There is something deeply grounding about water, wood, and open air. A garden is no longer just something to look at – it becomes a place to gather, to slow down, and to reconnect. At the centre of this transformation sits the Buitengewoon wood-fired hot tub: simple, sculptural, and quietly luxurious.

For a more practical approach, a simple step-by-step guide is included below.

A Place to Begin: The Foundation

Before anything else, consider where your hot tub will live.

A Buitengewoon tub is solid and weighty when filled, so it needs a stable, level surface. The most popular options include:
– Concrete slabs – clean, durable, and low maintenance
– Stone or paving – natural textures that blend beautifully into the garden
– Timber decking – warm underfoot and ideal for a more elevated, architectural feel
– Compacted gravel with a base grid – a softer, more organic option when done correctly

Wherever you place it, think about drainage, access to firewood, and the journey to and from the house – especially on cooler evenings.

Positioning: Framing the Experience

A hot tub isn’t just an object – it’s a viewpoint.

Position it where it can:
– Catch the best light (sunrise or sunset adds a quiet magic)
– Offer a sense of privacy without feeling enclosed
– Frame a natural feature – a tree, a mountain view, a garden bed
– Even in smaller spaces, thoughtful placement can create a feeling of retreat.

Choosing Your Heating Style: Coil or Snorkel

A subtle but important decision is how your hot tub is heated.

Snorkel hot tubs feature an internal stove, fully self-contained within the tub. This design makes them safe for more fire-sensitive surfaces, while still offering the gentle ritual of a wood-fired soak. The heat source remains integrated, creating a simple, contained experience.

Coil hot tubs use an external heating unit, where water circulates through a coil heated by a fire outside the tub. This creates a more traditional wood-fired feel, with a visible flame and a strong sense of atmosphere in the surrounding space.

Both offer the same end result – beautifully hot water – but the choice comes down to how you want the experience to feel, and how it integrates into your garden.

Styling the Space

The beauty of a Buitengewoon tub lies in its material honesty. Styling should complement, not compete.

Think in layers:

Natural Materials
– Timber stools or benches
– Linen towels in soft, neutral tones
– Woven baskets for storage

Soft Lighting
– Lanterns or candles for a gentle glow
– Low garden lighting to guide the path without overpowering the night

Greenery
– Surround with grasses, herbs, or sculptural plants
– Let the space feel alive and slightly untamed

Wood as a Feature
– Firewood is essential – so let it become part of the design
– Stack logs neatly in a dedicated nook or open wood store
– Use repetition and texture to create a quiet visual rhythm
– Keep it close enough for ease, but styled with intention

Functional Touches
– Buitengewoon drinks trays that rest perfectly alongside the tub
– Hooks or rails for robes and towels

The goal is ease – everything you need, within reach, without clutter.

Things to Consider

A few practical details will elevate the experience from occasional to effortless:
– Heating time: Wood-fired tubs take time to warm – build this into the ritual
– Water source and filling: Ensure easy access to a hose or system
– Privacy: Screens, planting, or subtle fencing can create a sense of seclusion
– Maintenance: Simple routines keep the water fresh and the tub in excellent condition (read our blog abour hot tub maintenance here)

The Ritual of Gathering

Perhaps the most meaningful transformation is not visual, but social.

A hot tub draws people in. It slows conversation. It softens the edges of the day.

Over long weekends and seasonal holidays, it becomes a natural gathering point:
– Morning soaks with coffee as the air is still cool
– Long, laughter-filled evenings under the stars
– Children moving between water and garden, wrapped in towels and warmth
– Friends lingering longer than planned

It’s less about the tub itself, and more about what it makes possible.

A Garden That Lives With You

In the end, adding a Buitengewoon hot tub is not about luxury in the traditional sense. It’s about creating a space that invites you outside, again and again.

A place where time stretches a little.
Where conversation deepens.
Where the garden becomes part of daily life.

Simple. Considered. Buitengewoon.