Have you ever dreamed of sleeping under the stars, completely immersed in nature yet warm and protected? That’s exactly what Pam and Ian created with their clear Hypedome – a stunning outdoor bedroom deep in the wilderness of British Columbia, Canada. From northern lights to snowstorms (and even curious bears!), their dome offers the perfect escape in every season.
Q: Your dome looks stunning - surrounded by snow, forest, and even the northern lights! What inspired you to create this unique space?
Pam & Ian: Normally, we take a tropical vacation every year. But this year, our youngest daughter graduated, and she lives about a 12-hour drive away. We used our vacation time to visit her instead, so we decided to create a staycation spot at home. That’s why we bought the dome.
Q: That sounds like a wonderful way to bring nature closer. And how does the dome fit into your lifestyle?
Pam: Ian and I are both outdoorsy, but while I love sleeping under the stars, he wasn’t as comfortable being fully exposed to the elements. I used to sleep under the stars on my truck’s snowmobile deck on nights when the northern lights were amazing. I kept telling Ian, “You have to try this!”
Ian: But we live in the countryside, with bears, wild animals, and unpredictable weather. I just wasn’t comfortable sleeping fully exposed to the elements. So, we found a compromise: the bedroom dome. It gave us a sheltered way to enjoy the outdoors. The first night we set it up, we brought out an air mattress and slept in it right away. Since then, we’ve spent countless nights out there. It’s so peaceful, and we’ve made it really cozy.
Q: Has the dome become part of your daily life?
Pam & Ian: Indeed! Our house is tiny, just 500 square feet – a little country cabin – so the dome has become an extension of our home. It’s our outdoor bedroom, and we’ve slept there, I’d say, a fifth of our nights. We invested in a great mattress, so it’s just as comfortable as our bed inside. It’s actually quieter than our house because we have pets that wake us up indoors. In the dome – well, we call it the bubble – it’s just peaceful.
Q: It sounds like you have a remote, secluded property. Can you tell me more about your surroundings?
Ian: We live about a 30-minute drive from the nearest city, which only has around 15,000 people – so it’s not very big. We don’t have any close neighbors, no streetlights, no artificial light sources at all. Our property is about 160 acres, which we share with Pam’s parents. They live on one end, and we live on the other.
Pam: It’s mostly covered with trees, but last summer, my dad cleared an area near a small pond at the back of the property. The ground there is flat and level, so it turned out to be the perfect spot for the dome.
Q: It must feel like a true getaway. Have you set up any amenities around the dome?
Pam & Ian: Yes! We actually relocated a 100-year-old outhouse that was built locally – it was already on our property, and we moved it near the bubble so we’d have a bathroom close by.
The dome isn’t at the farthest edge of our land because we wanted to run power to it, but it’s still far enough that we can’t see our house from there, and vice versa. Being next to the pond makes it feel even more peaceful and secluded. It’s really quite charming.
Q: Your location sounds pretty wild! Do you face any extreme winter weather challenges?
Pam & Ian: Definitely! We get 100+ km/h winds, sudden temperature swings from -40°C to +5°C (-40°F to 41°F) overnight, and heavy snowfalls – sometimes up to 2-3 feet in one night. That’s why we cleared trees around the bubble to avoid any risk from falling branches.
But inside the dome, you wouldn’t even know it’s windy. It blocks out the sound and doesn’t shake or feel drafty. Even in the middle of winter, it feels like a protected little escape.
Q: And how do you keep your bedroom dome warm through those freezing nights?
Pam & Ian: We chose the Hypedome S Clear and customized it with a locally sourced wood-burning stove. To make it even cozier, we also use a fan heater and a heated blanket, which help keep the dome warm on colder nights.
On a few nights when it dropped to -40°C (-40°F), we stayed in the house, but most winter nights, we sleep comfortably in the dome. The heater we picked also works as a cooling fan, so we’re looking forward to seeing how sleeping in the dome feels in summer. We don’t expect any issues using it year-round.
Northern Lights over British Columbia seen from the Hypedome bedroom.
Q: With so much wildlife around, do animals ever come close to the dome?
Pam & Ian: Oh, definitely. Right now, we have a lot of moose around, and their tracks are often just feet from the dome. In spring and summer, bears will be around too. Coyotes and deer also pass through, and we often see their tracks in the snow. Being out in the dome, surrounded by untouched nature, really makes you feel connected to the wilderness.
One of the reasons we chose Hypedome is because we’re confident it can handle a curious bear. Unlike fabric tents, which bears can easily destroy, the dome is solid. If a bear leans against it, it won’t collapse or tear, and there’s nothing inside to attract them, so they shouldn’t try to get in. That peace of mind was a big factor in our decision.
Q: When searching for your outdoor bedroom, did you consider other structures before choosing a dome?
Pam & Ian: At first, we looked at cheaper clear tent options, but durability and clarity were really important to us. We weren’t very familiar with backyard domes before, but as we researched, Hypedome stood out right away. It offered more advanced features than other manufacturers, and the detailed reviews and videos confirmed its quality.
We quickly realized that if we wanted a true outdoor bedroom, we needed to invest in something high-quality – not a flimsy $200 tent. Hypedome was simply the most durable, long-term solution, and we always prefer to choose the best option rather than settle for something inferior.
Q: I’m so happy you went with Hypedome! How did the assembly process go for you? Did you run into any challenges?
Pam: No, it was super easy. The instructions were clear, and Ian and I did most of the setup ourselves. My mom helped too – she was great at peeling off the edges of the protective plastic, which made the process much faster. We only used hand tools to avoid over-tightening anything, and for us, the estimated assembly time of about 8 hours for two to three people was spot on.
Q: If you could go back in time, would you do it all over again?
Pam & Ian: Absolutely! We’d recommend it to anyone. It’s been amazing, and we use it very often. We imagine we’ll spend even more time out there in the summer when the weather is warmer.
Q: That’s great to hear! Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Pam & Ian: It’s been an incredible experience. Sleeping in the dome is surreal – on the first night, it felt almost strange because it looked like we were completely outside. Since our bed is raised off the ground, it really feels like you’re lying under the open sky.
People ask us if you notice the seams or screws, but when you’re out there, gazing at the stars, northern lights, or sunsets, nothing is obstructing the view. It’s like being outside while staying fully protected from the elements. We’ve spent nights in the dome during rain, strong winds, and snowstorms, and it was amazing to fall asleep feeling completely protected from it all. It’s an amazing experience.
Pam and Ian’s bedroom dome has completely transformed the way they experience nature – falling asleep under the northern lights, waking up to peaceful wilderness, and staying cozy through rain, wind, and snow. It’s the perfect blend of adventure and comfort.
Want to see how others are using their Hypedomes? Explore more Hypedome Stories and get inspired for your own outdoor escape!