As a luxury real estate advisor and lifelong daughter of the desert, I help discerning buyers and visionary sellers navigate the Coachella Valley with clarity, confidence, and intention — rooted in legacy, guided by intention, and aligned with soul.
Whether you're curating your next chapter or preparing to pass the torch, your journey deserves strategy that’s as elevated as your vision.
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5 Home Maintenance Tips for Desert Living :: December Edition
Welcome, welcome, welcome to December. Can you believe how quickly this year has moved? In the desert, winter feels subtle at first. The mornings turn crisp, evenings call for soft blankets and warm drinks, and the wind likes to make surprise visits. It is the season of cozy living, thoughtful preparation, and creating comfort inside as the temperature dips outside.
In this month’s guide, I am sharing five simple and intentional ways to winter ready your desert home. Think of these steps as your opportunity to fortify your sanctuary, elevate your comfort, and maintain a peaceful and efficient home as we enter this cool and reflective stretch of the year.
December is not dramatic in the desert. We rarely see snow or long freezes, but we do feel the chill settling into our nights, and we welcome gatherings, soft lighting, and slower moments. This is a beautiful time to prepare your spaces for warmth, safety, and seasonal calm.
As we welcome the final month of 2025, it is wild to look back and notice how quickly this year has moved. December arrives with a slower breath, cooler nights, deeper gatherings, and the invitation to reflect on how far we have come. And if you are living here in the Coachella Valley or the High Desert, this season also brings a unique set of home care needs that help keep your sacred sanctuary running smoothly.
I am Sabrina Riccio, your Soulistic Realtor, Shamanic Brand Strategist for Sovereign Leaders, and long time desert local who has lived through enough windstorms, cold snaps, and snowy Joshua Tree mornings to know that winter in the desert is its own beautiful and unpredictable experience. Whether you are preparing your home for visitors, cozy nights in, or simply smoother living throughout the season, these five December home maintenance tips will help you protect your space, elevate your energy, and set the stage for a vibrant year ahead.
Desert winters may be short, yet nights can turn crisp and winds can run high. December is your month to cozy up your interiors, protect against chill, and keep seasonal décor as safe as it is festive.
❂1. Weatherproof Your Home for Desert Chills❂
The desert may be known for sunshine and summer heat, but winter here hits differently. We experience sharp drops in temperature, icy winds, and cold nights that creep in through the smallest gaps.
If you notice light peeking through windows or feel a draft moving across the floor, it is time to:
◆Replace or reseal weatherstripping around doors and windows
◆Refresh exterior caulking to keep out wind and moisture
◆Add draft stoppers, thermal curtains, or door snakes for added insulation
These simple updates help keep warm air inside and rising electric bills under control. When you care for your home with intention, you protect both your comfort and your energy.
❂2. Inspect Holiday Lights and Secure Outdoor Decor❂
Holiday lights and decor bring so much joy to desert evenings, especially when the streets and neighborhoods start to glow. In wind prone areas, taking a few extra precautions helps keep everything beautiful and safe.
Before you plug anything in, take a moment to look over your setup and make sure it is ready for the season:
◆Check light strands, extension cords, and timers for frayed wires, cracked casings, or signs of wear from past seasons.
◆Use outdoor rated cords and accessories only, especially near plants, soil, or water features.
◆Secure decor with zip ties, gutter clips, stakes, or sandbags so it stays put when the desert winds pick up.
◆Keep cords lifted away from standing water and walkways to prevent tripping hazards and electrical issues.
A careful setup keeps your display shining bright and gives you peace of mind while you enjoy the season.
❂3. Deep Clean Floors and Air Vents❂
As we spend more time inside during December, the quality of the air and the cleanliness of our floors start to matter even more. Desert dust, holiday decor from storage, and extra foot traffic can all build up quickly.
A simple deep clean helps reset the energy and keeps your home feeling clear, fresh, and welcoming:
◆Vacuum and mop high traffic areas such as entryways, kitchens, hallways, and main living spaces.
◆Use microfiber cloths and damp cleaning methods to capture fine desert dust instead of spreading it around.
◆Remove vent covers, wash them with warm soapy water, and let them dry fully before replacing.
◆Replace HVAC filters to support better airflow, reduce allergens, and improve indoor air quality.
A clean, intentional environment supports deeper rest, clearer breathing, and a more grounded experience of the season.
❂4. Clean and Check Your Fireplace System❂
Whether your fireplace is purely for ambiance or a true source of warmth, December is the time to make sure it is safe, clean, and ready for regular use.
Give some focused attention to the type of system you have:
◆For wood burning fireplaces, clear out ash regularly and store cooled ash in a metal container with a secure lid.
◆Schedule a professional chimney sweep to remove soot, buildup, and blockages from the flue.
◆For gas assisted fireplaces, test the pilot light, check gas connections, and confirm smooth flue operation.
A well cared for fireplace creates a warm, inviting, and hazard free backdrop for stockings, gatherings, and quiet winter evenings.
❂5. Prune Your Garden for Winter Dormancy❂
December is a gentle invitation for your garden to rest. Even in the desert, plants benefit from a seasonal pause that prepares them for strong growth in spring.
A little mindful pruning now can support healthier plants later:
◆Trim back overgrown shrubs, vines, and branches that look damaged or weak.
◆Remove broken or crossing branches on native trees and plants to reduce storm damage and improve structure.
◆Avoid pruning frost sensitive plants such as bougainvillea, hibiscus, and many succulents until early spring.
Gentle, seasonal care keeps your landscape resilient and ready to flourish when the warmer days return.
❂A Moment of Reflection❂
Beyond the checklists and maintenance tasks, December is a meaningful time to reconnect with your home. This is the space that has held your memories, milestones, and evolution throughout the year.
Take a moment to honor:
◆How much you have grown
◆The stories your home has supported
◆The intentions you are carrying into 2026
Your home is more than a structure. It is your sanctuary, your grounding point, and an essential part of your legacy.
◆Looking Ahead to 2026◆
My prayer for you is that the coming year brings abundance, vitality, joy, love, and the spaciousness to receive everything you have been working toward.
Your home should support that future, and I am here to help you protect it, elevate it, and align it with the life you are building. Whether you are thinking of buying, selling, or simply optimizing your space, I am honored to guide you through each step of the journey.
If you have not already done so, be sure to download your free monthly Home Maintenance Guide created for desert homeowners who want to stay intentional and organized all year long.
Thank you for being here, thank you for watching, and thank you for inviting me into your journey home.
Here is to a cozy December and a peaceful, prosperous, and soulful year ahead.
And if you’re considering buying, selling, or investing in the Palm Springs/Joshua Tree area, I’d love to help you find a home that supports your lifestyle and future legacy. Your home is more than just a space… it’s an expression of you. When you’re ready for the next chapter, let’s connect and make it happen. I’d love to guide you through my signature S.O.U.L. Experience and guide you to your next chapter.
In the meantime, let me know if you already implement any of these monthly tasks in the comments below! Remember, we’re on our way into season here in the desert. Enjoy the journey. Which one are you crossing off this weekend? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this content if you found it helpful. Wishing you a beautiful, easy transition into the fall season, I’ll see you in the next post!
Let’s just say it, you’re here to live with intention and impact, and your home (or the homes you help others find) is a powerful part of that legacy. In today’s world, real estate isn’t just about buying and selling. It’s about cultivating sacred spaces that reflect who you are, what you value, and how you serve.
Thanks to the blessing of modern technology and aligned strategy, you have the opportunity to build a life and business that’s spacious, soulful, and rooted in purpose. Whether you’re nurturing your next move or guiding others in theirs, you deserve systems that support your vision and success that’s defined on your terms. That is sovereignty.
My passion for legacy-building, sovereign embodiment, and soulful systems has evolved into something tangible, helping sovereign leaders, realtors, and desert dwellers alike to create lives of meaning through real estate, branding, and soulful strategy.
Best believe you already carry the medicine. I’m here to help you ground it into your home, your business, and your life.
Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, my passion to catalyze sovereign leaders to build lives and brands rooted in purpose, alignment, and strategy led me to bridge the worlds of real estate and soulful entrepreneurship.
Because your medicine deserves to be lived, built, and unleashed with intention, whether it’s launching your business, refining your brand, or unlocking the future of your legacy, as a seasoned Shamanic Brand Strategist and luxury Realtor, I’m here to guide you through your next leap of faith.
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