I wouldn’t think having a sauna off of a living room would be a selling point, so I doubt removing it would hurt resale. Opening it up or turning it into something more practical makes perfect sense to me!

I agree—ask a realtor, maybe the one who sold you the place.

Remove it and reinvent the space. How big is the room?

I'd remove it. I actually enjoy the occasional sauna, but its presence or absence would never figure into whether I would or would not buy a house. And really, you should be living in the house the way you like living, not the way some imaginary future buyer might like to live. Make it useful space for you.

Are you planning on selling soon? Ask a local realtor. If you are not planning on selling soon, do what makes you happy as it is your home to live with until the time of if and when you do sell. No one can predict the real estate market of the future!

Thanks everyone for your insights.

The room is 4x10. It's small weird shaped.

That's why i thought about a Crafts room

When you say “art room” what do you mean exactly? With that width you can design a space with work surface and storage on one wall and some seating. Great lighting will be very important

Oh i meant craft room. An example below.

Open to other ideas too

Some inspirational rooms

4 x10” not much space for anything so sit down and draw a to scale floor plan and see what you could put in there I certainly would not open it up to the LR since craft rooms are uslually not exactly tidy all the time . I do however not think that a sauna there will ever be a selling point.There really is no space for much along the long wall since you still need space to walk in the room.

The 4’ wide dimension is the killer. Maybe just an additional storage room? Or maybe a library wall with a deep built in reading nook at the end.

i love saunas.

i would do shelving along one side for storage if you don't want to keep the sauna.

Really odd place for a sauna. Doubt it would be an attraction to a potential buyer. If it can be removed and the space put to another use I would do it. Good luck!

Two concepts. Chair has to be swivel and about 24x24 size. The dotted line is to show a drop leaf wall mounted table. You need to keep first 2-3’ at opening fairly open.

After accurate measurements, it's 5'ft x 13'ft (64x160)

Right now it's a shower room then the sauna (Picture attached, as you can see I'm already using it as a crafts room)

Is there a wall for an alternate access point instead of the living room door? What's behind the LR fireplace? Is that an outside wall and could it be entered from the garage (if that's what is behind the FP?) What is the demographic for your neighborhood? Cancer patients can really benefit from saunas, so if the local population tends to be older, it might be a selling point. Depending on local regulations, you might actually have a built-in business opportunity here. Check with your health food store or a natural practitioner to see if you might provide a needed service, assuming you would be willing to welcome clients into your home.

Left and back walls are open to the yard. Right wall is shared with the garage and front is the door.

Decoenthusuaste, interesting suggestion. I am guessing that will require a business license and regular service to the sauna. I also don't know what similar local services are around here. Will check.

Ooo! 5’ wide. Yippee. Is the door in photo to living room? Or to outside? What does other end of space look like? Is the whole space 5’ wide? These dimensions are critical to getting layout right.

5' gives you room to do a 20-24' deep main work area across center of space on the wall with 12" units on each side leaving 3'-4' of space for a chair or just open space for feeling good in there!

Keep the sauna

Remove it. 3 years and no use....! It is your house now!

I doubt any buyer is going to look for a house with a sauna. Or, refuse to buy a good house just because it does not have a sauna. This is something very personal and an owner will install themselves. They sell them at Costco for less than $2,000. Plus, any future buyers will never know they missed out on a sauna.

A room with nice shelving is much more a selling point. Endless possibilities. Study, childrens playroom, small guest room, storage, craft room, music room, gym, etc.

Enjoy YOUR house! Enjoy your craft room!

Was that a porch, maybe screened in? Bet they wanted a sauna and just decided to convert that space.

Often converting a porch to interior space reduces curb appeal. Maybe you could put windows back. Would make great lighting for a craft room.

Old thread but... I would try using the sauna for a bit before you decide. There are numerous physical and mental health benefits to sauna as well as the simple enjoyment of it. You may decide that you really like it.

More: https://www.saunatimes.com/sauna-culture/sauna-how-to/6-easy-steps-that-help-those-new-to-sauna-enjoy-the-experience/