Middle class families with space and money to spare are increasingly creating their own wellness retreats at home, with the 'spa-den' set to replace the posh garden room as the newest outdoor status symbol.

The trend has been sparked by social media shots of celebrities lounging in their own exclusive spa-dens; the likes of Joe Wicks, Holly Willoughby, Erling Haaland, Shirley Ballas and the Beckhams have all shared pics of the luxury gym-style facilities they've installed at their sprawling properties.

Let's be very clear though, it's not the inflatable hot tubs and makeshift ice baths fashioned out of bins that prevailed during the pandemic... but design-led 'exterior suites' that blend in with natural landscapes - and can cost in excess of £100,000.

While many supermarkets and mainstream stores now sell al fresco wellness equipment - Sports Direct, B&Q and Argos all have Lay-Z-Spa hot tubs for under £400 - the rule, say style experts, is to avoid the addition of unsightly plastic at all costs, or your backyard could end up screaming poor taste.

Those serious about fitness and recovery, who want the privacy that even an upmarket health club membership or hotel can't afford, are installing wood-clad Scandi style saunas, high-tech jacuzzis and chic freezing plunge pools.

Statement outdoor baths - including ones hewn entirely from large riverstone boulders and then polished - can be installed with hot running water from around £7,250... and pack a punch when it comes to garden aesthetics.

Demand for residential saunas now makes up around 59 per cent of the global sauna demand, with the UK sauna market predicted to be worth £114.6million by 2033, up from £61.5million in 2024.

Indeed, the spa-den is replacing - or sitting side-by-side with if you have a particularly spacious lawn - garden rooms, which have been the most popular addition to a rear space in recent decades.

The appeal of wellness equipment to many who can afford them is that it's a functional purchase that promises years of use. 

Meanwhile, unloved garden rooms, home offices during the Covid era, often now just double up as pretty sheds, with people using them as storage spaces.

How much cash do you need to splash to install a spa-den? The sky's the limit, with pretty off-the-shelf saunas for four people costing from around £4,000.

A bespoke hand-made affair can cost you the same price as a terraced house in some parts of the UK though - with prices starting from around £50,000 for more whizz-bang models. 

Add in an aesthetically pleasing ice bath - a rustic-looking cold plunge tub, made using old Scottish whisky barrels, costs £7,495 from wellness brand Brass Monkey - and you're looking at a bill for around £30,000 at least. 

Christopher Selman, co-Founder of Out of the Valley, a Devon-based British company that makes design-led outdoor saunas by hand, told the Daily Mail the stress of modern life is driving the spa-den boom - the company has seen a whopping 400% growth in demand over the past 12 to 18 months. 

'The sauna is an accessible form of meditation free from distraction and rooted in the simple act of being present,' he said.

'It creates space to reconnect body and mind, and ultimately, it’s about listening to your body. It’s no wonder it’s becoming so popular in today’s ultra-connected, digital world.' 

And he predicts we may all be using them as part of our everyday lives soon. He said, 'In many ways, saunas are where yoga was 15 years ago: on the cusp of moving from niche to normal.' 

Joss Thomas, founder and designer at Indigenous, says the demand for outdoor bathing - including tin and stone baths and volcanic hot tubs, has definitely risen.  

He said: 'Outdoor spa areas have become very popular over the last few years. 

'They create a real style statement outdoors, as well as a fabulous wellness addition and "escape" at home that can be enjoyed at any time.

'A stone bath, for example, makes a fabulous focal point. 

'Being a natural material, it blends beautifully with its surroundings, in a spot with a view or in an intimate nook, surrounded by plants, herbs and solar lights. 

'And traditional tin baths are also a good, practical choice. They’re surprisingly light, so easy to move around. Traditional bateau-style designs, with their symmetrical shape and gentle sloping ends, create a wonderful feature and can also accommodate two. 

He adds: 'Don’t forget a well-appointed stool for drinks and snacks, and a hook for a towel or bathrobe; especially important if you’re planning a Nordic-style soak on a chilly night.'