When you're choosing a home sauna, most of your attention naturally goes to the big decisions: infrared or traditional heat, indoor or outdoor installation, and how much space you need. But there's another feature that can change the feel of every session: the lighting.
Many modern home saunas come with chromotherapy lighting, a system that lets you select different colors inside the cabin. It isn't a replacement for a good heater or thoughtful construction. It is, however, a pleasant way to make the space feel more like your own.
What is chromotherapy lighting?
Chromotherapy—often called color therapy—refers to using different colors of light to influence the atmosphere of a space. In a sauna, it typically means built-in LED lighting that you can change from one color to another. Some systems offer multiple fixed colors; others may cycle through colors or provide separate accent lighting.
For the owner, the practical benefit is simple: you can choose softer, warmer light or a more colorful spa-like setting instead of relying on a single overhead bulb.
What do the different sauna lighting colors mean?
People often associate particular colors with different moods. You might find these familiar:
- Blue: Often associated with a peaceful, cool-looking atmosphere.
- Green: Frequently chosen for its connection to nature.
- Red: Gives the interior a warmer, more dramatic appearance.
- Amber or yellow: Creates a cozy, welcoming glow against natural wood.
- Purple: Offers a distinctive spa-style ambiance.
These are personal impressions, not medical prescriptions. Scientific evidence does not establish that selecting a particular ambient light color in a sauna treats a disease or reliably produces a specific physiological effect. Choose what you enjoy looking at.
Is chromotherapy the same as red light therapy?
No. The distinction matters because some sauna listings mention both features.
Red-colored ambient lighting is not automatically the same as a device designed for photobiomodulation (often called red light therapy). Devices studied for specific purposes use defined wavelengths, light intensity, and exposure protocols. A red LED used primarily to color the cabin does not by itself demonstrate the same output or clinical effects.
We recommend thinking of chromotherapy lighting as a comfort and atmosphere feature, not a reason to expect a medical result. If a manufacturer advertises a separate red-light feature, check the model-specific documentation rather than assuming it is equivalent to a clinical device.
Types of sauna lighting to look for
Selectable LED chromotherapy: Choose an interior color to suit your preferences. Available controls and color options depend on the sauna.
Backrest and accent lighting: Highlights the benches, backrest, or wall details, making the cabin feel less like a plain wooden box.
Galaxy Star ceiling lighting: A decorative ceiling system that creates a starry-sky effect in certain sauna models.
Lighting features vary considerably, even between similar-looking saunas from the same brand. Always check the exact model's specifications.
Which Martin Sauna models offer color lighting?
Here are four examples from our current catalog. They differ in heating type and installation requirements, so we'd choose the right sauna first and treat the lighting as an added benefit.
- Dynamic Venice 2-Person Infrared Sauna — An indoor infrared model with chromotherapy lighting and a red-light feature. See the Venice product page for authentic manufacturer photographs and exact product details.
- Dynamic Serena 2-Person Infrared Sauna — An indoor infrared option with interior chromotherapy lighting.
- Golden Designs Forssa Traditional Sauna — Combines an oversized interior chromotherapy system with an accent-lit backrest.
- Golden Designs Loviisa Hybrid Sauna — A different style of atmosphere lighting, with a Galaxy Star ceiling and rear-wall accents alongside infrared and traditional heating options.
There are other choices, too. For help comparing heating systems, see our guide to how hybrid saunas combine infrared and traditional heat.
Is chromotherapy lighting worth having?
We think it's a nice feature to have—especially when it comes included in a sauna you already like. On some evenings you may prefer warm amber; on others, blue or purple. And sometimes you may want the lights turned down or off entirely, if the model's controls allow it.
But we'd still put construction quality, the heating system, cabin size, installation requirements, and dependable support ahead of decorative lighting. Those are the details that determine whether a sauna actually fits your home and the way you plan to use it.
Frequently asked questions
Does chromotherapy have proven medical benefits?
There isn't good evidence that the typical color-changing ambient lighting found in home saunas treats a medical condition. Enjoy it for the atmosphere it creates rather than expecting a therapeutic effect from a particular color.
Do infrared and traditional saunas both offer color lighting?
Yes. Chromotherapy and accent lighting are available in some infrared, traditional, and hybrid sauna models. The features are model-specific, not determined solely by the heating type.
Can I switch off the colored lights?
That depends on the controls supplied with the particular sauna. Check the specifications or ask us to verify before ordering.
Find a sauna with the features that matter to you
If colored lighting is high on your wish list, tell us. At Martin Sauna, we can help compare lighting options alongside practical matters such as capacity, electrical service, heater type, delivery and fit.
Ask a Martin Sauna specialist about saunas with chromotherapy lighting →
