To furnish a shortlet apartment, start with what guests use every hour: good beds, a working kitchen, a clean bathroom, steady power, water and Wi-Fi. Then add the small touches that make a stay feel easy. Decoration comes last.
This room-by-room checklist is for Nigerian hosts setting up a furnished short-term rental. It lists what to buy and why, with no prices, because costs change fast. Tick each item off as you go. Budgeting first? Use our shortlet startup cost checklist alongside it.
Start with sleep
Guests forgive a plain living room. They do not forgive a bad night’s sleep. Spend your first money here.
- A good mattress on a solid bed frame. A medium-firm mattress suits a wide range of sleepers.
- A mattress protector on every bed. It keeps the mattress clean for years.
- Two sets of bed linen per bed, in white or light colours that are easy to check and bleach. Three sets if guests come back to back.
- Two pillows per guest, plus one spare in the wardrobe.
- Blackout curtains. Lagos and Abuja mornings are bright, and guests often arrive tired.
- Air conditioning or a strong fan, with the remote in a fixed place.
- Bedside lamps and a socket near each bed, so guests can charge phones.
- A wardrobe with hangers and a mirror.
In a two- or three-bedroom home, make every bedroom good, not just the main one. Groups notice when one room is much worse.
Kitchen
Longer-stay guests, families and business travellers cook. A kitchen that works can be the reason they choose you.
- Fridge, big enough for a family’s shopping.
- Cooker, gas or electric, with a working valve and a cylinder stored safely.
- Microwave and kettle. Note in your house manual if the inverter cannot run them.
- Pots and pans: one large pot, one small pot and a frying pan, at least.
- Plates, bowls, cups and glasses for twice the number of guests.
- Cutlery and cooking tools: a sharp knife, a chopping board, a spoon for stirring, a ladle, a tin opener and a bottle opener.
- Drinking water: a dispenser, or bottled water on arrival.
- Cleaning basics: washing-up liquid, a sponge, a tea towel and bin bags.
- A starter kit: salt, sugar, cooking oil, tea and coffee.
Bathroom
A clean, bright bathroom with good water pressure is one of the first things guests judge. Keep it simple and spotless.
- A water heater that works on your backup power, or tell guests when it does not.
- A good shower head, and a pump if the pressure is low.
- Two towels per guest, plus hand towels and a bath mat. White is easiest to keep clean.
- Toilet roll: several spares where guests can find them.
- Soap, shower gel and shampoo for the first days.
- A mirror, a shelf and hooks for toiletries and towels.
- A small bin with a lid, and a plunger out of sight.
Living area and a place to work
Some shortlet guests work during their stay. A proper table and chair can win you business travellers and longer stays.
- A comfortable sofa with washable covers.
- A dining table and chairs for everyone staying.
- A desk and a proper chair, with a socket and a lamp nearby.
- A TV with streaming apps or satellite TV, and clear instructions.
- Good lighting: a ceiling light and at least one lamp.
- Curtains that close fully for privacy.
- A few simple decorations: plants, a rug, one or two pictures. Keep it calm, not crowded.
Avoid glass tables and fragile ornaments if you welcome families. They break, and they can hurt children.
Power, water and internet
In Nigeria, power, water and internet are often the first things guests ask about. Get them right before you buy a single cushion.
Power
- A backup you can rely on: an inverter with batteries, solar, a generator, or a mix. The inverter or solar keeps lights, fans and Wi-Fi on quietly. The generator runs the air conditioning.
- A safe place for the generator, outside and well away from windows and doors. Its fumes can kill.
- Surge protectors for the TV, fridge and air conditioners, to protect them from power spikes.
- A prepaid meter, and a clear plan for who buys units.
- A written guide to what the inverter can and cannot run, such as an iron or kettle.
Water
- A borehole or a tank, with a pump that works on backup power.
- A water treatment system, or a clear note that tap water is not for drinking.
- A spare supply plan for when the tank runs dry.
Internet
- Fast Wi-Fi that reaches every room. Test it from the bedroom and the desk.
- A backup, such as a second router or a mobile data device.
- The network name and password written in your welcome note.
On Cabans, add the Wi-Fi network name, the Wi-Fi password and the door code on the “Stay information” page for each property. Guests see the network name once their booking is confirmed, and the password and door code only after you approve their check-in. They are never emailed. How to add your stay information and codes shows each box.
Small things guests notice
These cost little, but they are what guests remember. They turn a furnished flat into a place people recommend.
- A welcome note with the Wi-Fi, the check-out time and how to reach you.
- A house manual: how the power works, the generator hours, the water heater and the rubbish.
- Drinking water and a small snack on arrival.
- An iron and ironing board, and a drying rack.
- Phone chargers by the bed, and an extension lead.
- A first-aid kit, a torch, and insect repellent.
- A smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher, and a carbon monoxide alarm if you use a generator. Show guests where they are.
- Spare keys, kept safely with you or your caretaker, never under the mat.
- A hair dryer and a full-length mirror.
People also search for a “staycation essentials list”. From the guest’s side, that means a home where they can arrive with only a bag. If your checklist covers the list above, you are there.
You can also sell extras to guests during their stay, such as bottled water, breakfast, toiletries or an airport pick-up. On Cabans, set them up under “Stay Extras”. Only checked-in guests at the properties you choose can see and order them, and you deliver them to the stay. See how to sell extras to shortlet guests.
Keeping it looking new
Furnishing is not a one-off job. Shortlets get far more use than a normal home, so plan for upkeep from the start:
- Keep a spares cupboard with bulbs, batteries for remotes, fuses, toilet rolls, soap and a spare set of linen. Lock it if guests should not use it.
- Check the inventory after every stay, so missing items are noticed straight away.
- Deep clean every month: under beds, behind the fridge, the oven and the air conditioner filters.
- Service the generator and air conditioners on a regular schedule, not only when they break.
- Replace linen and towels as soon as they look tired or stained. Guests notice.
- Touch up paint in busy spots, such as the hallway and around light switches.
Choose furniture that is easy to clean and repair. Washable sofa covers, dark rugs and simple, solid pieces last longer than delicate designer items.
Before your first guest: a final walk-through
- Sleep one night in the home yourself. You will find the squeaky bed and the missing hook.
- Test every switch, socket, tap, remote and lock.
- Run the home on backup power for an evening.
- Check the Wi-Fi speed from every room.
- Take bright daylight photos of every room for your listing.
- Write down every item in each room. The list helps with cleaning, restocking and the caution deposit.
Then write your house rules and arrival steps: copy our house rules template and follow the cleaning checklist between guests. Good photos matter as much as good furniture, so read shortlet listing tips too.
Want ideas from homes that are already hosting? Browse furnished shortlets in Lekki or shortlets across Nigeria. When your home is ready, list your short let and take bookings online.
Frequently asked questions
What does a shortlet apartment need?
Good beds with spare linen, a working kitchen, a clean bathroom with towels, a living area with a table and a place to work, steady power, clean water and fast Wi-Fi. Then add the small things: a welcome note, a first-aid kit and clear instructions.
What should I buy first when furnishing a shortlet?
Spend first on what guests notice most: the mattress and bedding, the power backup and the Wi-Fi. A comfortable bed and steady power matter more to guests than decorations.
How many sets of bed linen and towels do I need?
At least two full sets per bed, and two towels per guest: one set in use and one being washed. Three sets is safer if you have guests back to back.
Should a shortlet have a generator or an inverter?
Ideally both, or solar with a battery. The inverter keeps lights, fans and Wi-Fi on quietly, and the generator runs the air conditioning. Tell guests which appliances the inverter cannot carry, and keep the generator well away from windows and doors.
What small things make guests happy?
Drinking water on arrival, a welcome note with the Wi-Fi details, spare toilet rolls, a phone charger by the bed, an iron and board, and a clear house manual. Small, thoughtful touches often matter more than expensive furniture.
Do I need a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher?
They are strongly advised. Put a smoke alarm in the hallway and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, and show guests where they are. If you run a generator, a carbon monoxide alarm adds protection.
Where do I give guests the Wi-Fi password on Cabans?
On the Stay information page for your property. Guests see the Wi-Fi network name once their booking is confirmed, and the password and door code only after you approve their check-in. They are never emailed.
Related guides
Shortlet startup costs · Power, water and internet · How to start a shortlet business · Listing tips that get bookings · Cleaning checklist · 12 mistakes new hosts make · Turn your flat into a shortlet
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