Marcus Arvonen, Senior Designer at IKEA of Sweden and Malcolm Pruys, Country Retail Director of IKEA Malaysia.
As home becomes more than just a place to live, but a reflection of comfort, identity, and financial well-being, IKEA Malaysia is doubling down on affordability as its defining focus for 2025 and beyond.
During the “Malaysia’s Life at Home: Unpacked” event held on September 12, 2025, the global home furnishing leader unveiled insights from its latest IKEA Life at Home report, revealing that just over half of Malaysians (56%) currently feel positive about life at home. Comfort (83%), security (83%), and enjoyment (80%) emerged as the top emotional needs shaping local living spaces.
“Malaysia is dynamic in its home ownership, culture, and the role it plays in people’s lives,” said Malcolm Pruys, Country Retail Director of IKEA Malaysia. “In times when the cost of living escalates, urbanisation accelerates, and environmental pressures affect daily life, we want to be with Malaysians to make a better living more accessible and attainable.”
He added, “At IKEA, affordability is defined by more than price. It is about creating solutions that combine good design, long-term value, and sustainability, so that everyday essentials, special moments, and meaningful connections can be enjoyed at home by as many people as possible.”
Activities held in IKEA
Making “Everyday Better Living” More Attainable
The brand’s latest direction zeroes in on four key areas where Malaysians are investing most at home, such as cooking and eating, dining, living, and storage. Over the next 12 months, IKEA Malaysia will roll out new solutions and inspirations designed to be affordable, sustainable, and locally relevant.
Food remains at the heart of Malaysian households. The report found that 43% of Malaysians view home cooking as healthier than eating out, while 37% are consciously improving their diets and 38% are making efforts to reduce food waste.
“There is a symbiotic relationship between healthier eating and sustainability,” Pruys continued. “At IKEA, we are excited to inspire and enable more Malaysians to embed sustainable living into everyday life by making it a desirable choice that is affordable, attractive and accessible. And what better way to start than in the kitchen and dining space, where food, family and joy come together.”
A Design Approach Rooted in Local Living
Adding an international design perspective, Marcus Arvonen, Senior Designer at IKEA of Sweden and creator of the best-selling BESTÅ modular storage system, reflected on how “democratic design” connects global thinking with Malaysian lifestyles.
“Democratic design is about more than creating beautiful objects. It ensures every product is guided by the most relevant customer needs, while delivering on function, quality, sustainability, and price, as well as form,” said Arvonen. “What inspires me is how these principles connect with Malaysian life at home, where cooking, gathering, and creating meaningful spaces with family are so important. Design is universal, but it only truly succeeds when it reflects how people live locally.”
Marcus Arvonen, Senior Designer at IKEA of Sweden and Malcolm Pruys, Country Retail Director of IKEA Malaysia.
Bringing Homes to Life Through Experiences
To bring these ideas into the public sphere, IKEA Malaysia will host a month-long IKEA House Party from September 13 to October 5, 2025, across all four stores — Damansara, Cheras, Tebrau, and Batu Kawan.
The celebration transforms IKEA stores into lively community spaces filled with creative workshops, live cooking sessions, and the “Ultimate Cookoff,” where three lucky winners will receive kitchen makeovers worth RM10,000 each.
Through this campaign, IKEA reinforces its role not just as a home furnishing retailer, but as a partner in everyday life by helping Malaysians make “staying in” just as exciting, meaningful, and enriching as going out.
For more details, visit IKEA.my.
