Relax in your own personal paradise
Your back garden is primarily a space for relaxing, so this is why hot tubs fit in so well. If you’re thinking about adding a Sundance Spa, there are a number of different areas you need to consider.
Some basic things to remember are
You should plan to use your hot tub all through the year. Although it can be great in the summer, relaxing in a warm hot tub in the chilly British winter time can be a fantastic treat. Enhance it by planting seasonal flowers, moving furniture or adding a spa umbrella.
Stay simple with matching steps and planters around your Sundance at first, investing in more accessories later on if you decide this is right for you.
Use shrubbery to create a natural retreat around your hot tub to increase privacy and make the area beautiful!
Back garden design for total beginners
We’re not all green-figured and if you’ve never thought about taking care over your garden space before, it can seem intimidating. However, there are plenty of resources and assistance available to make sure you get your perfect garden.
Where to start
Plan around the built in elements first. The patio and decks are permanent and can’t be moved, so these need to be thought of first. You should consider your hot tub in the same category and plan lawns and flower beds around it, rather than the other way round.
Make sure it’s suited for you. You may visit garden centres and see beautiful designs, but they may not always fit in with your home. Most gardens use a few strong elements and work around this, so get your main sections right first then fill it in with plants and furniture after this.
Adapt features you like. If you spot something you like whether it’s in the local neighbourhood or in a magazine, find a way to make it suit your space. If you admire a friend’s garden, don’t be afraid to ask them how they did it and for advice, and remember that the internet is a wealth of resources!
Planning for your hot tub
Plan ahead to make the most of your hot tub
You need to effectively plan for your new hot tub to make sure it fits in with your current landscaping and give it a “built-in” look rather than making it look like an obvious later addition.
When choosing your new Sundance Spa hot tub, you should keep in mind the design and size of your garden to make sure that you’re selecting a spa which will fit in with your environment. You could also browse through garden magazines and look through photos of the gardens of other Sundance Spas owners to get inspiration.
Other points to consider:
- Access to the spa from the house is usually via an existing patio, but you could also consider having secondary access to or from a lawn area. The space next to the stairs is ideal for a flowerbed or a small bush.
- Strengthen the continuity between your house and garden by creating a “stepping-stone” effect:
- Allow the ground cover (i.e. turf, low growing grasses, moss, etc.) to grow between the stepping-stones to blend the hardscape (decking) to the softscape (lawn area).
- Redwood rounds make nice stepping-stones. If your decking is masonry, match the brick, flagstone, or tile.
- Install garden lighting along the pathway to your spa. Sundance hot tubs feature coloured LED interior lighting, including sparkling, backlit waterfalls in most models, so you can enhance this with additional lighting outside of the hot tub.
Key points to consider when planning your installation
- Consider the requirements of your family. Do you entertain and host family barbeques? Do you prefer to use your outdoor space for quiet activities, for example for reading or quiet meditation? The answers to these questions will help you determine the type of setting you want for your hot tub, and which Sundance model is best for you.
- Is your spa easy to get to from the house? The closer to your home, the better the experience will be for you. Consider a patio or deck just outside the home for spa installation.
- Consider your own privacy when deciding where to place your Sundance hot tub. Check the views into your garden and if you can be seen, why not consider planting some tall bushes or small tress to form a private hideaway. Sundance Spas’ SunStrong panels can add privacy and enhance the cosy atmosphere inside your spa.
- Pinpoint the sunny and shaded spots of your garden as well as wind directions. Place your Sundance where you can use it comfortably throughout the year.
- Think about your view from the spa. Is there attractive landscaping or a nice view to admire? Need to keep an eye on the children as you soak? Consider what you can (and need) to see.
Drainage
When it rains, which way does the water flow in your garden? Water should flow away from your house and other structures and it shouldn’t create puddles near your hot tub. If your favoured location can be a wet spot, you might need to invest in extra drainage and if you have an existing drainage system, make sure your spa’s drainage is connected to it.
Hot tub electrical installation
There needs to be an electrical source nearby to provide power for the pump, motor and filter system of your Sundance Spa. Electrical power from the mains of your home may also provide for your irrigation controller and other electrical needs, such as lighting. An electrician can install an extra outlet but be sure your electrician consults the Sundance Spas Owner’s Manual for your particular model before undertaking any work.
External equipment
If you are installing a spa “shell” with separate external equipment, instead of a self-contained spa with built-in equipment, the equipment (pump, motor, filter, and heater) should be out of direct view, with adequate room for maintenance.
