Danish families convert garden sheds into home saunas for wellness at home

A growing number of Danes are transforming garden sheds into private saunas, seeking a convenient “wellness experience” at home, reports DR. One family in Kalundborg built their own two-level sauna with a cold-plunge tub, now used three to four times a week as an alternative to television evenings.

Mark Phillip Hansen and his wife Sarina Vilsfort Hansen repurposed their old garden shed after their unused hot tub was removed. Instead of buying a pre-made sauna, Hansen decided to build one himself after hearing his father-in-law had similar plans.

“We looked at saunas on all kinds of websites, but then my father-in-law mentioned he wanted to build one, and I thought: ‘Why not try it myself?’” Hansen told DR. Together with his son-in-law, he spent months constructing the sauna, using Facebook groups and AI for guidance when needed. “I’m a butcher, not a carpenter, but we just went for it,” he said.

The family now uses the sauna regularly, often in three intense rounds with aromatic oils, followed by a cold shower. Sarina Vilsfort Hansen highlighted the convenience: “We don’t need to plan ahead. Five minutes before we go out, we decide—and when we’re done, we’re already home.”

Three families collaborated on the project, pooling resources to buy sauna heaters and wood paneling. Hansen described the building process as relaxing: “We sat out here one day and realized it was almost sad it was finished. It was incredibly fun to work on together.”

The trend reflects broader demand. Morten Enevold Vestergaard, owner of SPA Kompagniet, noted a “massive month-on-month increase” in sales of outdoor spas and sauna materials, a surge that began during the pandemic and has since accelerated. While consumer economist Ann Lehmann Erichsen predicts the trend may fade within five years, Hansen disagrees: “This gives us something really good. It’s a great way to spend an evening together instead of watching TV—I think we’ll keep it up.”