IKEA Malaysia focusing on affordability and quality

BATU KAWAN: IKEA Malaysia is prioritising affordable, quality home furnishing and storage solutions under its financial year 2027 strategy, helping Malaysians maximise existing spaces without costly renovations.

Its country retail director Takeshi Murai said the focus on storage and organisation stemmed from extensive customer research and home visits, which revealed a strong desire among Malaysians to organise their belongings more effectively.

The strategy is anchored in IKEA's vision of creating a better everyday life for the many people, with affordability, functionality and quality remaining central to its approach.

"Low price and cheap are different. We want to be affordable. We want to be low price, which means we design our products and solutions with quality," Murai said.

At the core of IKEA Malaysia's philosophy is Democratic Design, a product development framework built on the belief that good home furnishing should be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.

Designed to balance form and function with affordability, the framework evaluates every product against five interconnected pillars: aesthetic design, practical functionality, everyday quality, sustainability for people and planet, and a low price point.

By integrating all five elements into every product — from simple storage boxes to complete wardrobe systems — IKEA ensures that lower prices do not come at the expense of durability or ethical production.

Rather than lowering retail prices by cutting manufacturing standards or using inferior materials, IKEA leverages its global supply chain, volume sales, and smart production processes to keep items budget-friendly.

Murai said this approach draws a clear line between being "cheap" and offering true value for money.

"By engineering efficiency directly into flat-pack packaging and material choices, products are built to withstand the rigors of daily life while remaining financially accessible to budget-conscious households facing rising cost-of-living pressures.

"In practical everyday living spaces, Democratic Design manifests in simple, thoughtful solutions tailored to real household habits," he added.

"Whether it is kitchen organisers that keep tools within reach, child-height entryway hooks, or display cabinets that protect sentimental family keepsakes while hiding daily clutter, each piece is designed to improve daily routines.

"We will never go for cheap. That's not who we are. We will go for low price, value for money. That's what we are."

Under the strategy, storage and organisation take centre stage as IKEA Malaysia seeks to help households make better use of the space they already have, rather than assuming they need bigger homes.

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The approach is brought to life through the message "A place for everything and everyone", reflecting the retailer's aim to provide practical solutions for different household needs, lifestyles and living arrangements.

Murai said the focus was informed by research, including IKEA Malaysia's first Home Organisation Index 2026, based on a nationwide survey of 506 Malaysians who make or share household purchasing decisions.

The index recorded an average home organisation score of 66 out of 100.

While only 9.5 per cent of respondents said they needed a bigger home, 85 per cent believed they could make better use of their existing space, and 37 per cent said they had sufficient storage but needed to organise it better.

"We have done hundreds of home visits and studied what customers really want in Malaysia. We discovered that many customers have a need and desire to improve how they organise their things at home," Murai said.

"We share the space, but we don't share the pace anymore."

Murai highlighted how IKEA's range caters to people living alone, families with children and multigenerational households.

He added that the retailer did not expect customers to embrace minimalism or discard belongings simply to achieve a more organised home.

Instead, IKEA aims to help Malaysians find practical ways to store the things they value, including sentimental keepsakes and personal collections.

Affordability remains another major pillar of IKEA Malaysia's financial year 2027 direction amid rising living costs, with the retailer reviewing its processes and supply chain to keep prices accessible.

Murai said IKEA was investing in lower prices across products that Malaysian customers valued, while maintaining quality, sustainability and responsible working conditions throughout its supply chain.

The retailer currently offers more than 1,200 products priced below RM10 and over 300

below RM5, with further price reductions on selected popular items.

Marking its 30th anniversary in Malaysia, IKEA also found that some of its popular products were cheaper today than they had been three decades ago.

Beyond pricing, the company is working to make its products and services more accessible through improvements to its online platform, customer pick-up services and online interior design offerings.

Murai said IKEA was also expanding its physical presence, with a store in Kuching scheduled to open in December, bringing the brand closer to customers in East Malaysia.

The affordability and storage priorities are being brought together through the Sorted Lah! campaign, which invites Malaysians to discover practical organisation ideas through interactive experiences at IKEA stores.

Weekend open houses will run from Oct 10 to Nov 1 at IKEA Damansara, Cheras, Tebrau and Batu Kawan, with activities designed to help visitors explore storage solutions and rethink how they use their homes.

One of the highlights is The Sorting Escape. Other experiences include The Design Table, The Listening Lounge and The Great Book Club, offering visitors ideas for tackling everyday clutter and making their homes work better.

Murai said the campaign reflected IKEA's belief that improving a home did not require major renovations or substantial spending.

He said small, affordable changes could make a meaningful difference to everyday living, reinforcing IKEA's commitment to helping Malaysians create functional, welcoming homes that suit their needs and budgets.