The sauna interior, its design and style should always be considered as one, and not as separate elements. It is never only about the lighting, wall panels or benches.
The materials require special durability and seamless integration of the various components. In addition to visibility and safety, the light emphasizes the space and shapes.
Peter Ruokonen, CEO of Cariitti, explains why lighting is so important:
“The human eye naturally seeks light. The light makes the space richer and more pleasant when the lighting is well designed.”
It is really important to consider the big picture in the design process. Generally, you should consider who the sauna is for and what kind of lighting they want. The lights should be dimmable, i.e. the adjustment of brightness can be a crucial factor if there are people of different ages that go to the same sauna. A 60-year-old may need twice as much light as a 20-year-old who can see better. The lighting control should be used as much as possible as there are many options.
It is a good idea to design the lighting carefully and plan it all the way to the end: for example, sometimes people do not install lights in glass-walled saunas, because they think there is enough light from the bathroom side. The light comes through the glass wall without emphasizing the fine board and panel solutions, and compromises the senses of security – not to mention that the maintenance of the sauna becomes more difficult. If there are no lights in the sauna, the bathroom lights may be too bright.
In Peter’s opinion, a quality sauna experience is about managing the entirety.
“It’s a sum of its parts! Cleanliness, hygiene, comfort, style, design: they give a good first impression.”
