How to Make Overnight Guests Feel at Home in Your Palm Springs Home
One of the pleasures of owning a home in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley is having friends and family come visit. Between the sunshine, mountain views, pools, restaurants, architecture and year-round desert lifestyle, it doesn’t take much convincing to get guests to make the trip.
Whether you own a full-time residence, a seasonal home or a Palm Springs vacation property, creating a comfortable place for overnight guests doesn’t require a dedicated guest suite. A few thoughtful touches can make even a home office, den or sofa bed feel welcoming.
Here are some easy ways to prepare your Palm Springs home for overnight guests.
Make Room for Their Things
Start by giving guests a convenient place to put their luggage. A luggage rack, bench or sturdy chair works perfectly and keeps suitcases off the floor.
For a weekend stay, a few empty hangers and a hook for a jacket or sweater may be all they need. For longer visits, consider clearing a drawer or a section of the closet so guests can unpack and settle in.
This can be particularly useful in many Palm Springs condos, mid-century modern homes and desert vacation homes, where bedrooms and storage may be intentionally compact.
If your guests are sleeping on a sofa bed or air mattress, give them a basket where they can keep toiletries, chargers and other personal items during the day.
Beside the bed, create enough space for glasses, a phone, a book and a glass of water. A small side table is ideal, but a chair
borrowed from another room works just as well.
If the bed needs to be folded away each morning, designate a basket, cabinet or shelf where pillows and bedding can be stored together until bedtime.
Think Through the First Night
Visitors aren’t familiar with your home, so take a few minutes to explain the things you normally do without thinking.
Show guests how to lock the doors, operate the alarm, find the bathroom and get drinking water. If you have pets, point out pet gates or doors that need to remain closed.
Many Palm Springs homes also have unique architectural features, from sunken living rooms and terrazzo steps to indoor-outdoor transitions, so make sure guests know about any unexpected steps or changes in floor level.
Leave a spare phone charger near the bed if you have one, and make sure there is an easily accessible outlet.
A bedside lamp that can be turned off without getting out of bed is another small luxury guests appreciate.
And don't forget one of the most important details of modern hospitality: the Wi-Fi password. Leave it on a card on the nightstand or desk so guests don’t have to ask.
Stock the Guest Bathroom
If guests are sharing a bathroom, set out a clean towel and washcloth for each person.
Clear a little counter space for toiletries and make sure extra toilet paper is easy to find.
Keeping a few basics on hand can also save a late-night trip to the store. Consider providing toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, soap or body wash, sunscreen, moisturizer, and bottled or filtered water.
Sunscreen and moisturizer are especially thoughtful additions for visitors who may not be accustomed to the dry Palm Springs desert climate.
Help Guests Stay Comfortable in the Desert
Temperature is especially important when hosting guests in the Coachella Valley.
One person may think 76 degrees is perfectly comfortable while another wants the air conditioning set considerably lower.
Leave an extra blanket at the foot of the bed and consider providing a portable fan so guests have some flexibility without changing the thermostat for the entire house.
If your home has individual room controls, ceiling fans or mini-split systems, show guests how they work.
Morning sunlight is another consideration in the desert. Those spectacular Palm Springs sunrises can also mean a very bright bedroom early in the morning.
If a room isn't normally used for sleeping, check that the blinds or curtains provide enough coverage. Blackout curtains or shades can make a big difference.
Keep the path between the bedroom and bathroom clear and consider placing a small night-light in the hallway.
Make Palm Springs Mornings Easy
There’s nothing quite like a quiet desert morning with coffee on the patio.
Before heading to bed, show guests where you keep coffee, tea, mugs and breakfast food, and encourage them to help themselves when they wake up.
If your coffee machine requires advanced engineering skills before 8 a.m., give them a quick demonstration.
Keep simple breakfast options available such as fruit, yogurt, granola, muffins or bread for toast.
And don't forget plenty of water. Visitors sometimes underestimate how quickly they can become dehydrated in the desert, particularly during warmer months.
If you're planning breakfast together, let everyone know approximately when you'll be eating so early risers and late sleepers can plan accordingly.
Give Guests Time to Explore Palm Springs
Visitors often come to Palm Springs because there is so much to see and do.
Give guests an idea of your plans but also build in some downtime. After spending the morning together, they may enjoy relaxing by the pool, reading or heading out on their own.
You can also suggest some of your favorite Palm Springs restaurants, coffee shops, hiking areas, architectural neighborhoods and local attractions.
Depending on where your home is located, guests might enjoy exploring Downtown Palm Springs, Uptown Design District, Tahquitz River Estates, Deepwell Estates, Indian Canyons or one of the area's many celebrated mid-century modern neighborhoods.
A few restaurant menus, magazines or local guides on the coffee table can help guests discover the Coachella Valley at their own pace.
Create a Place to Gather
One of the nicest parts of hosting friends and family is having a comfortable place where everyone naturally gathers.
It might be around the kitchen island, beside the pool, underneath a covered patio or around the fire pit once the desert sun goes down.
Indoors, leave out a puzzle, cards, books or magazines. Apartment Therapy describes this idea as creating a “home base,” a shared location where people can casually gather throughout their visit.
In Palm Springs, of course, that home base is often outdoors.
A shaded patio, comfortable seating and a few drinks can quickly become everyone's favorite spot in the house.
The Palm Springs Lifestyle Is Made for Entertaining
Homes in Palm Springs and throughout the Coachella Valley have long been designed around entertaining, relaxation and indoor-outdoor living. From classic Alexander and Meiselman homes to contemporary residences, condos and seasonal retreats, our desert lifestyle makes it easy to welcome friends and family.
Sometimes the smallest details, a bedside charger, fresh towels, cold water or knowing where the coffee is, are what make guests feel truly at home.
And if all those visiting friends start saying, “Maybe we should get a place in Palm Springs too,” we can help with that.
The Paul Kaplan Group specializes in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley real estate, including mid-century modern homes, architectural properties, condos, vacation homes, second homes and full-time desert residences.
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley? Contact The Paul Kaplan Group to learn more about desert neighborhoods, available homes and the Palm Springs lifestyle.
