Designing the Perfect Sauna Space: Accessories That Maximises IR Sauna Benefits

Creating an infrared (IR) sauna sanctuary in your house is essential to your health and well-being, for those who are avid enthusiasts of the heat therapy phenomenon. Strategic design and the right accessories are key to maximising your IR sauna benefits. The team at Sun Stream Saunas NZ explores the best accessories that can make your sauna experience more enjoyable and effective.

Essential sauna accessories

1. Optimal Seating and Ergonomics

When considering the design of your sauna, start with the chairs. Comfortable and ergonomic seating is quintessential, for an extended sense of relaxation that doesn’t hamper the therapeutic benefits you’re seeking in your physical health. Consider the following options:

• Ergonomic benches: Look for benches with good back support and made of high-quality, heat-resistant wood, such as Canadian hemlock or cedar.
• Reclining seats: For those who prefer a more laid-back experience, reclining seats can provide superior comfort and allow you to relax completely.
• Footrests: Adding footrests improves circulation and reduces leg strain, allowing you to stay comfortable during longer sessions.

2. Temperature and humidity control

Heat control shapes the basis of your IR sauna session – it’s the make-or-break factor that determines whether your body engages a physiological response, and therefore whether the benefits in vasodilation and thermoregulation are reaped at all. Here are some essential accessories to consider: 

• Temperature sensors: These instruments enable you to monitor and control the temperature of your sauna, resulting in optimal conditions for sweating and detoxifying. IR saunas from Sun Stream Saunas NZ come equipped with temperature sensors and control panels that display internal ambient temperatures, ensuring easy heat level adjustments.

3. Lighting

Lighting can significantly influence the mood of your session, deriving tension and relative calm via the ambiance that lightning ultimately affects your psychology with. Several options can enhance the aesthetic appeal and therapeutic advantages of your sauna:

• Chromotherapy lights: Chromotherapy lights, often known as colour therapy, can boost your mood, relaxation, and overall well-being by stimulating your body’s energy centres with different colours.
• Dimmable LED lights: These allow you to customise the sauna’s brightness, creating a peaceful environment suitable for relaxation.
• Natural light: Adding windows or skylights can create a connection to the outdoors, making your sauna experience more refreshing and delightful.

4. Sound systems

For similar reasons as light, music and natural sounds can improve your sauna experience by promoting relaxation and mental clarity, when we consider the sauna session as multisensory and holistic. 

• Built-in sound systems: High-quality built-in speakers can provide immersive sound, allowing you to listen to relaxing music, guided meditations, or nature sounds.
• Bluetooth speakers: Bluetooth speakers can connect wirelessly to your devices, enabling  you to customise your audio experience.

5. Aromatherapy

Though divorced from traditional sauna mechanics being built on changes in surrounding air temperature, infrared saunas still maintain an importance of the immediate air around us, as part of the body’s ability to maintain cool amid internally rising temperatures. Aromatherapy has the potential of infusing the air with soothing scents. Consider the following options:

• Essential oil diffusers: Ultrasonic diffusers can evenly disperse essential oils in your sauna, promoting relaxation while providing many health benefits, such as improved  respiratory function and mood enhancement.
• Aromatherapy bowls: Placing an aromatherapy bowl filled with water and a few drops of essential oil near the heater can release pleasant aromas as the heat vaporises the water.

6. Towels and textiles 

Using the right textiles in your sauna can enhance comfort and maintain hygiene, keeping things like body odour or staining on sauna parts at bay. Essential items include:

• Sauna towels: High-quality, absorbent towels are required to remove sweat and give comfort. Look for towels made from natural fibres such as cotton and bamboo.
• Cushions and headrests: Cushions and headrests can offer extra comfort and support, especially during extended sessions.
• Sauna mats: Placing a mat on the floor keeps your feet from getting too hot and provides a soft surface for standing.

7. Hydration solutions

Based on the principle of sweating hard, the body has the potential of losing much of its fluids during sessions with long durations. Staying hydrated is an important best practice for ensuring safe and effective use, both during and after sauna sessions. Consider the following hydration solutions:

• Water dispensers: Having a water dispenser or a jug of chilled water within reach allows you to stay hydrated during your session.
• Herbal teas: Drinking herbal tea before or after your session will help you relax and gain health advantages.

8. Cleaning and maintenance accessories

Though we mentioned it somewhat in passing above – a buildup of body odour, sweat and other effects on sanitation can be a health concern for both yourself and others using the booth. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your sauna are crucial for keeping it hygienic. Here are some helpful accessories that Sun Stream Saunas recommend which can also be found in our Owner’s Manual:

• Towels: Use large towels to cover the sauna bench seat—ideally two layers—to keep the bench clean and hygienic. A small towel placed under your feet can absorb sweat, but be sure to leave some breathing space at either end of the floor heater to ensure proper airflow.
• Damp cloth: Regularly use a damp cloth to gently clean the surface of the floor heater panel. This helps remove any sweat residue that may accumulate during sessions.
• Warm water and white vinegar solution: Clean the movable backrests and floor heater guard with warm water mixed with a small amount of white vinegar. This natural solution effectively sanitises surfaces without the need for harsh chemicals.
• Protective wax: To add a layer of protection against sweat and maintain hygiene, apply Australian-made Gilly’s Liquid Beeswax or New Zealand-made Beeseal to the backrests, seat, movable bench top, and floor heater guard. These products help preserve the wood and prevent sweat absorption.
• Fine-Grit sandpaper: For minor marks on the internal timber surfaces, fine-grit sandpaper can be used to gently buff them out. Always sand in the direction of the wood grain to avoid damaging the surface.

Enhancing your IR sauna experience

Maximising IR sauna benefits requires the correct accessories and a well-designed room. Sun Stream Saunas NZ is committed to creating a personalised sauna experience by offering a selection of high-quality IR saunas tailored to your specific needs. Contact us and start your journey to better health and relaxation today.