Sauna Lighting: Chromotherapy and Plain Reading Lights

When I ordered my first infrared sauna, the listing mentioned chromotherapy and I figured it was a feature I’d never touch. Two winters later, I use the colored lights almost every session. Not for any health reason — I just prefer a dim red or amber glow at 7 p.m. to a bright white one.

What it actually is, in my cabin, is a set of LED strips behind the backrest and under the bench, wired to a small remote. I can pick a color, set a brightness level, or let it fade slowly between shades. That’s the whole thing. Some models put the controls inside, some outside, and some just cycle through colors with a button you press until you land on one you like.

I treat the colors as ambience. Red or orange in the evening, a soft green if I’m in there mid-afternoon, and off entirely when I want quiet and dark. The slow fade mode I tried once and turned off; it kept catching my eye. I don’t expect anything from the lights beyond how the room feels, and I’d be skeptical of anyone promising more.

For reading, I use a separate light. Mine is a small battery puck stuck to the glass door, aimed at the bench, and it’s bright enough for a paperback without glaring. A few things I checked before sticking anything in a hot room:

• The fixture’s temperature rating, printed on the box
• Whether it sits inside the cabin or outside the glass
• Whether it has its own switch, so I’m not fumbling in the heat
• How the adhesive holds up as the wood expands

If you’re comparing models, ask how the lighting is wired and whether the colored LEDs can be turned off completely. On the sauna I ended up with, the 2 Person Infrared Sauna setup let me keep the white light on a separate switch from the color strip, which turned out to matter more to me than any preset. Check the provider’s own current terms for what’s included.

I still mostly use one color. But it’s a nice thing to have.

— Sarah Collins