These $28K Backyard Saunas Are as Stylish as They Are Soothing
With its first line of prefabricated saunas, U.K. design firm Out of the Valley wants to sweat the details so you can ditch the stress.
With its first line of prefabricated saunas, U.K. design firm Out of the Valley wants to sweat the details so you can ditch the stress.
The sauna market is heating up. A staple of Nordic living that began some 2,000 years ago in Finland, the practice of sweating it out is attracting the masses for its myriad benefits, real and perceived: Think detoxification, pain relief, improved cardiovascular and immune function, and a sense of relaxation. (In fact, during the pandemic, one sauna stove brand reported a surge in sales by 221 percent.)
The smallest Out of the Valley model is the Forest sauna, which features two benches on either side of a heater and fits two people lying down or four to six people seated. A large window can bring views of the surrounding landscape into the sauna. "The experience is all about connection—to nature, to other people, and to yourself," says McKelvie.
Courtesy of Out of the Valley
Now, on the back of this trend, U.K. design-build firm Out of the Valley, known better for its cabins, is offering sleek, customizable saunas. "Since Covid, people have become more aware of personal health," conjectures founder Rupert McKelvie of the company’s decision to expand. "People are also holidaying less, so rather than getting a dose of heat and well-being from travel they are looking to get it in their own backyard."
The first sauna was developed during the pandemic as interest in home saunas was surging. It was a simple adaptation of Out of the Valley’s popular Nomad Cabin, pictured here. Since then, saunas have become a key part of the company’s production schedule, it says, with three different pre-designed models as well as the option for bespoke models.
Courtesy of Out of the Valley
While there are already plenty of backyard saunas to choose from, McKelvie felt there was an opportunity to elevate the experience with a design that echoed the ethos of Out of the Valley’s Nomad Cabin. "We live in a very cluttered, busy world, and well-considered spaces mean a user feels calmer as there is less to distract the eye," he explains. "There are continuous, fluid lines, no fussy details, and careful junctions between materials."
Out of the Valley’s sauna models include the Forest, Hive, and Mountain, each varying in size and layout. But the company prides itself on being able to adapt them to suit specific needs, or create entirely bespoke designs.
The Mountain sauna is designed to be closer in its design to the Nomad Cabin range. It features timber decks for cooling off between sessions.
Courtesy of Out of the Valley
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