Sorry but I cannot imagine any sauna being big enough for a bedroom. Can you please post a to scale floor plan and I sure hope all your guests are short.

The sauna is currently 8x8, it’s a custom built one from the 70s- we’re stealing some square footage from the change room beside it (house has an indoor pool) but we can’t go any wider than the 8 feet

Do anything you can to raise the ceiling- 6-8 is the minimum by code so less than that will be a red flag at resale. I would do recessed lights to keep the room clean...

Doubt that it would be to code for a sleep space.

No to the cave. Older people don't like to get up from low beds. How tall is your family? If you're expecting to house people over 6', this may not work. Pay attention to the lintel over doors. If it's too low and someone bashes their head going to the bathroom at night, it willbe a fail.

You need 7 feet 6 inches to pass code.

The house is owned by the family business and has no ”value” as it is on a large parcel of land with a quarry on it, so resale value doesn’t have any impact. Ontario needs 6’10” bedroom height for code - I’m not super worried about code issues though, we have no neighbours and the house likely won’t ever be sold. Luckily tallest expected guest at the moment is 5’11”

If it's already there and people are only going to be using it occasionally and you can provide adequate means of egress as a safety issue, I would just get the maximum ceiling height that you could reasonably attain and whatever it is it is. It's not like this is being built from scratch, and you aren't trying to rent it as an Air Bnb or anything.

If you family does not want to sleep in there for a few nights on occasion, let them go to a hotel. Or maybe some family you would give an existing bedroom and you could sleep in there during their visit.

This "It. Is. Not. Ideal. So. You. Must. DO. NOTHING. With. It." Mentality gets awfully tedious.

I think you are asking for validation for something you are already doing. Go ahead its your house and your guests. fitting a queen bed in there will pretty much fill the space for sure and at leasy you are adding a window . Sure hope all the cedar is being removed though .

This "It. Is. Not. Ideal. So. You. Must. DO. NOTHING. With. It." Mentality gets awfully tedious.

Agree 100%. Sometimes you have to make the best of what you have.

The OP is now informed of the issues and limits, has evaluated them, and decided to proceed.

My recommendation would be:

1. Make it as light as possible. North-facing windows never get direct sunlight. Does it have a 2nd exterior wall that could house an additional window?

2. Provide all needed amenities in compact/efficient ways. If they have somewhere to put their suitcase, hang their clothes, spread out their toiletries, charge their phone, etc. the size won't make as much of a difference. I stayed in a hotel in SFO last summer that had tiny rooms but amazingly efficiently sized/located desk, outlets, bed, etc. I admired their ingenuity in fitting it all in, and didn't feel cramped at all.

As weedyacres said but it doesn't have to be light and bright. It sounds like it will only be used for sleeping and not for spending a lot of time. Dark and cozy would also be acceptable.

You likely have more ceiling space than you realize. There was a false belief in the U.S. for decades that a sauna ceiling should be low (some people still believe this) so people would lower an 8' ceiling to 7' or less falsely thinking it'd make for a better sauna. There's a good chance that you've space above the sauna.

Is there a bathroom nearby?

A guest room 8' wide is too small for all but a young child.

8' is 96". A queen bed is 60" wide. That means on either side of the bed, you would only have 18". Save your money and put your guests up in a hotel. It would be cheaper.

Our fifth wheel bedroom was 8 ft wide by 8 ft long, the ceiling was less than 5 ft. The queen bed was centered in the room with the foot toward the door. It had two very small nightstands/closets on each side. We stayed many nights in it for 22 years.

I vote light and bright.

FWIW, I have stayed in many bedrooms around the world, in people's homes and hotels, that were smaller than 8'x8'. Pod hotels are often 2mx2m (80"x80"). It's tight. Larger might be nicer. But they work quite well.

18" is usually adequate to get in and out of bed and have a small nightstand unless you have mobility issues. That dimension is pretty close to what many of the antique houses around me have. You wouldn't build it new, but it's usable.

It will be fine. Do a queen with some wall mounted shelves on each side ( or push the bed to one side ). Then put in a small dresser or even a lower table to put luggage on.

I usually go for a darker more moody room but I think with the ceilings I would go for light.

Good luck!

I really like two really twin beds fwith a table in the middle instead of a queen bed.

Thanks for all the advice! We are pretty rural, there is no real opportunity for family to stay at a nearby hotel (closest one is over 30 mins away) so we are dealing with limited options - we’re just trying make the best of a not ideal situation and all of your suggestions are appreciated! Fingers crossed for more headroom than expected!!

My husband is 6’3” and is very comfortable in our camper with one inch of head clearance. I think the room sounds fun! I’d make it cave-like.

Also, only a jerk would complain about staying in a family member’s small room.

Tear out the sauna to the studs. Then post photos and a scale drawing of the space. In your situation, I would make sleeping quarters. You have plenty of room for a bed or beds.

I vote for walls and ceiling painted same shade of pale yellow. Those of us who live in 18th century houses with dormers dont think the room too small or low ceilinged for guests over the age of eight. Think youll be surprised what can actually fit in the room and function well especially since it sounds like the walls are all same height.