Saunas are no longer reserved for high-end spas. From infrared stalls tucked into home gyms to sleek steam showers and outdoor cabin saunas, homeowners are embracing this trend that blends luxury with wellness practices. We spoke with builders and designers to uncover the design considerations and insider tips for creating your own at-home retreat!
Sauna health benefits are front and center.
Homeowners are increasingly prioritizing wellness, and saunas are stepping in as both a health tool and a luxury feature. This isn’t about fleeting New Year’s resolutions that fade by February — it’s about year-round routines designed for long-term success.
Builder Frank Gusmus of Memphis’s Gusmus Construction points out, “Studies continue to show that frequent sauna use offers sizable cardiovascular and overall health benefits. Many people view saunas as a luxury that would only be provided at a club or gym, but adding one to your home is rather easy and inexpensive.”
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Ridley Wills of Nashville’s Wills Company echoes that sentiment. He’s seen a spike in clients pairing saunas with cold plunges. “We have had three clients in the past year request this combination,” he says. Combining these treatments is reported to improve overall well-being by stimulating circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting faster recovery.
Infrared options keep things hot — without overheating.
While traditional wood-burning and electric saunas still have their loyalists, infrared sauna models are quickly becoming the most requested option. According to Ridley, “Infrared is the most requested type of sauna that we get. They heat up quicker and are not as hot as traditional saunas.”
With their lower heat levels and quick warm-up times, infrared saunas make it easy for homeowners to build wellness into their everyday routines without the intensity of a traditional session. Not to mention, as the weather cools, they’re especially appealing — providing a cozy retreat that begs for sipping on mulled cider and staving off the impending winter chill.
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Bathroom steam showers create spa-like luxury at home.
Not every homeowner has space for a freestanding sauna, but steam showers provide a spa-like alternative inside the bathroom. While the installation takes careful planning, the payoff is worth it.
Ridley explains they most often include steam showers when a client already has a shower in their plan, because it’s an easy add-on at that time. But he adds, “As people get more health-conscious and aware of the spa features available, these in-home features are becoming more and more requested.”
Birmingham Designer Shea Bryars, who is currently in the middle of a steam shower installation, says it’s more than a design feature; it’s an investment in well-being. “Steam has proven to be an amazing way to treat muscle soreness,” she shares, “but it also improves your [immunity] if done often enough.”
She explains the biggest challenge is figuring out where to install the generator. “It’s larger than you think and needs to be [near] the shower, so we have to be creative in where it goes without compromising storage or aesthetics. Design-wise, it’s integral to have tile on the ceiling and a tight seal with your glass door and panels to keep steam in.”
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Outdoor saunas make great backyard additions.
For many Southern homeowners, the appeal of a sauna extends beyond functionality to outdoor living design. Surprisingly, even smaller yards can support an outdoor sauna set-up.
Megan Delahoussaye of Rolling Saunas in Texas says space concerns are common but solvable. “Living in and around a major city, a concern some of our customers may have is whether their outdoor space can fit a barrel sauna comfortably. Luckily, we have several different sizes and models to accommodate even the smallest of spaces … Another lifestyle consideration is staging or backyard design. We offer hardscaping and landscaping options so their barrel sauna becomes a conversation piece and a showstopper.”
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The design aspect can make an outdoor sauna — whether barrel or cabin — as much a focal point as a functional wellness tool, especially when paired with landscaping, pools, or patios.
Home saunas are more accessible (and more high-tech) than ever.
Though you might assume saunas are prohibitively expensive, the price point is often comparable to other backyard luxuries. Megan emphasizes that the four-person barrel model is (by far) Rolling Sauna’s most popular. “The size accommodates the majority of families and can fit in most backyards,” she explains.
Beyond the basics, customers are increasingly drawn to extras that enhance the experience. “We also sell a lot of light upgrades because our customers love to set the mood, change the light colors, and schedule their sauna time in advance using an app from their phone. Lastly, a lot of our customers have been upgrading their heaters so they can turn them on two ways: via Wi-Fi through an app and manually. All of our heaters are Wi-Fi enabled.”
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While a backyard sauna may sound like a lavish purchase, she stresses the investment is more attainable than many homeowners realize. Barrel saunas are often similar in price to an outdoor jacuzzi, and many qualify for HSA or FSA funding, which can ease the cost even further. With a lifespan of 25-plus years, they deliver not only long-term durability but also daily health benefits ranging from relaxation to recovery.
“Barrel saunas are an investment in your health, and with more and more people creating and building home gyms, it is a great addition to many homes and more accessible than people think,” she tells us.
Home saunas have officially gone mainstream as a thoughtful way to merge wellness, design, and daily life. And if Southern builders and designers have anything to say about it, these spaces aren’t just about sweating it out — they’re about creating lasting rituals of relaxation and restoration at home.
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