Home Sauna: What Actually Changes When You Bring One Home
A lot of people picture a home sauna as something that belongs in a gym or a day spa — a big, complicated build that needs its own room. In practice, for an infrared sauna, that's not what's involved. Hayden and Amanda, who run Chakra Wellness, use their own saunas and ice baths at home every day — that's actually how the business started, before either product was for sale. This page walks through what's genuinely different about having one at home: where it can go, what power it needs, which model suits your household, and what day-to-day life with it actually looks like.
Does it need its own room?
No. Our current range — RadiantZen (Premium and Standard), GlowZen, and CedarZen — is built for indoor installation, and almost any indoor floor works: carpet, floorboards, timber, tile, vinyl or concrete. Infrared saunas are dry saunas, so they don't produce steam and moisture doesn't collect underneath the unit — there's no waterproofing, drainage or platform requirement indoors (a platform is specifically an outdoor measure, to stop rainwater pooling under the cabin outside). What actually matters is that the floor is level and stable across the whole footprint, since the walls and glass panels lock together and need to sit square — an uneven base is the most common reason a door won't close properly afterwards.
Space-wise, the two-person models (RadiantZen Premium, RadiantZen Standard, GlowZen) are 123cm wide x 107cm deep x 190cm tall — about the footprint of a large wardrobe. CedarZen, the four-person model, is 180cm x 120cm x 190cm. Most homes fit one of these into a spare room, garage corner, or an undercover outdoor spot without any structural change to the house.
What power does it need?
This is the one practical question worth answering before you buy, not after delivery. The three two-person models — RadiantZen Premium, RadiantZen Standard and GlowZen — plug straight into a standard domestic 10A power outlet, so there's no electrician needed for the connection itself. CedarZen, the four-person model, needs a dedicated 15A circuit rather than the standard 10A outlet the two-person models use, and most homes don't already have a spare 15A outlet in the right spot — so that one typically does need an electrician, and it's worth arranging ahead of delivery rather than discovering it on install day. As a general rule, run either a sauna or an ice bath from an RCD-protected (safety switch) circuit; most modern Australian homes already have this, but a licensed electrician can check an existing outlet if you're not sure.
Which model actually suits your home?
This comes down to two practical questions more than anything else: how many people need to fit in at once, and whether you want the broadest infrared experience or the lowest-EMF option.
Household of one or two, want strong, direct heat at the more accessible price point: RadiantZen Standard.
Same footprint, want softer, more evenly-distributed heat, happy to pay more for it: RadiantZen Premium.
Prioritising the lowest EMF rating, two-person: GlowZen — 100% Nano Carbon Far Infrared, rated less than 3 mG at the heater surface.
Three to four people, or just want more room to stretch out: CedarZen — the only model in the range built past two-person, and also 100% Nano Carbon Far Infrared.
That's the short version — the full breakdown of heater technology, glass, and the honest trade-offs between models is on Which Sauna Is Right For You?, and a side-by-side spec comparison across all four is on our sauna comparison page.
Self-install, or have it done for you
Both are genuine options for a home installation. Self-install is realistic — the only tool you need to supply is an electric drill, everything else needed to assemble the sauna is in the boxes, and we've got full step-by-step instructions for each model. Or our own Perth-based team can deliver and install it for you: they're always on time, make sure everything's constructed correctly and working before they leave, clean up completely, and take the rubbish with them — the only thing left behind is the sauna. For the full detail on what delivery and installation actually include (and how that differs from a custom-built or nationally-shipped sauna), see our buying guide; for the exact self-install steps for your model, see our installation guide.
Living with it day to day
The part that's easy to overlook until you actually own one: the control panel pairs with a phone app (Smart Life, over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi), so you can start it remotely and have it up to temperature by the time you're ready, or schedule it to come on first thing in the morning, and check the cabin temperature from your phone rather than walking out to check. The genuine convenience is not having to go stand at the sauna to switch it on — we'd always rather it's started while someone's home, rather than left running in an empty house, but within that it's a real day-to-day difference for a sauna that lives at your own place rather than a gym you have to drive to.
Upkeep is light: wipe it down with a dry towel after each use, keep it in a dry, well-ventilated space, and avoid excess humidity around the wood panels. The full care routine — including the oxygen ioniser and what to do if you're installing outdoors instead — is on our sauna care and maintenance guide.
What it costs to run
Every model's exact running cost depends on how often and how hot you run it — see our sauna cost calculator for a live estimate against your own model and habits, or read what infrared saunas actually cost to run in Perth for the full breakdown against current WA electricity rates.
Getting it right from the start
If you're weighing up a home sauna, our team can talk through your space, your household size, and your budget before you buy — not just after delivery. We deliver and install across Perth Metro (postcodes 6000–6200), and we're happy to help you work out whether a spot you have in mind is ready. Get in touch, or explore the range to start narrowing it down yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a dedicated room for a home sauna?
No — the two-person models are about the footprint of a large wardrobe (123cm x 107cm x 190cm), and almost any indoor floor works, including carpet. No platform or special flooring is needed indoors; that's specifically an outdoor measure.
Does a home sauna need special electrical work?
The three two-person models (RadiantZen Premium, RadiantZen Standard, GlowZen) plug into a standard domestic 10A outlet, no electrician needed. CedarZen, the four-person model, needs a dedicated 15A circuit, which typically does need an electrician — worth arranging before delivery.
Can I install it myself, or do I need Chakra Wellness to do it?
Both are genuine options. Self-install only needs an electric drill supplied by you; we provide full step-by-step instructions for each model. Our Perth-based team can also deliver and install it for you.
Can I turn my home sauna on before I get home?
Yes — the control panel pairs with the Smart Life app, so it can be started remotely or scheduled to come on at a set time, and the cabin temperature can be checked from your phone. We'd always rather it's started while someone's home rather than left running in an empty house, but within that it genuinely saves having to walk out and switch it on yourself.
What floor can a home sauna sit on?
Almost anything indoors — carpet, floorboards, timber, tile, vinyl, laminate or concrete all work, since infrared saunas are dry saunas and don't produce steam or moisture underneath. What matters is that the floor is level and stable across the whole footprint.
How much does it cost to run at home?
It depends on the model and how often you use it — see our sauna cost calculator for a live estimate, or read our running cost breakdown.