Outfitting a Guest House or Airbnb in Accra: Checklist
Guests judge a guest house or Airbnb in the first ten minutes. Is the room cool? Is the bed comfortable? Does the TV work, and is there somewhere cold for a bottle of water? Get these right and you collect good reviews and repeat bookings. Get them wrong and no amount of nice decoration will save you. This checklist walks through what to buy, in what order, and how to avoid overspending in the first months.
Start with the bed
Sleep quality drives reviews more than anything else, so spend your first serious money on mattresses. Patmos stocks the Sensopedic range, and each type feels different:
- Firm and Extra Firm suit guests who prefer a solid feel. The Sensopedic Firm Mattress is GH₵ 3,899.
- Plush is softer and works well for leisure guests. The Sensopedic Plush Mattress is GH₵ 4,499.
- Pillowtop, Boxtop and Eurotop add an extra comfort layer on top and suit rooms you want to market as premium.
If you are unsure, use a middle-of-the-road comfort level for standard rooms and one or two upgraded rooms for guests who pay more. See the full range on our mattresses page. Remember to budget for mattress protectors and spare bedding, since you will wash them often. Cheap, thin protectors wear out quickly in a busy guest house, so buy enough for a full rotation.
Cooling: air conditioners
In Accra, a room without air conditioning is hard to sell to many guests. Match the unit to the room size. Smaller rooms can work with a 1.0HP or 1.5HP unit, while larger suites or open living areas may need 2.0HP or above. Our air conditioner range includes Sigma and Novo split units, for example the Sigma 1.0HP Split Air Conditioner at GH₵ 3,000 and the Novo 1.5HP Split Air Conditioner at GH₵ 3,600.
Ask us for guidance on sizing before buying. A unit that is too small runs constantly and never cools the room properly. Also plan for installation and a reliable power supply, and talk to your electrician about the electrical load across the whole building, since several air conditioners running together draw a lot.
TVs, fridges and laundry
A TV in each room is expected, but it does not need to be huge. A 32 or 43 inch smart TV is usually enough for a bedroom, and a larger screen suits a shared lounge. Smart TVs let guests log into their own streaming accounts, which many travellers appreciate. The Sigma 43 inch Smart TV (Android 14) is GH₵ 2,600, and we can show you other sizes on request.
For self-catering apartments, give guests a fridge. A compact table top fridge may be enough for single rooms, while a full-size fridge suits a unit with a kitchen. Add a microwave and perhaps an air fryer for guests who cook. Ask us for current fridge options and sizes.
Laundry is the part many owners underestimate. Sheets and towels need washing between guests, and sending them out costs money and time. A top-load washing machine of 8kg or larger is practical for a guest house, and a twin tub is a lower-cost option if you have staff to move clothes between tubs. Plan drying space too, since humidity and rainy-season weather can slow things down.
Lighting and small details
Good lighting makes rooms feel clean and welcoming. Use warm, comfortable lighting in bedrooms, brighter light in bathrooms and kitchens, and outdoor lighting at entrances and walkways, which also helps guest safety. Our bulbs category is being stocked, so ask on WhatsApp what is available.
Do not forget the small items that guests notice: a working kettle, a mirror, hooks, bedside lamps, curtains that block morning light, and clear signs for Wi-Fi and house rules. These cost little and often show up in reviews.
Phase your purchases
You do not have to buy everything on day one. A sensible order is:
- Mattresses and bedding for every room.
- Air conditioners for the rooms you will rent first.
- TVs and lighting.
- Fridges and kitchen items.
- Washing machine and extras as bookings grow.
Open with the minimum number of well-equipped rooms, collect reviews, then expand as income arrives. A few excellent rooms beat many half-equipped ones. Prices and monthly figures can change, so confirm before you buy. If you want to spread the cost, look at our 4-month hire purchase options and ask whether they suit your situation.
Buying for many rooms.
If you are fitting out five, ten or twenty rooms, ask for a quotation instead of buying item by item. Patmos handles corporate and institutional procurement, and you can send us your list of quantities, preferred brands and timeline through our institutions page. A single quotation makes budgeting easier and keeps everything coordinated, from mattresses to air conditioners to delivery.
Ready to buy?
Send us your room count, room sizes and budget, and we will suggest a sensible shopping list and confirm current prices. Chat with Patmos Varieties on WhatsApp or call 055 991 5778. Visit us at Okaishie, Accra.