Designing a Spa Sanctuary Outdoors

Saunas, Cold Plunges, Showers & the Sustainable Foundations That Support Them

Creating an outdoor spa space is about more than installing a few luxury features—it’s about designing an experience. Whether you’re integrating a cold plunge tub for morning refreshment, a wood-fired sauna for evening recovery, or a rain-fed outdoor shower for a touch of elemental indulgence, the setting matters. And at CORE Landscape Products, we’re helping homeowners and designers build these escapes on solid, eco-conscious ground.

It All Starts with the Ground Beneath You

Outdoor wellness spaces require stable footing and smart drainage. The last thing you want is a muddy path between your sauna and cold plunge, or a flooded base under your outdoor shower.

That’s where our CORE Gravel™ Stabilizing Panels shine.

CORE Gravel™ Stabilizing System
Use it beneath: Saunas, plunge tubs, showers, and walkways
Key benefit: Creates a strong, level surface that drains instantly
Eco-factor: Made from recycled materials, helps recharge groundwater
Finish options: Fill with clean gravel or decorative stone for a natural look

Unlike concrete or decking, our system is permeable—meaning water flows through instead of pooling. It’s a clean, professional base that performs year-round and supports anything from cedar foot decks to cast-iron tubs.

Design That Comes to Life After Dark

Picture this: your plunge tub glistening under the stars, with a subtle path glowing around it. No wires. No electricity. Just pure, nature-powered light.

That’s the magic of CORE Glow™—our line of photoluminescent aggregates that store solar energy during the day and release a calming glow for up to 12 hours after sunset.

CORE Glow™ Aggregates
Glow duration: Up to 12 hours nightly
Ideal for: Path edging, plunge zones, shower surrounds, deck inlays
Appearance: Elegant by day, luminous at night
Sustainability: Non-toxic, weatherproof, zero energy required

CORE Glow makes your spa space safer for nighttime use and adds that “wow” factor guests won’t forget.

Privacy Without Walls

Even in the most beautiful setting, privacy matters. Whether you're rinsing off after a sauna session or stepping out of a tub, having a visual boundary transforms your yard into a true retreat.

Our artist-designed privacy screens—made by CORE Landscape Products.—are both functional and beautiful. These aren’t just dividers. They’re cut from durable outdoor materials and feature striking nature-inspired designs that elevate your space.

Privacy Screen Highlights
Materials: PVC, HDPE, or Aluminum Composite – all weather-resistant
Designs: Botanical, Indigenous, minimalist and custom options
Usage: Spa walls, wind barriers, backdrop for tubs/showers
Bonus: Doubles as outdoor art, handmade by real artists

Installed beside a cedar sauna or mounted around a cold plunge tub, these screens offer airflow, seclusion, and a grounded connection to place.

Bringing It All Together

A spa space doesn’t need to be big—it needs to be intentional. By layering thoughtful materials with elemental features, you create a landscape that nourishes your body and your senses.

Imagine this:

A narrow stone path, filled with CORE Glow and stabilized by CORE Gravel, winds from your deck to a cedar sauna tucked beneath trees.
Next to it, a plunge tub rests on a gravel base that drains instantly after each icy dip.
An outdoor shower, framed by black PVC privacy panels, offers a rinse beneath the sky.

It’s these details—solid foundations, clean water flow, glowing accents, and privacy—that elevate a project from functional to unforgettable.

Want to Build One? Let’s Chat.

We’ve helped homeowners, designers, and developers across North America bring their spa visions to life—one grid, screen, and glowstone at a time.

If you're dreaming of your own outdoor spa space, visit us at shop.coregravel.ca or stop by our showroom in Courtenay, BC.

Because when it comes to wellness, we believe it should be both beautiful and sustainable.