How to Create a Cozy Outdoor Sauna Space With Lighting and Decor
Posted on 23 June 2025
Outdoor saunas are the quintessential relaxation reverie. They offer the perfect backyard respite—your own wellness space to reset, rejuvenate, and simply be. And with SaunFin’s nifty outdoor sauna kits, you can build your own backyard heaven. However, just getting a barrel sauna doesn’t make it a soulful sanctuary. Weave in nature, lighting, and dainty decor touches to lift a staid sauna to a therapeutic spa level. Read on to create a unique sauna space that beckons with warmth and wellness!
1. Setting a Mindful Mood with Lighting
The right lighting is literally everything in crafting a tranquil sauna atmosphere. The harsh glare of overhead bulbs in a barrel sauna can completely ruin your experience. Sauna companies swear by glowy, warm lighting for a calming retreat. Start with LED strips that can be dimmed and adjusted for brightness as per the time of day or your mood. String or fairy lights draped around the sauna or in nearby foliage add a dreamy, other-worldly feel. Flameless candles or storm lanterns can bring warmth without the worry of open flames. Recessed lights or quaint sconces are other sleek options for a gentle glow that won’t overpower the structure. Ultimately, your sauna lighting should gently invite you in—think spa, not spotlight!
2. Weave in Nature
Your backyard escape should feel like a natural extension of the outdoor area. That’s why reputed sauna companies design with harmony in mind—blending natural wood, greenery, and stones to complement the sauna’s natural vibe. Wood finishes like cedar or spruce look stunningly beautiful and emit a natural scent that enhances your sauna sessions.
Experiment with natural stone—curate a zen garden or have a small pathway or retaining wall to add texture and a grounding presence to your outdoor sauna setup. And lush greens can never go wrong! Surround your sauna with shrubs, evergreen creepers, or lush potted plants. You can secure privacy with a natural screen of trees or tall grasses that add to the overall vibe. A barrel sauna’s rugged looks and curved shape perfectly complement the outdoor feel. Place yours beside the deck or beneath a tree canopy for enchanting views and some sublime heat therapy. Pure bliss!
3. Add Personal Touches & Practical Accessories
Building your sauna heaven with an outdoor sauna kit doesn’t mean settling for the basics. Own your sauna experience with little details and personal flourishes that are practical yet stylishly opulent.
An elegant table or bench outside your sauna can display your spa essentials, drinks, or towels. Throw in a couple of comfy chairs or a relaxation deck to the experience beyond the heat. Hooks or cubbies in the changing area offer convenient storage for robes and slippers. All weather pillows and throws can add colour and comfort.
Vibrant paintings or rustic signage can be the little decor touches that speak your style! You can even channel your barrel sauna around a theme—choose Scandinavian minimalism, a rustic cabin, or a breezy, tropical escape. An indulgent aroma therapy station and built-in speakers for playing soft music or natural ambient sounds deepen the sense of contentment between sauna rounds. These small additions transform a plain sauna into a soothing sanctuary.
A Cozy Outdoor Sauna Dream
At its core, a sauna is about mental and physical wellness. Artful design and your personal style statement can take it a notch higher. Make it your tranquil space to pause, reset, and rejuvenate. Lighting, natural materials, and personal touches all come together to make your outdoor sauna an enchanting reality.
And you can create this dream escape with SaunaFin’s outdoor sauna kits. With 60+ years of sauna expertise, we’re proud to be amongst the leading sauna companies in North
America and the finest in Canada. Our customizable kits, barrel saunas, and prefabs promise that sublime outdoor sauna experience. Simplified construction, premium quality, minus professional contractors and lofty renovation expenses!
So go ahead—light the candles, heat up, and get ready to sweat out your stress. Your outdoor oasis is one SaunaFin call away!
