When hearing the word SPA, many people think of a luxurious hotel with massages, swimming pools, and saunas, but such a corner can be easily created on your own, both in your own home and in a remote cottage without electricity. It doesn't take much to create a home spa – sometimes all it takes is a single accent: a wood-fired sauna, a warm hot tub, or a small pool to create an oasis of relaxation that you will want to return to again and again. In this article, we will share 8 essential things to consider when creating your own spa area.
How to set up a cozy spa corner in your country house
When we talk about relaxation, we increasingly want to find it closer to home, rather than somewhere far away, and create it in our own environment – at home or in our garden. Before you start implementing this idea, it is worth knowing what solutions will help you create a harmonious and comfortable relaxation corner. So here are 8 things to keep in mind:
- Will your spa be indoors or outdoors? Outdoor spa areas are often chosen by nature lovers – aesthetics are important, but so is functionality.
- What will be the main feature of your spa—a hot tub or a whirlpool, or perhaps a fully equipped sauna? Outdoor showers, water buckets, and ice baths are also popular in the summer for those who enjoy a more intense sensation after a sauna or a dip in a warm hot tub.
- Create a relaxing atmosphere. A sense of calm can be created with aroma diffusers, warm lighting, and sound equipment that allows you to play nature sounds or your favorite tunes. When designing an outdoor spa area, cozy and non-intrusive lighting is most useful, as it helps you find your way around in the dark and is also relaxing.
- Take care of the privacy and aesthetics of the environment. If you are creating a spa at home, think about curtains, and if outdoors, consider hedges or decorative walls to create a cosier environment that is protected from prying eyes.
- Consider the season in which the spa will be used most often: if you will use it in winter, make sure you have a heat source, and in summer (for example, on rainy Midsummer's Day), a shelter or canopy from the rain.
- Consider the number of people. If you are creating a relaxation corner for just the two of you, compact solutions will suffice, but if you plan to entertain guests, it is worth planning for more space, seating areas, or a larger sauna/hot tub.
- How will the water supply and drainage system be arranged? If you are installing a spa in nature, plan in advance how the pool will be filled and cleaned, and where the water from the shower or hot tub will drain.
- Plan a place to relax. After the sauna or hot tub, it is nice to wrap yourself in a bathrobe and sit in a warm area – a terrace or gazebo in the summer or a heated room in the colder months.
If the sauna is the main SPA feature in nature
If your main relaxation feature in nature is a sauna, but there is no electricity in the sauna house or on the property, then a wood-burning sauna stove is still an irreplaceable option. During daylight hours, using such a sauna is a pleasure, but after dark, additional problems arise with lighting.
When planning to install a sauna with a wood-burning stove, it is necessary to consider how you will light the area and the spa zone. This is necessary not only to safely reach the sauna cabin, but also to properly prepare the sauna (lighting the wood-burning stove or hot tub stove). To ensure that both the path to the sauna and the preparation for SPA procedures go smoothly, we recommend considering the following lighting options:
- Solar-powered lamps, which are ideal for paths or the interior of the sauna,
- Battery-powered lights with a timer or sensor that turn on when motion is detected or at a time you set,
- Provide lamps or candles in glass covers to create cozy lighting with a romantic atmosphere.
- Hang LED garlands powered by a portable charger (power bank).
The most important thing is that the lighting is not only functional but also creates the right atmosphere, because a sauna without light is just smoke and darkness, while with the right lighting it becomes a complete oasis of relaxation.
