Designing for wellbeing: The rise of the garden sanctuary
There’s a particular magic to stepping into the garden in the early morning: dew on the grass, birdsong soundtracking the quiet promise of the day ahead. Increasingly, gardens are being shaped as wellbeing spaces, with designers rethinking outdoor areas as places where wellness is embedded.
At the forefront of this shift are flower shows, where ideas often debut before filtering into private spaces. In recent years, the RHS Flower Shows in particular have seen a growing emphasis on immersive, restorative environments. Outdoor saunas are increasingly part of this vision – with brands like Wildhut creating hand-crafted, fully customisable luxury outdoor saunas that are built to complement and elevate your garden.
From small luxury home garden saunas like the two-person OHK and the four-person TULI, to the six-person VESI and the eight-person MAA, Wildhut’s collection offers various options for your space.
Warming therapy
Building on this philosophy, designers are beginning to incorporate more explicit wellbeing features into their plans. Outdoor rooms, saunas and other spa-like elements are emerging as natural extensions of the garden’s role as a sanctuary.
This evolution reflects a broader cultural shift. The UK is predicted to become the world’s largest sauna market by 2033 – even surpassing Finland – signalling a growing desire to integrate wellness into everyday life.
The benefits: body, mind and rhythm
The appeal of a garden sauna lies in its simplicity and depth. Physically, regular use can help improve circulation, relax muscles and support cardiovascular health. The gentle heat encourages the body to unwind, easing tension built up through daily life.
Mentally, the effect is just as powerful. Stepping into a quiet, warm space – particularly one crafted with carefully considered materials such as thermally treated timber and soft ambient lighting – creates a boundary from the outside world. It’s a place to disconnect, to breathe deeply and to regain clarity.
Most importantly, it reconnects us with the natural rhythm of the seasons. A Wildhut sauna invites year-round use of the garden, with triple-glazed windows and thoughtfully positioned glazing helping to frame the surrounding landscape, reinforcing that connection to nature.
Find out more about the science of saunas
Design integration
For garden designers and homeowners alike, a sauna offers both a functional and aesthetic opportunity. Positioned carefully, it can act as a focal point or a destination, drawing people in through the space and encouraging exploration.
A well-designed sauna should sit comfortably within its surroundings, complementing planting schemes and architectural elements rather than competing with them.
Caring for the wild
Sustainability and durability are central to this approach. Wildhut’s commitment begins with its materials: interiors lined with high-quality thermal timber, and exteriors clad in PEFC-certified wood, designed to withstand the British climate for decades.
“The timber and construction make all the difference,” explains designer and co-founder Lisa Deller. “We source slow-grown, thermo-treated timber from cold climates and build with an ultra-strong cross-laminated core. It’s stable, long-lasting and offers the very best thermal performance.”
Bespoke wellness
Features like insect-mesh protection, powder-coated stainless-steel supports, and specialist glazing ensure durability, while wood-fired or electric heating delivers an authentic experience. Some models can even be controlled via mobile app, allowing for effortless pre-heating.
Optional extras, from integrated porch areas and cold plunge showers to bespoke window placement and tailored access solutions, allow each sauna to be shaped around its setting.
More than a garden feature, a Wildhut sauna presents a quiet, expertly crafted environment that invites natural relaxation – and sits seamlessly within your garden design.