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Together with lighting, views and choice of materials, colour is an important part of the atmosphere of a sauna and sauna room. Colour is also an affordable and effective way to change the feel of a sauna – treatment products are not expensive, and treating large surfaces such as the sauna walls is sure to change the atmosphere.
In saunas, naturalness and harmony are what many people aim for in colours and atmosphere. After all, people go to the sauna not only to get clean but also to unwind.
The most popular sauna colours are wood tones, from light to dark. The most common and popular sauna colours are natural light wood and a dark, almost black tint.
Ehta's ready-to-use log saunas are also available in both light and dark versions. The options are Tikkurila's Tuomenkukka and Piki shades and a colourless protective treatment. Use the photos in this article to explore the different options in real sauna cabins and see how lighting affects the shades.
In this article:
5 top tips for treating your sauna's surfaces
- The colour of a sauna affects the atmosphere and how big the space feels.
Black creates the safe, intimate atmosphere of a smoke sauna. White creates a modern feel and makes the space seem larger. Opposites create contrast: dark-treated sauna benches also work well with light walls. Likewise, dark walls with light benches give a pleasing contrast and highlight the benches and other details of the sauna. - A light colour is always easier to change to dark than the other way round.
Keep this in mind if you are hesitating over your choices. - Always remember to clean old surfaces before treating them!
For paraffin oil, a thorough wash before the new treatment is enough. Sauna protection finish is best sanded off completely. - Find out about the properties of the treatment products before choosing.
the most widely used are sauna wax, sauna protection finish and paraffin oil. - Don't jump straight into the sauna after the surface treatment.
Pre-heat and air the sauna first!
What ways are there to treat a sauna?
There are many different options on the market for choosing the colour and treatment of your sauna. The choice depends most on the result and colour you want, as waxes, sauna protection finishes and semi-transparent stains are available in almost any shade.
For example, if you want a matt finish, wax or paraffin oil are good options.
A sauna can be painted with an opaque finish, but the more common sauna surface treatment is oil or some kind of semi-transparent treatment that leaves the wood grain visible.
The surfaces to be treated in a sauna are: the benches, walls and ceiling. In some saunas also the masonry wall behind the heater. Ehta saunas don't need the masonry to be treated, but if your sauna has one, Tikkurila's website has good tips and instructions for treating it.
Possible treatment products for the wooden parts of a sauna:
- oils, such as paraffin oil
- waxes
- sauna protection finishes
- semi-transparent stains
Notes on different treatment methods
- Waxed surfaces last for years without retreatment. Paraffin oil treatment should be renewed about 4 times a year.
- Paraffin oil is a colourless option, and also a non-toxic, natural choice.
- On benches, a dense paint or varnish surface may feel hot against the skin. Paraffin oil or sauna wax works well on benches.
- Many layers of sauna protection finish block the wood's breathability, and the sauna no longer works properly.
How to choose the right product for the inside surfaces of your sauna
Treating a sauna's surfaces starts by choosing the right product for the situation. These questions will help you achieve the result you want.
What properties do you value in a wood treatment product?
- Sauna protection finish is an easy, water- and dirt-repellent option. It does, however, have its own drawbacks. Sauna protection finish is not suitable for benches because the surface gets hot. The product also contains plastic, so the surfaces can't be treated with other products afterwards. If the treatment is renewed or applied too thickly, the surface can become so sealed that the sauna's breathability suffers and the sauna may no longer work as it should.
- Paraffin oil keeps the benches clean and hygienic without forming a film on the surface. As the product is mineral-based, mould and fungi can't grow in it. The oil also nourishes the bench wood. Note that paraffin oil slightly darkens the natural colour of the wood. The oil treatment also has to be renewed often: if the sauna is used several times a week, the treatment should be renewed as often as 3-4 times a year.
- Sauna wax is a breathable product containing natural wax that protects against moisture and dirt while letting the wood breathe. A surface treated with sauna wax stays in good condition for several years, and the treatment can safely be renewed whenever you like.
Has the sauna been treated before?
A sauna that has been treated before, or an untreated sauna whose surfaces have darkened, is more demanding to retreat. Consider the following points when choosing the treatment product and colour.
- Semi-transparent stain can't be applied over paraffin oil or wax.
- Light over dark is a risk:
If you choose a light shade, test it on the old surface in an inconspicuous spot (e.g. under the benches). Semi-transparent and light shades look different on a darkened surface than on a fresh one.
If the sauna has previously been treated in a dark shade, changing it to a light one is challenging. With careful preparation and sanding you can succeed. - Plastic-based products must be removed:
If the sauna has been treated with a sauna protection finish containing plastic (e.g. acrylate-based protective products), the surfaces must either be retreated with a similar product or the old finish carefully sanded off.
Is the sauna new and untreated?
If the sauna is new and untreated, any product intended for sauna surface treatment is suitable.
If you don't want the natural colour of the wood to change at all with the treatment, the best option is sauna wax. It doesn't darken or deepen the colour of the wood as oils, such as paraffin, do.
Can the sauna surfaces be left untreated?
You don't have to treat the sauna surfaces. However, treatment protects them from dirt and moisture.
Thermally modified wood performs excellently in a sauna without any separate surface treatment, as thermal modification reduces how much water the wood absorbs. Wooden parts that have not been thermally modified can also be left without protective treatment, but this makes the surfaces harder to keep clean.
Treating the surfaces also has an aesthetic side. The surfaces stay cleaner, and treatment lets you tint the colour of the surface, for example. Treating the sauna's wooden surfaces also extends their service life.
How is a sauna stained and surface-treated?
Staining and surface-treating a sauna involves four important stages. Do each stage carefully to get a beautiful and durable result.
- Clean the surfaces using either a paint cleaner or a sauna cleaner. For new surfaces, careful vacuuming of the dust and wiping with a damp cloth and clean water is enough.
- If the surfaces look glossy once dry, sand them matt and remove the sanding dust.
- Choose the right product for your sauna (tips above).
- Has the sauna been treated before, and with what? What wood has been used in the sauna and what condition is it in? Has the wood yellowed?
- Ask a professional for help if needed
- One coat is usually enough.
- Apply the product once, in the direction of the wood grain.
- If you want a stronger semi-transparent shade (e.g. more white), you can treat the surfaces a second time.
- Once the treatment has dried, pre-heat and air the sauna.
What products do we use at Ehtasauna?
Ehta's sauna-ready garden saunas are available with interiors/steam rooms tinted dark (Piki) or light (Tuomenkukka). The buildings are also always available with a colourless treatment or no treatment at all.
For an extra charge you can choose any shade from Tikkurila's colour chart!
We use Finnish Tikkurila products to treat our garden saunas:
- The walls, ceiling and benches inside the sauna are treated with Tikkurila Supi Sauna Wax.
- The walls and ceiling of the living spaces are also treated with sauna wax.
- The floors of Ehta saunas are treated with Supi Floor Oil.
- On the exterior surfaces we use Tikkurila Pinja Wood Stain.
Interested?
Would you like to know more about sauna colours or the products we use? Are you interested in buying a ready-made garden sauna or sauna cabin?
Get in touch and we'll be happy to help!
