Sauna and steam bath: wellness, technology and design for home and Spa

Well-being has become a necessity of contemporary life: intense rhythms, greater attention to health and the desire for mental recovery have made sauna and steam bath sought-after elements not only in spas, but also in private homes. Today the wellness world includes Finnish sauna, biosauna, infrared cabin, steam bath or hammam, each with specific technical features and a different sensory impact.
 For Bertani, which offers solutions by Effe for saunas and steam baths, designing these environments means creating a complete micro-space where aesthetics, technology and comfort coexist in balance.
This guide helps you navigate the differences, installation methods and essential technical aspects to choose the solution best suited for private homes and hospitality facilities.

Sauna and hammam: the differences

Sauna and steam bath differ in their opposite approaches to heat. The sauna works with very hot, dry air, between 85 and 100 °C, inside a wooden cabin that absorbs and diffuses the heat evenly. It produces immediate and intense sweating, stimulates circulation, tones the skin and releases muscle tension.
 The hammam, on the other hand, operates between 40 and 48 °C, but with humidity reaching 100%. The steam creates a soft and enveloping heat, ideal for those who prefer a more gradual experience. It purifies the skin, clears the airways and promotes progressive relaxation.
 The construction requirements also differ significantly: the sauna needs an electrical connection and is built entirely of wood; a hammam requires a steam generator, waterproof coverings such as porcelain stoneware, mosaic or resin, an airtight door, and a ceiling designed to prevent condensation from dripping. 
Understanding this distinction means identifying the tool most suitable for one’s lifestyle: intense and immediate heat for the sauna, enveloping and humid for the steam bath.

The sauna: benefits, proper use and variants

The sauna is an ancient ritual that uses hot, dry air to produce deep sweating. It improves vasodilation, encourages the release of endorphins, eases muscle tension and gives the skin a more toned and radiant appearance; it is an ally for metabolism and overall well-being.
Like any intense thermal stimulus, it requires attention: pregnant women or those with heart conditions, severe hypertension, fever or flu should avoid it or seek medical advice. A proper session alternates a 5–10 minute heating phase, a cool shower to restore temperature, and a moment of rest before a possible second cycle. Two or three cycles in the same day are generally sufficient, while the ideal frequency is two or three sessions per week.

The main types of sauna

The Finnish sauna is the most traditional format: a natural wood cabin in which air reaches temperatures between 85 and 100 °C, with almost no humidity. The heat is intense, sweating is immediate, and the effect is highly energizing.

The biosauna offers a more balanced climate halfway between sauna and steam bath. The temperature remains around 50–60 °C, while humidity can rise to 60–70%, creating a softer and more welcoming environment. It is suitable for those who do not tolerate the high temperatures of the Finnish sauna, for beginners or for hospitality facilities that want a more versatile treatment.


The infrared sauna does not heat the air but the body directly through infrared panels, which generate deep and progressive warmth. The cabin never exceeds 50 °C, and sessions can last up to 30 minutes without tiring the body.

Installing a sauna at home or in a Spa

A sauna can be placed in a bathroom, bedroom, fitness room, basement, or a dedicated wellness area. What matters is having an adequate electrical system, proper ventilation and a nearby shower to complete the hot–cold ritual. Among Effe’s saunas, there are numerous prefabricated or custom-made options.
 Prefabricated saunas are pre-designed cabins available in different sizes and configurations, quick to install and ideal when an immediate result is desired.
 When the space requires tailored planning, a custom sauna allows the shape, materials, lighting and geometry to be adapted to the home or professional spa. In this field Effe is a full technical partner: it creates custom cabins in glass and fine woods, integrating lighting systems, ergonomic seating and precise plant engineering. It is not just about building a sauna, but about integrating it harmoniously into the architecture of the environment.

To understand minimal space requirements, it is useful to consider Effe’s most compact cabins, designed for two seats:
• Natural S measures 105×140 cm
• Natural IR measures 105×140 cm with infrared technology
• Sky 30 measures 130×132 cm
• Auki 30 measures 126×128 cm
• Idea 30 measures 125×132 cm (can have three seats)
• Idea IR 1000 measures 100×132 cm with infrared technology

Traditional versions require around 3 kW, while infrared cabins start from 1 kW. Effe’s latest technologies include Energy Saver systems that automatically reduce consumption once the set temperature is reached, optimising energy use without compromising comfort.

Outdoor saunas

Outdoor saunas follow Nordic tradition: independent cabins immersed in the landscape, built with treated wood, glass and certified insulation. Models like Effe’s Cabanon demonstrate how aesthetics and performance can coexist in gardens, terraces or scenic Spas, offering an evocative experience in every season and a direct connection with nature.

The hammam: the essence of steam

The hammam is a Mediterranean ritual based on the action of steam. The humid heat dilates pores, removes impurities and improves breathing, offering slow and constant well-being. It is particularly appreciated during colder months by those who seek a rebalancing and more tolerable experience compared to dry heat.
A typical session begins with a warm shower, continues with 15–20 minutes of steam, and ends with a cool shower and a short moment of rest. The recommended frequency is generally two sessions per week, adjusting duration and intensity according to one’s physical condition.

How to build a hammam at home or in a Spa

Unlike the sauna, a hammam requires waterproof materials and continuous surfaces. It can be made with mosaic, porcelain stoneware, resin, stone or marble. The covering is applied over insulation panels that prevent heat dispersion.
 The heart of the system is the steam generator, responsible for the quality of the heat. Effe’s steam bath systems include automatic sanitization functions against limescale and impurities, constant temperature control, ventilation to avoid stratification and uniform steam distribution.
 Besides the generator, a complete hammam needs a shower tray with drain, benches, a handheld shower to wash and cool the seats, and above all an airtight tempered glass door (8 mm thick). The ceiling must be sloped or domed to prevent droplets from falling, ensuring comfort during the session.
 In terms of space, a hammam can start from 90×90 cm, but true comfort begins at 120×80 cm. In the Effe catalogue, for example, the prefab model Natural H (105×140 cm, 3 kW) is one of the most compact: it is designed as a two-seat hammam, because comfort is an essential part of the ritual.

How to transform a shower into a hammam

Even a traditional shower can become a steam bath by installing a generator suitable for the volume, insulating surfaces and fitting an airtight door. Light seating, shower heads, chromotherapy, aromatherapy and scenographic lighting complete the environment and turn the shower into a small home hammam. This is an ideal solution in contemporary renovations, where the bathroom is no longer just functional but becomes a place of everyday well-being.

Integrated solutions and wellness paths

In more complete projects, sauna and steam bath coexist within the same wellness area, combined with a shower that serves as a thermal bridge between dry heat and steam. The design integrates the needs of both environments: the sauna requires wood and a dedicated electrical system; the hammam needs waterproofing, insulation and a steam generator.
 Both saunas and hammams can be enriched with chromotherapy, aromatherapy, scenographic lighting and audio systems. These elements transform the ritual into a multisensory and personalized experience. Effe integrates these technologies in many of its cabins and makes them available also in custom-built solutions.

Furnishings, accessories and Bertani consulting

The wellness experience does not depend solely on the cabin, but on the surrounding environment. Bertani supports the choice of ergonomic seating, relaxation loungers, technical glass walls, LED chromotherapy, audio systems, sensory showers and accessories such as bucket showers, integrating furniture and elements specifically designed for spas and wellness areas.
 The full selection of furnishings and seating is available in the spa seating and furniture section. Bertani’s consulting service accompanies private clients, architects and hospitality facilities through every phase: space analysis, plant design, choice of prefabricated or custom solutions, integration with interior design and post-sale assistance. The result is an authentic, safe wellness space designed to last over time.