to have a sauna in a small apartment.

Sauna finishing with wood

Comfortable small sauna

Sauna in the attic

Sauna with sliding doors in the apartment

Sauna interior

Mini sauna in the apartment

Stove with stones in the sauna

Tips and recommendations for decorating the interior of an apartment with a bathhouse, sauna

The bathhouse designs in the apartment in the photo look very different. Design and renovation specialists give the following recommendations for their design:

the lighting is not bright, but diffused, which ensures better relaxation;
It is not advisable to make the shelves themselves from coniferous wood;
It is not advisable to coat wooden structures inside the steam room with varnish, but only with anti-rot compounds;
an additional therapeutic effect is achieved by decorating the bathhouse floors or its fragments with large pebbles;
glass doors are the optimal solution for those who feel uncomfortable in an overly cramped enclosed space.

Design

Most types of home saunas are made from high quality wood. Wood has a beautiful natural structure that does not need to be hidden under paint and varnish coatings. Wooden structures look aesthetically pleasing and fit perfectly into any interior design.

The modern building materials market offers a wide range of paints and varnishes for treating wooden surfaces.

If desired, you can paint the sauna in any shade. Interior finishing must be done with materials from deciduous trees. It will be enough to treat the finishing materials inside the structure with a special protective composition against mold, which also emphasizes the natural texture of the wood.

Floors in the sauna can be tiled. Such a coating will not only be visually attractive, but also reliable. Despite the fact that home steam rooms are small in size, it is not forbidden to decorate the cabin with decorative elements.

Inside the steam room you can arrange a beautiful composition from small wooden buckets, sauna hats, tubs and other items.

Sometimes steam rooms are installed in very small bathrooms. To make the design look less cumbersome in a small room and not visually make the room smaller, it is better to make the doors in the sauna out of glass.

It is also possible to make one of the walls glass.

If, instead of a ready-made sauna, you plan to make the structure yourself, you can implement any design ideas. It is allowed to combine different types of trees in the manufacture of the external frame, as well as for interior decoration.

Also at the design stage, you can think about the type of artificial lighting and select suitable lighting fixtures.

Using lighting in a sauna

In the design of saunas, various lighting elements have begun to be actively used, highlighting shelves, steps, etc. If previously only moisture-resistant lamps were used in sauna lighting design, now entire lighting systems using LED strips are used, in various combinations and colors.

Lighting in the sauna using LED strips

Despite the fact that the sauna may have glass doors, as well as windows with natural light sources, lighting will not interfere with it at all, but on the contrary, it can give an atmosphere of comfort and will advantageously place the necessary accents on the decoration.

Lighting will help place accents in the sauna

Reviews

At first glance, it seems that taking water procedures in a home steam room and visiting a real sauna have completely different effects. However, reviews from home sauna owners tell a completely different story.

Buyers, as well as manufacturers of their own designs, note the following:

A visit to a home steam room allows you to quickly relieve stress and physical tension, and also improves your overall well-being.
Ease of use. Most types of heating devices can be controlled using a remote control.
If the room area is large, you can even install a double structure.
Some companies make home steam rooms to order. This way you can purchase the most suitable design for the layout of the room.

Buyers of ready-made saunas warn of a high probability of purchasing a low-quality product. You shouldn’t skimp on buying a steam room and buy cheap Chinese-made goods.

Poor quality designs do not meet the stated characteristics and can fail very quickly.

The influence of sauna design to create the desired atmosphere

True steam room connoisseurs value not only the opportunity to undergo hygienic procedures. A sauna is a place where it is customary to spend an entire Saturday or Sunday evening: chatting with friends, taking water treatments in the steam room, swimming in the pool. After such a rest, a person feels truly rested. The burden of problems that was pressing on the shoulders disappears, and the person is again ready for labor exploits.

The sauna has a healing effect on the human body, pores open, toxins and excess fluid leave the body, in addition, it is a kind of training for the cardiovascular system, prevention of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, hardening procedures that help strengthen the immune system.

Tips and tricks

Home saunas are easy to use. However, before using the steam room for the first time, you must perform a number of important steps:

The cabin needs to be warmed up well. There is no need to do this at maximum temperatures, it is best to set it to the average value. When warming up the sauna for the first time, the doors must be open.
After warming up the cabin with the door open for about an hour, close the door tightly without changing the temperature in the steam room.
After an hour, the temperature in the steam room is increased by 1.5 times. After another hour, warming up can be completed.
It is advisable to repeat this procedure for several days in a row. In this case, the temperature must be increased each time. On about the fourth day, you can warm up the cabin at maximum temperature.
If after all the manipulations there are no malfunctions in the operation of the sauna, then you can safely operate the structure.

In order for the sauna to serve for many years, the structure needs proper care. If the steam room is made of wood, it is especially important to dry the cabin thoroughly after each use of water procedures.

It is necessary to remove excess moisture from the surface of the walls, floor and shelves with a dry cloth and leave the door to the steam room open for some time for ventilation purposes.

Beautiful examples

Small steam rooms are perfect for small bathrooms. The glass walls of the sauna make the structure visually lighter.

The compact cabin, lined with wooden slats, fits perfectly into the stylish interior of the bathroom.

External lighting with spots and decorative cladding of the front wall makes the sauna even more original and attractive.

In spacious rooms you can install larger steam rooms with a lounger. Wooden structures look quite attractive without additional painting of external walls.

You can set up an apartment balcony for a sauna. To make a steam room, you don’t have to build a frame and make lathing - just trim the walls with wooden panels, cover the surfaces of the floor and ceiling and install a stove.

A home sauna can become not only a place for taking water procedures, but also an independent piece of room decor.

Choosing a place: bath, kitchen or balcony?

When you live in a private house, you don’t have to make such a strict choice - you can use the basement, the attic, the extension, or one of the free rooms with equal success.

In a city apartment, everything is different: the attic and basement are public (although in Finland, for example, these rooms are equipped as a sauna for the entire house), it is prohibited to use them for your own needs (only for storing things, and even then not in all houses).

You can build an extension - but this applies exclusively to residents of the 1st floor, and construction on central streets is prohibited, and for peripheral houses a lot of approvals will be required, and therefore money.

What remains are the premises that are parts of the apartment, the so-called “living” area. Balconies, loggias and glazed verandas have recently also begun to be classified as “residential” meters

Let's look at the legal documents and see what is allowed by law. It turns out that placing saunas in living rooms and kitchens is strictly prohibited (by the way, the ban also applies to basements of high-rise buildings). What remains is a balcony (loggia), a corridor or a bathroom.

If you live in the north, your balcony will require high-quality thermal insulation, since the outer wall of the house usually freezes. The corridor needs redevelopment, and only if it has sufficient area. The pantry is usually used as a dressing room - this frees the living space from bulky cabinets.

Thus, a sauna in the bathroom should be considered a more rational solution, provided that the footage and legal regulations allow, which you will have to get to know more closely.