The fast-paced, cosmopolitan lifestyle of London can be exhausting, with busy social lives, demanding jobs and non-stop energy in the city. London is home to some of the world’s best hotel spas and private clubs; however, the way we live is evolving.
In some of the most expensive areas of London (Kensington and Chelsea, to name a few), people are starting to avoid busy appointment books, communal changing rooms and travelling far across the city in favour of their own private oasis.
Discerning Londoners are opting to create their own outdoor wellness spaces instead of treating themselves to a rare weekend break. True modern luxury is being able to step outside your door to take a deep breath and truly unwind in your private garden.
The Rise of Home Wellness
The way we perceive luxury lifestyles has shifted over recent years. This has moved from having opulent interior spaces to wellness, clarity and relaxation. The Nordic wellness lifestyle, hydrotherapy, breathing and slowing down have become staple parts of our week.
Research by the Global Wellness Institute shows that we are investing more and more into our homes for wellness. We want to ensure we’re looking after our bodies for the long term, reducing stress and looking after our minds. A dedicated wellness space can be created in your own home, allowing busy individuals to unwind without worrying about the traffic or travelling.
Bringing these facilities straight to your property means you can easily create a relaxing evening routine. This makes looking after yourself in the long term an easy and natural part of your life.
The Garden Sauna
The heart of this well-being trend is the traditional Nordic practice of using saunas. By incorporating a thermal bathing experience into your London garden space, you can instantly create a barrier between your busy working life and relaxing evening. The timber garden sauna house can be placed within a small garden space. This will provide you with a great architectural feature that will fill your garden with the relaxing scent of warm cedar wood.
When installing an outdoor sauna cabin in your garden, there are a few key things to consider to make sure you make the most out of your sauna. Using an efficient electric heater will provide fast and effective heating. This will also comply with city smoke regulations and local council guidelines.
We recommend:
- Installing your sauna onto a firm and flat base using concrete or paving slabs.
- Placing your sauna in a private section of your garden. Include an outdoor shower or cold plunge pool to complete your thermal circuit.
- To add some privacy to your sauna, include some vertical timber boarding, a modern trellis or thick evergreen hedging such as bamboo or laurel.
A Retreat with Room to Spare
If you have a larger suburban garden, you can really take advantage of creating a space that allows you to get fit, practice mindfulness and provide extra space for guests. Instead of trying to add exercise equipment into spare rooms or multifunctional spaces, create a spacious timber cabin to provide a peaceful and separate space.
Larger cabins allow you to provide room for a home gym and guest space. There will be space for an extra day bed for your visiting friends who will love having their own private retreat.
Include the following in the design:
Flooring: Durable acoustic rubber tiles will help reduce impact, sound travel throughout your garden and protect the structure underneath whilst you work out.
Large mirrors: Large floor-to-ceiling mirrors will help increase the natural light in your room, reflect the outside garden and help check your form during yoga, Pilates or strength sessions.
Air Circulation: High-quality climate control systems together with double-aspect windows will keep the air moving. Add some air-purifying plants inside such as snake plants, peace lilies & Kentia palms to keep the space fresh and full of oxygen.
Outdoor Entertaining, Rain or Shine
True wellness doesn’t always mean being alone and reflective; it also means enjoying some time with others, eating well and entertaining friends in a relaxed outdoor space. The notoriously unreliable weather in the UK means that hosting in our open patios can result in ruined evenings and missed events. With clever landscaping, you can ensure your outdoor living spaces are usable all year round.
By combining a garden room with a covered spot for entertaining, guests can head outside even if it is drizzling. This creates an inviting flow between the two areas, giving you more space to entertain.
To create a seamless transition between your luxurious interior and undercover area:
Install wall-mounted infrared radiators or a clean-looking bioethanol fire pit to give guests instant and gentle heat during chilly autumn evenings.
Create lots of texture using heavy textiles on your outdoor sofas. Throw thick wool blankets, soft shearling cushions and deep outdoor seating.
Create an entertaining area with beautiful lighting, hurricane lantern candles and a vintage bar trolley filled with everything you need for your evening drinks.
Designing the Whole Space
To create a true spa-like feel in your garden, it is important to create a space where all the elements come together. Using soft transitions and plants to stimulate the senses and using a minimal palette will help you achieve this.
Once it’s dark outside, you’ll want to make sure you have some lighting installed. Use low-voltage LED path lighting in warm white to provide lighting between your house, sauna and entertaining areas. Hide the lighting behind low borders of plants. This will give you safe lighting for your paths but won’t be too over the top. Natural materials should be used for your paths such as smooth river pebbles, tumbled slate and warm wood decking.
Use plants to add sensory elements. Plant your pathways with aromatic herbs and fragrant plants so that when brushing past the leaves, you will release natural oils. Some great options include:
English lavender for a calming scent around bedtime, rosemary and thyme for a clean, refreshing scent around seating areas and star jasmine for a lovely scent at night.
Choose a neutral natural colour palette to use on all your outdoor wooden elements. Using muted greys, deep charcoals and natural wood stains will help your outbuildings blend into the background. This will give you a stylish neutral backdrop.
Conclusion: A Private Spa, Steps from the Back Door
Ultimately, investing in your garden can improve your quality of life. A thoughtfully designed garden with luxurious timber construction and a focus on the sensory aspects of the space can transform any garden, no matter how small, into a luxurious personal wellness space. Instead of spending time travelling to far-off wellness getaways, having your own spa at home will give you time to relax, rebalance and practice self-care on a daily basis within easy reach of your back door.
