Malaysians love to simpan. We keep things because they’re useful, they mean something, or they’re simply too good to let go. IKEA Malaysia understands after all, that our things tell our story, and clutter is simply things that don’t have a place yet.
That belief makes up “A place for everything and everyone”, IKEA Malaysia’s message for the year ahead. It is about making room for the things that matter and for everyone who shares the home, from grandparents to the youngest in the family, without needing a bigger house. This October, IKEA is bringing it home with Sorted Lah!, an invitation to discover how much more the homes we already have can do.
It is an idea backed by what Malaysians shared in the first IKEA Home Organisation Index*, a new nationwide survey of 506 Malaysians released today. The findings show that most of us don’t need a bigger home, just a little help making the one we have work, with only 1 in 10 saying they genuinely need more space. What many homes are missing is a proper place for everything, and the signs will feel familiar to most: precious minutes lost hunting for keys and chargers, mess hurriedly hidden away before guests arrive, and much-loved keepsakes tucked into the back of a cupboard.
“Home means something different to every Malaysian family, but what we heard is clear: people want their homes to work better for everyone in them, and many simply need a little support to get there,” said Takeshi Murai, Country Retail Director of IKEA Malaysia.
“That is what ‘A place for everything and everyone’ is all about. As home furnishing experts, we know storage inside out, and good storage has nothing to do with how big your home is. We believe in space, not size, and in creating a better everyday life for many people, which is why our range has storage to fit every home, whatever its size, and every room within it. Nobody needs to give up the things they love, and getting started doesn’t have to cost much, with more than 1,000 products now permanently priced under RM10. We just want to help people find a starting point, one drawer, one corner and one room at a time.”
Our things tell our story
The things that are hardest to find a place for are often the ones closest to our hearts. Old photos, children’s artwork and heirlooms passed down the family top the list, with 40% of Malaysians naming sentimental items and keepsakes as the hardest to organise. IKEA believes you don’t have to just let them go, but to give them a home where they can be seen and enjoyed.
“The hardest things to find a place for are usually the ones we love most. Old photos, our children’s drawings, the things passed down in the family,” said Takeshi. “Nobody should feel they have to let those go. They just deserve a better spot than the back of a cupboard, somewhere you can actually see them and enjoy them.”
Room for everyone
A home is rarely organised by one person alone. Between grandparents, parents, and children, every household juggles different routines, heights and habits, and 1 in 3 Malaysians say these different needs make getting organised harder. The right system works for everyone, so keeping the home in order becomes something the whole family shares.
“Every home is shared by people with different needs and different routines,” Takeshi adds. “A good system works for all of them. That might mean hooks at a child’s height, a shelf grandma can reach without a stool, or one spot by the door where the keys always go. Small changes like these help the whole household keep things in order, so tidying up doesn’t fall on just one person.”
A place for everything, room by room
Guiding every one of these solutions is Democratic Design, IKEA’s belief that good design should look good, work well, offer quality that stands up to everyday use and be made with sustainability in mind, at a price that as many people as possible can afford:
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Kitchen – From preparing and cooking to eating and cleaning up, clever storage keeps ingredients in view and tools within reach, making space for everything meaningful in life at home to start.
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Bedroom – From socks and secrets, to wardrobe systems, drawer organisers, and even under-bed storage; bring peace of mind to the whole family with a little space for everyone’s own things.
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Living room – Shelving, cabinets and display storage keep everyday clutter out of sight while putting the things that tell your story on show, so the whole household feels at home.
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Storage across the home – From the entrance to the laundry corner, every hook and cranny can work harder, with boxes and shelving for the seasonal and festive items that are only needed once in a while.
Get Sorted Lah! in store
To help Malaysians take that first step, IKEA Damansara, Cheras, Tebrau and Batu Kawan will host the Sorted Lah! Open House every weekend from 10 October to 1 November 2026. Families and friends can team up for The Sorting Escape, a hands-on storage challenge bookable through a dedicated microsite, where every team’s score goes up on a live scoreboard and the top teams return on the final weekend to compete for the title of King of Storage. Around it, visitors can pick a record at The Listening Lounge, get ideas for a tricky corner at The Design Table, settle into The Great Book Club, or let the little ones enjoy Say Hej! and Little Designers.
After all, a better home doesn’t have to be a bigger one. When everything has a place, there’s more room for everyone.
Head over to any IKEA store in Malaysia from 10 October to 1 November 2026 to get inspired, get sorted, or simply enjoy a fun weekend out. Sorting Escape slots can be booked from 8 October 2026 at https://sorting-escape-prod.web.app. For more information, visit IKEA.my or follow IKEA Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates.
*The IKEA Home Organisation Index 2026 is the first edition of a nationwide study of how Malaysians organise and feel about their homes. It was conducted from 22 September to 27 September 2026 as an online survey of 506 Malaysian adults who make or share household purchase decisions, nationally representative by age, gender, race and region. Percentages are based on all respondents unless stated.
Also read: Sarakawians Rejoice: IKEA Kuching Is Coming Soon to Sarawak This Dec 2026
