Everyone loves the sauna: it helps you relax and forget about all your problems, cleanse your body of toxins and diseases, improve your health and feel your best. And a bathhouse right at home, in the shower room, is just a dream! But if a few years ago people could only fantasize about the topic of a bathhouse in their own apartment, today it is easily achievable.
A modern shower cabin with a sauna will cleanse your body of toxins and help you relax.
A modern shower cabin with a sauna is a reality. This design can be installed even in a small shower room; it does not require too much space or any special technical capabilities. Theoretically, a shower with a sauna function can be installed in any apartment. Let’s take a closer look at this wonder and find out all the pros and cons.
A shower room with a built-in sauna will suit the design of any room.
Pros and cons of a shower with a bath
What is the main advantage of a sauna in the house? Of course, its very presence is already a huge plus! Previously, people had to go to the steam room from time to time in order not only to have a good time, but also to get rid of many ailments. Now you can steam at least every day, and no one will bother you! Your own personal shower with a real home steam room is just a dream.
You no longer have to leave home to take a steam bath in the sauna when there is such a shower.
But besides the delight of the very fact of having a sauna in the bathroom, there are obvious advantages of such an idea:
- Constant access to the steam room: no need to go anywhere, make an appointment, or find time.
- Complete hygiene: no one except you and your family will visit this place, which means you can be calm about hygiene and health. Alas, even in the best and most expensive public baths there is no guarantee of sterility and cleanliness.
- The design is compact and does not require a large apartment. You can place a sauna even in the smallest area; it will not “steal” the space too much. And it will definitely add benefits and joy!
- The price will not “hit” your budget, since a shower cabin with a built-in sauna is slightly more expensive than a standard modern shower with all the components. So the choice is obvious!
- Easy maintenance and minimal resource costs are another plus.
- Excellent health and excellent well-being are always the main bonuses that you receive with the purchase of such a kit.
As for the disadvantages, they are not obvious and insignificant in comparison with the advantages. The main disadvantage is the cost: although it is relatively low, it still exceeds the price of a conventional shower stall.
You will have to pay a considerable amount for a shower cabin with a bath.
In addition, in case of careless operation and breakdowns, you will have to call specialists, because you will not be able to repair this complex equipment yourself. And these are additional costs.
You need to treat such a shower with care, as its repair will be expensive.
However, if you are ready to spend money on purchasing your own “steam room” and use it for its intended purpose in compliance with all operating rules, you will receive in return priceless health and a lot of pleasure from the procedures!
Follow safety precautions and operating rules, then the steam room and shower will serve you for a long time.
How does a bathhouse differ from a sauna: microclimate and arrangement
Sauna and bathhouse have a common purpose - maintaining the beauty of the body and promoting health. Despite this, there are a large number of differences between them, for example, temperature conditions.
The sauna is characterized by high temperatures (up to 140°C) and low humidity levels - from 5 to 15%. Such conditions are designed for people in good health. It is almost impossible to organize a classic bathhouse in an apartment due to many restrictions. Typically, the humidity level in it reaches 70% at a temperature of about 90°C. Such conditions are maintained thanks to special stoves, most of which cannot be used in an apartment. If you lower the temperature to 60°C, the amount of moisture in the air will drop to 40-50%.
Differences in arrangement:
| Criterion | Bath | Sauna |
| Heating equipment | Large solid fuel stoves | Lightweight open-type fireplaces with stone filling, electrical equipment |
| Pool | Not required | Installation of a shower cabin or a bathtub for water procedures is required |
| Construction Materials | Exclusively natural materials | Natural wood, artificial materials |
| Functional areas | In one room you can take hot and water procedures, use a broom | You cannot wash in the steam room; you are not allowed to use a broom; it is replaced with aromatic additives and natural oils |
Helpful advice! Due to the climatic conditions of the sauna, the broom becomes hard and ineffective. If desired, it can be used after leaving the steam room.
Experience installing and operating a sauna in an apartment: consumer reviews
Before making a sauna in your home, it is advisable to weigh the pros and cons, and also decide whether to buy a ready-made structure or make it yourself, and what it should be like.
Many online users share their experiences on forums:
“We ordered a phyto-barrel from one company. The steam room itself is very cool, made to last. But upon arrival it turned out that she did not fit through the doorway. I had to call a specialist. He cut the barrel and after it was brought into the room, he glued it back together. In general, this did not affect the quality and further operation, but it was still a waste of time and nerves. Check such nuances in advance or order a collapsible design.”
Valentina Petrova, Moscow
“I didn’t bother with assembling wooden frames and adjusting all the technical parameters. I just bought a sauna cabin. The whole family is happy. And no problems with documents or neighbors.”
Sergey Svyatoshin, St. Petersburg
A sauna in an apartment has more advantages than disadvantages
“My husband is an electrician and made the sauna himself. We decided to make an infrared one so that children could use it too. We are very pleased with the result. In winter it’s just a fairy tale. How could we live without this before?”
Oksana Shcheglova, Ekaterinburg
Why you should get a shower stall with a sauna
Not everyone still knows about the existence of a combined shower and sauna, which can be installed in any bathroom.
A shower cabin with a sauna is not such a luxury. You will not find such a design in every apartment only because this innovation is not yet familiar to everyone. But surely in five or six years literally every home will have just such a device!
Such a shower with a Finnish sauna will improve the health and protect against illnesses during the cold season for the whole family.
It’s worth getting a shower with a sauna because, first of all, it will give good health to the whole family. At the first signs of a cold in the off-season and winter, you should steam thoroughly so that not a trace of the virus remains in the body. You'll have to say goodbye to colds, runny nose and weakness forever!
You can order a shower room with a built-in steam room to match the design of your bathroom.
In addition, visiting a steam room normalizes weight and makes the body beautiful, because metabolism accelerates, the functioning of internal organs improves, the body becomes younger and stronger. And the condition of the skin changes after regular “steaming” literally before our eyes!
Regular visits to the steam room will rejuvenate and heal the body.
A beautiful and healthy appearance, good health for the whole family, a rested and cheerful state and a great mood. Here is an impressive list of advantages that come with the installation of a bath-shower. That's why you should get this design and not doubt the correctness of the decision!
Large model of a modern shower room with sauna.
Features of stationary structures
A stationary bathroom in a bathhouse can be in the form of a separate isolated room inside the building or a small extension on the outside. This toilet is equipped with permanent sewerage and ventilation.
An attached bathroom can be built simultaneously with the construction of the bathhouse itself. In this case, its foundation becomes a continuation of the bathhouse base, and the entrance is organized from inside the building. If the toilet is attached to an existing facility, then it is built directly next to the foundation of the bathhouse. There are several options for logging in:
- from the inside, when a door is cut through the wall;
- in the vestibule: in order to connect the toilet and the bathhouse, a vestibule (canopy) is also built;
- from the street: the entrance to the toilet is located on the street, but in close proximity to the bathhouse entrance.
Photo 1. Plan of a bathhouse with an indoor toilet
Design of a bathhouse with a toilet in the vestibule Project of a wall block with a toilet for a bathhouse
The combination of a bathhouse and a bathroom (photo 1 clearly illustrates it) with its internal placement is included in the construction design. There are many standard projects that allow you to implement such an idea with the optimal location of all departments. The fact is that the toilet is a rather specific room, and it should not disturb the comfort of vacationers.
Important condition! For a toilet in a bathhouse, a stationary sewerage system is required.
It can have several options:
- A separate storage septic tank outside the bathhouse, into which sewage flows through a pipe by gravity. As a rule, it is located near the bath wall, but is isolated and does not emit odors.
- General sewer system. The toilet drain is combined with the bath drain from the steam room and washing compartment if a complete local sewage system with several septic tanks is equipped.
- Cesspool. This option is only suitable for an attached bathroom.
To remove sewage from the bathhouse, you can build a septic tank or cesspool.
Another important requirement for a stationary indoor toilet is the presence of water for flushing in the toilet. The flushing system can be organized in the following ways: central water supply; own water supply from a well or borehole; storage capacity.
A stationary toilet must have a flush system
Toilet flush options
Types of shower cabins with sauna function for apartments
A shower stall with a steam room can be arranged according to two different principles. The first type of design is a shower cabin with a bath effect, that is, as if “two in one”. This is a more economical and very effective solution.
A shower cabin with a bath effect is a more optimal solution for a limited budget.
The second type is a shower with a sauna, but separately, through a partition. This design will take up twice as much space, but the effect of such a bath will be greater.
Modern large model of shower with sauna, separated by a partition.
In addition, home saunas are divided into three types according to the type of device: Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam and infrared sauna. Let's get to know them better.
Finnish sauna
The most popular sauna is the Finnish one. It is easy to install at home, right in the bathroom. It will be completely insulated - a compact space, inside of which there will be a stove for heating the air and benches for comfortable steaming.
The Finnish sauna, built into the shower room, can be completely covered with wood.
The Finnish sauna is entirely made of wood, which gives it a special atmosphere inside. The sauna must be completely insulated to prevent hot steam and air from leaking out. The oven is powered by electricity and the electricity consumption can be adjusted.
In Finnish saunas, heaters are used in the showers.
The size of the home “Finnish” can be adjustable. If the bathroom is compact, then you can make a bathhouse for one person, and if dimensions and funds allow, then for two or even three. Just imagine how nice it is after treatments in the steam room to come out and immediately take a refreshing shower!
Option of sizes for a large shower with a built-in Finnish sauna.
Turkish bath
Another popular bathhouse among those who like to steam is the Turkish bath, also known as “hamam”. This is a more complex option for an apartment, because the hammam has a special structure. For example, you don’t need a large space: you can set up a hammam in an area of about one and a half meters, and that will be enough. But don’t rush to rejoice: the hammam requires high ceilings, and in addition, the ceiling will have to be shaped into a dome to achieve the desired steamy effect.
The shower room with Turkish bath will be beautifully decorated with mosaics.
The hammam, unlike the Finnish sauna, is decorated with tiles or beautiful mosaics. And if funds allow, then you can decorate your hammam in a royal way - with natural stone, as the sultans and shahs did.
A modern solution for a shower with a steam generator.
In this bathhouse, the air is heated by a steam generator, and special heating devices are built into the walls and benches, which consume electricity. The design is quite complex and requires the work of a special craftsman who will develop an individual drawing and take into account all the nuances for a specific room.
A hammam in your bathroom will give you a taste of luxurious living. Its rich decoration and relaxing atmosphere will create an indescribable feeling!
Infrared sauna
Another popular option among apartment residents is to install a shower stall in an apartment with an infrared sauna.
An infrared sauna with a shower will not take up much space in your apartment.
What's the trick? First of all, infrared saunas were designed specifically for apartments and private houses, so this is the simplest and relatively economical option. You can literally buy it ready-made: a pre-assembled structure that only needs to be installed in the desired space in the room. And you can steam!
A shower with a built-in infrared sauna is considered the most economical option.
Heating elements – infrared lamps. They consume significantly less electricity than other home bath stoves, but at the same time they do their job one hundred percent.
With an infrared sauna in the shower, much less electricity will be spent.
There are many advantages of such a sauna. Firstly, it works without steam, and the heating of the air is average and gentle: this sauna is good for people of any age, even children and the elderly, and for those who are prohibited from a classic bath. The temperature can be adjusted, but it will not be too high - a maximum of 60 degrees Celsius.
Types of booths and differences between them
There are many different models of shower cabins with a sauna, and all of them can be divided into two main types:
- "2 in 1". These are cabins in which a steam generator is installed. All functions are built into one housing.
- Combined. The cabin consists of two parts - a shower and a sauna. They are separated by a partition.
These booths differ according to the principle of operation and type of equipment. In models of the first type, steam generators are most often installed, and in combined models, electric or infrared heaters are installed.
The sauna in such a cabin is a complete separate structure. It is combined with a shower solely for the convenience of hygiene procedures, and its operation is autonomous
The design of a cabin with a “2 in 1” sauna is almost no different from a regular one, except for the steam generator. Otherwise, everything is the same: standard tray, doors, roof, control panel. The equipment works like this: it evaporates moisture and cools the resulting steam to 50 degrees.
When connecting the device to the water supply network, care should be taken to filter the water. If it is hard, then during operation of the steam generator a limescale deposit will remain, which will quickly clog the nozzles. This will lead to failure and premature replacement of the steam generator.
When installing and connecting the cabin, pay attention to the pressure in the water pipes. If it is less than 3-3.5 bar, the system will malfunction. In houses where there are problems with water pressure in the water supply, additional pumps are installed
A shower cabin combined with a sauna is two separate rooms that are simply combined in one building. It turns out that the steam room is a kind of “extension” to a traditional plumbing fixture. Such equipment has its own characteristics.
Saunas in combined cabins are often finished with natural wood inside and out. This gives it an “authentic” appearance and makes hygiene procedures even more useful and enjoyable.
For cladding sauna cabins, pine, fir, spruce, cedar, and oak are most often used. These species have low thermal conductivity, which means you don’t have to worry about getting burned by touching the wood.
The area intended for washing is no different from a standard shower stall. It is also equipped and performs all the same functions.
The sauna has a control panel that controls temperature and humidity. Some models are equipped with remote controls with electronic displays, and all information is displayed on them.
Separate rooms for shower and sauna in one building are an option for those who do not want compromises and want to ensure maximum comfort in the steam room
When choosing the type of equipment, you should decide on your priorities. If you need a full-fledged sauna, it is better to choose a combined model. If multifunctionality is more important and there are no increased requirements for the quality of steam procedures, then the “2 in 1” option is suitable.
Nuances of operating a shower with a sauna effect
Regardless of what type of home sauna you choose for your home, manufacturing and installation should be carried out by professionals. You cannot do this with your own hands, even very skillful ones. Because there are many nuances - fire safety, steam, heat and waterproofing, and many others.
You cannot install a shower room with a sauna on your own without certain skills. You need to contact specialists.
With the right approach and professional installation, your home sauna will work one hundred percent and will not cause any problems for many years!
You should not use the sauna very often so that the room has time to cool down.
As for operation, it is worth following all the recommendations that the master will give after installing the structure. In particular, here are the main ones.
- You should use the sauna sparingly, as the room needs time to cool down.
- Be sure to ventilate the steam room after use. Moisture and hot air - all this must cool and dry. Otherwise, bacteria will spread, and the inner lining will suffer and deteriorate over time.
- Under no circumstances should you leave the system on and leave. You should constantly monitor the steam level, temperature, and use resources sparingly.
- You cannot combine the steam room and alcoholic drinks. If you have guests, a feast, a holiday, lock the bathhouse and forget about it. Visiting a sauna while intoxicated is extremely unfavorable and even dangerous!
- If there are children in the house, the bathhouse should also be kept locked so that the child cannot get there without adult supervision.
The steam room must be ventilated after use. It should dry out.
Following these simple rules will ensure long and joyful use of your home sauna without any problems.
Advantages of the washing compartment
In the spacious baths there is a separate room for washing. If the building is small and does not have central heating, then this functional area is combined with a steam room, and separation from it is carried out using a partition. Both location options have their pros and cons. A separate washing room allows you to:
- Create a unique interior room.
- Use strong and durable finishing materials (tiles).
- Provide simultaneous washing for several people at once if it is equipped with a pair of shower stalls.
- Simplify shower maintenance.
Among the disadvantages of this option, only the need to connect central heating to heat a separate room and water is noted. Washing rooms combined with a steam room are also not without advantages:
- Space saving.
- A practical interior if the stove with an elongated firebox is located in the middle.
- Fuel savings, since technically only one room will have to be heated.
Unfortunately, the combined option has one significant drawback - the room becomes less convenient to use if a whole group of people are steaming at the same time.
Popular brands of shower cabins with steam rooms
A home shower with sauna is almost a trend. Therefore, many companies offer the manufacture and installation of such structures and promise excellent quality. But who to trust? Let's look at the main well-known brands.
- Eger is a Hungarian brand of sanitary ware. The company produces shower boxes, bathtubs, saunas and many other high-quality sanitary ware. The brand is quite well known and has proven itself well. The models are made from environmentally friendly materials, and all products have European quality certificates.
- Sansa is a brand that offers high-quality but inexpensive models of shower boxes and cabins with saunas.
- Volle is a famous Spanish brand of sanitary ware. The company produces not only showers with saunas, but also faucets, luxurious bathtubs and Jacuzzis, and even various small items for the bathroom. Great brand with beautiful designs and prices a little higher than most. But the company promises the quality and durability of its products.
- GM - Chinese plumbing. The brand entered the domestic market relatively recently, but has already gained popularity and is offered in many stores. Relatively low cost, simplicity and concise designs attract buyers.
- Ravak is a Czech plumbing brand. Tagline . The sanitary ware has a beautiful and original design, and the manufacturer provides a lifetime guarantee on quality.
You need to consult a professional when choosing a shower cabin with a sauna inside.
There are many brands and manufacturers - Chinese, domestic, European. When choosing such a complex design as a shower with a sauna, you should take your time and always consult a professional.
With the right approach, weighing all the pros and cons and focusing on quality, you can create a corner of health and relaxation right in your apartment that will give the whole family joy for many years!
Stylistic direction and features of finishing materials
To make the interior of the washing room look beautiful and complete, you need to choose the right design style. The design does not impose any restrictions on the choice of direction. Among the popular and unusual options are:
- Traditional Russian style with logs or beams for finishing. If the area of the room allows, then shower cabins are supplemented with a cold water plunge pool.
- Luxurious, modern loft with high ceilings and an open system of communication lines.
- Experimental and unusual for a bathhouse neoclassicism, which organically combines traditions and trends of modern interior fashion.
- Laconic Mediterranean style with ceramic tiles in the decoration and calm colors, in which white, jade, green and blue shades prevail.
- Roman style with columns or pilasters, arched vaults and decorative moldings.
Also used for decoration are traditional Provence, Scandinavian, eco style or conceptual trends: minimalism, high-tech, chalet.
Wooden panels and lining
To emphasize the style of a log bathhouse, the interior decoration of the premises is done using wood, and the sink is no exception. The lining is classified according to the type of material used into coniferous (pine, cedar, spruce) and deciduous (linden, aspen, oak, alder). For finishing the steam room and washing room, the second type is used. Conifers release resins when the air is heated. The lining is divided into four grades, among which “extra” is considered the highest quality and most expensive. By profile type, we can note euro, soft-line, calm, American and imitation logs (block house) or timber. Lining is one of the types of wooden panels. According to this classification, there are two more types: MDF and chipboard. They are not recommended for use in washing areas, as the materials contain adhesives that can release when heated. Lining has a number of advantages:
- Easy to install.
- Eco-friendly and pleasant smell of forest indoors.
- Aesthetic beauty.
- Resistance to mechanical damage.
One of the disadvantages is the presence of micropores in the wood, which, when filled with moisture, can cause deformation of the panel and become a breeding ground for mold.
Ceramic tile
Tiled floors and walls can only be decorated with a washing room, but for a steam room this option is taboo, since the tiles can get very hot and burn a person. Ceramics has a number of advantages:
- Strength and durability.
- Increased resistance to mechanical damage.
- A wide range of designs, ornaments and color palettes.
- Possibility of replacing one element without compromising the integrity of neighboring ones.
- Easy to care for and non-sensitive to aggressive household chemicals.
One of the disadvantages is the fragility of the tiles before installation: if a fragment is accidentally dropped on the floor, it will most likely crack.
Artificial and natural stone
Natural stone masonry in the washroom will create a unique natural pattern and emphasize the originality of the interior of the room. The main natural minerals used for interior decoration of rooms are marble, sandstone, granite and travertine. The surface polished to a glossy shine with small inclusions of quartz will become a magnificent decoration of the interior composition and will be in harmony with the metal.
Artificial stone is classified into acrylic, polyester, cast marble or onyx, quartz agglomerate. The imitation is inferior to the original in strength. Composite compositions may contain resins that become unstable when heated, so this material cannot be used to decorate a washing room combined with a steam room. Both artificial and natural stone have high thermal conductivity, so again they are prohibited for decorating surfaces in rooms that are systematically heated.
Heavy natural stone can be used to decorate sections of the wall not exceeding 0.5 m in height. If you use material higher, the masonry may collapse.
Plastic panels
PVC panels have long been used for finishing bathrooms. A separate washing room is not much different from these rooms. Polyvinyl chloride is not at all afraid of moisture. There are no micropores in the material, like in wood, so water does not linger in them, which means there is no place for mold and fungi to multiply. Plastic panels are easy to clean with a simple soap solution. The material boasts an affordable price and a wide range of color variations. Stories about the dangers of everything synthetic are only partially true. When creating high-quality PVC, substances harmful to the human body are not used. Unfortunately, polyvinyl chloride quickly wears out, acquiring a “non-marketable appearance”, is sensitive to mechanical stress, and the panel can crack from an impact. Installation and replacement of a damaged fragment is easy. Unscrupulous manufacturers may offer low-quality products, so you should not chase extreme savings, as it can cost much more if the material turns out to be toxic.
Plasterboard and painting compositions for ceilings and walls
In general, drywall is classified as a material used for rough finishing. They are often used to sheathe frames of suspended ceilings or to make false walls and partitions. However, recently they have begun to use painted drywall as the final finishing material. For these purposes, a special moisture-resistant type is used. Such sheets of drywall are painted green and marked with the GKLV marking. When manufacturing the material, special antifungal and water-repellent compounds are added to it. Drywall allows you to create complex configurations, effectively masks surface defects and can be easily plastered and painted. If the frame is sheathed with sheets, then such a design will eat up many extra centimeters, which will become an unaffordable luxury in small washing rooms. After installation, the surface is primed and then painted. You can only use formulations made from natural ingredients, which, alas, cannot boast of a long service life.
Shower room with sauna – 50 photos of modern solutions
Design Features
A bathhouse with a bathroom requires a special approach to design, because... Already at this stage, issues of not only the placement of the toilet on the plan, but also the supply of water supply, organization of sewerage and ventilation should be worked out. There are many standard bathhouse designs that you can safely use on your site. You can choose options for large buildings: a two-story bathhouse with a bathroom or a design for a bathhouse with a bathroom and an attic. In such structures, a certain problem arises with ventilation. Thus, a bathhouse with an attic and a bathroom requires the passage of a ventilation riser through the living space, which requires its reliable insulation and placement along the edge of the attic.
Figure 2. Project of a 6x6 m bathhouse with a bathroom
Typical popular projects include the following:
- 6x6 bathhouse (the design with a bathroom is shown in Fig. 2);
- a bathhouse made of timber with a toilet (Fig. 3);
- bathhouse with shower and toilet (Fig. 4).
Figure 3. Project of a bathhouse made of timber with a toilet Figure 4. Project of a bathhouse with a shower and toilet
In large buildings, finding a place for a toilet is not difficult. In such projects, it is important to place it optimally relative to other rooms. Naturally, the greatest need for a bathroom arises after a bath procedure during a period of relaxation in the relaxation room, which must be taken into account. However, the use of the establishment should not interfere with other vacationers.
It is somewhat more difficult to allocate space in small buildings, but standard options are provided for them as well. Thus, 4x5 bathhouse projects with a bathroom and even a 2x6 bathhouse project with a small bathroom are available for implementation. In small bathhouses, mobile options are more often installed, especially when the desire to increase comfort arose after several years of their operation.
A bathhouse with a bathroom is not only a tribute to fashion and prestige. With frequent and year-round bathing procedures, organizing such convenience becomes a necessity. The desire for such a little comfort arises especially acutely when there is a rest room, and also when there are small children in the family. It is best to plan a toilet inside a bathhouse at the design stage, but the problem can be solved in an existing establishment.
Sauna installation
A home sauna consists of a wooden-panelled cabin itself. Benches and sunbeds inside the steam room. Equipment in the form of a special stove and sprinkler. Hydro and thermal insulation that retains heat inside and protects the apartment from steam and moisture outside the sauna.
Equipment for ventilation of air inside the steam room and ventilation if necessary. Control panel and system for supplying and connecting electrical wires.
