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10 Tips On How To Create a Palm Springs-Inspired Home
It’s the home style that’s filling up your Instagram feed right now. You guessed it, Palm Springs. While the Palm Springs style has been on the rise for quite some time now, we’ve definitely noticed an increase in the amount of Palm Springs-inspired homes being designed as of late. A style known for its relaxed, effortless, and understated accents, Palm Springs is on-trend right now and we’re here to tell you how you can create this look in your home. From the iconic breezeblocks to the inclusion of luscious indoor and outdoor plants, we’ve compiled our top 10 tips on how to create a Palm Springs-inspired home.
Updated for 2024.
Image credit: @the_whitepalms
1. Incorporate Breezeblocks
This is a must for creating a Palm Springs inspired home. Breezeblocks are a great way to create different sections and nooks in your home and are often used outdoors to provide protection from the sun. Allowing ventilation and breathability, breezeblocks are the perfect material for if you live in a hot climate and are looking for a way to provide shelter without compromising on the look. Often seen being used as a screen in pool areas, breezeblocks come in a wide range of patterns and are a fun way to bring the Palm Springs style to your outdoor, or indoor space. One of our favourite brands that supply breezeblocks are Hardware Concepts. You can view their range of breezeblocks here.
Image credit: @the_whitepalms
Image credit: Villa Styling
2. A Statement Pool
If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere where you can fit a pool in your backyard, creating a pool that is a statement and a feature is another classic element of the Palm Springs style. If you close your eyes and think of the classic Palm Springs aesthetic, we’re sure you’ll conjure up images of a glistening, aqua blue pool with palm trees and umbrellas nearby. As Palm Springs quite literally is a desert resort city in California and is usually very hot in the Summer, perhaps this is why pools feature so heavily in this style.
If you're needing some inspiration for your statement pool area, check out our mood board library to see our community's latest projects.
Image credit: Nat Spada
Image credit: Nat Spada, Noa by The Beach
Image credit: Villa Styling
3. Include Lots of Greenery Throughout Your Home
A signature element of a Palm Springs home is the way greenery is incorporated through indoor plants (and outdoor plants but we’ll get to that a bit later). Think oversized indoor plants in large pots, tall cactuses, and succulents. When styling and arranging your indoor plants, a little designer's tip is to include plants that are of different heights and place them in clusters. This creates a sense of visual interest and is often seen in Palm Springs homes. Indoor plants not only look great but they also have a lot of incredible health benefits, such as boosting your mood, reducing fatigue, and lowering stress and anxiety.
Plus, over recent years biophilic design has become a much-loved trend within interior design. Indoor plants are the perfect way of achieving an indoor-outdoor connection, which is what Palm Springs interior design style is all out.
Learn more about why Palm Springs will forever be an iconic interior design style.
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
4. Crisp and Sharp Architectural Lines
Known for its coastal meets contemporary look, Palm Springs style homes heavily feature sharp and bold architectural lines. Paying a nod to its mid-century heritage, you’ll often see straight lines used in the exterior of Palm Springs homes, such as a straight roofline, large rectangle windows, and flat roof overhangs that provide protection from the heat. Crisp lines also feature in the slimline bricks often used in homes of this style.
The rise of contemporary minimalism also really helped the Palm Springs trend over the past few years. The clean, sleek appeal was sought after thanks to its combined approach to functional architecture that didn't compromise on aesthetics.
Image credit: Nat Spada, Noa by The Beach
Image credit: Villa Styling
5. Inclusion of Palm Trees
It wouldn’t be called Palm Springs if you didn’t feature a couple of palm trees now, would it? Fan palms are the native palm tree in California, Palm Springs. Hence why this tree is so prominent in this style. Planting a few palm trees in your front and backyard will definitely help you achieve this style. Although palm trees are best known to thrive in tropical places, there are many different types of palm trees you can choose from depending on the climate where you live.
Explore our entire range of exterior products with something for every style.
Image credit: @bella.vista.living
Image credit: @the_whitepalms
6. Incorporate Pops of Bright, Pastel Colours
While the base colour palette of a Palm Springs home is usually crisp white and natural materials, colour is often brought in through small pops of colour in soft furnishings, décor, and smaller architectural elements. This can be through cushions, feature umbrellas and bright-coloured styling accessories. Geometric patterns are huge in the interior design world in 2024 and are also a favourite within Palm Springs homes. You might often find these sleek patterns in wall coverings, rugs, and artwork, contributing to the style’s distinctive character.
Visualise how your dream Palm Springs home will look using our mood board tool.
Image credit: Raydan Blair
Image credit: Villa Styling
7. Strong Focus on Natural Materials
Another signature look of the Palm Springs home style is the way they heavily feature natural materials throughout. Stone feature walls are often used, both internally and externally, and polished concrete, terrazzo or large format tiles are often the choice of material for the flooring. Anything that is cool underfoot is often chosen. Concrete and timber also feature heavily in this style, often seen through the furniture or feature walls.
Image credit: Nat Spada, AMA Studio Interiors
8. Make Space for Outdoor Entertaining
Creating space for outdoor entertaining is key when it comes to designing a Palm Springs home. Typically Palm Springs homes are often single story. If that’s the case, large sliding doors are often installed so that the flow between the outdoor and indoor can be seamless. When designing your Palm Springs inspired home, think about how your outdoor can tie in with your interior and make sure there is enough space outdoors for a large outdoor dining table or some sort of communal seating. Again, if you’re lucky enough to have a pool, a lot of outdoor entertaining is usually centered around the pool deck. If you have a double-story home, Palm Springs homes usually feature a large balcony that can be used for outdoor entertaining.
Image credit: @the_whitepalms
Image credit: Unsplash
9. Low Maintenance Gardens
If you’re a plant lover but don’t love the idea of needing to constantly maintain and care for your garden, then you’ll love this aspect of the Palm Springs home. Palm Spring gardens are generally very low maintenance and focus on hearty, carefree, and durable plants when it comes to landscape design. Popular outdoor plants when trying to achieve a Palm Springs vibe are cactuses, banana trees, succulents, yucca rostrata, and a thornless crown of thorns if you’d like a pop of colour.
Image credit: Unsplash
10. Install a Feature Front Door
And last but not least, it wouldn’t be a Palm Springs home without a feature front door. If you’re feeling a bit more playful you could opt for the quirky block colour front door, like the one below. Or if neutral is more you’re style, you could choose a wide, glass, or timber front door that is minimal but punchy in design.
Image credit: @the_whitepalms
Image credit: Unsplash
So there you have it - your ultimate guide to creating a Palm Springs-inspired home. Below we've also rounded up some of our most-loved Palm Springs mood boards, designed by a few of the designers on Style Sourcebook. If you're feeling inspired, why not design and create your very own Palm Springs mood board here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Palm Springs style home?
A Palm Springs style home typically refers to a Mid-Century Modern architectural design that became popular in the mid-20th century, particularly in the desert city of Palm Springs, California. These homes often feature flat or low-pitched roofs, large windows, open floor plans, and a seamless integration with the surrounding landscape.
What is Palm Springs interior style?
The Palm Springs interior style is an extension of the Mid-Century Modern design, characterised by clean lines, minimalistic furnishings, and a focus on functionality. Common elements include the use of natural materials like wood and stone, vibrant colors, geometric patterns, and an overall sense of openness.
What era is Palm Springs known for?
Palm Springs is particularly known for its mid-20th-century era, roughly spanning the 1930s to the 1960s. This period is associated with the rise of the modernist movement in architecture and design, and it's reflected in the city's iconic mid-century modern homes and buildings.
What is Palm Springs architecture called?
Palm Springs is known for its mid-century modern architecture. This style emphasises simplicity, functionality, and a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Architects like Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Donald Wexler played significant roles in shaping the mid-century modern aesthetic in Palm Springs.
Why do houses in Palm Springs have flat roofs?
Flat roofs are a characteristic feature of Mid-Century Modern architecture, including many homes in Palm Springs. The design choice of flat roofs is both aesthetic and practical. Aesthetically, it contributes to the clean, horizontal lines of the architecture. Practically, it reflects the modernist principle of form following function, and it also aligns with the climate of the desert region.
How do you make a Palm Springs garden?
Creating a Palm Springs-style garden involves incorporating elements that complement the desert environment. Use drought-tolerant plants such as succulents, cacti, and native desert flora. Emphasise clean lines and geometric shapes in your landscaping, and consider using rocks, gravel, or sand as ground cover. Outdoor living spaces with modern furnishings and possibly a pool can contribute to the overall Palm Springs aesthetic. Additionally, palm trees and other desert-friendly plants can enhance the authenticity of the garden.
