IKEA Malaysia today announced that IKEA Kuching will open in December 2026, marking the next chapter of IKEA in East Malaysia and bringing the IKEA store experience closer to the many people in Sarawak.
IKEA Kuching will be IKEA Malaysia’s first small-format store and its first store in East Malaysia. The new store runs on IKEA’s existing presence in the region through e-commerce and fulfilment, giving customers the chance to experience IKEA home furnishing inspiration, products, and expertise physically and closer to home.
“We have heard from our customers in Sarawak, and we are excited that IKEA Kuching will soon be ready to welcome them,” said Malcolm Pruys, Country Retail Director, IKEA Malaysia. “Our ambition has always been to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA Kuching brings us another step closer to doing that by making the IKEA experience more accessible and relevant to how people here live at home.”
Different IKEA store format, same IKEA experience
Unlike the four larger IKEA stores currently operating in Malaysia, IKEA Kuching introduces a small-format store, designed to bring the IKEA experience together in a more compact and convenient setting.
Customers can explore inspiring room settings, home furnishing solutions and selected products to take home on the day, with access to a wider range of IKEA products available to purchase.
The format is designed to make it easy for customers to move between inspiration and solutions, whether they are looking for a small everyday improvement, planning a room or furnishing an entire home.
Inspired by life at home in Sarawak
Before the opening, IKEA spent time learning how people in Kuching live at home, including visits to local households to better understand their everyday needs, challenges and aspirations.
The findings showed that homes in Kuching are strongly shaped by family, togetherness and hospitality. Living and dining spaces often support multiple activities, from everyday family time to welcoming extended family and friends, while organisation and storage remain common challenges across both landed and high-rise homes.
“People in Kuching already know IKEA, but we want them to walk into IKEA Kuching and also recognise something of their own life at home,” Malcolm Pruys added. “Whether it is making room for family to gather, finding a better way to organise the things we live with every day, or making one space work harder, we want to offer solutions that feel useful, achievable and relevant.”
Making IKEA more accessible
The upcoming opening of IKEA Kuching is part of IKEA Malaysia’s continued commitment to making well-designed and functional home furnishing accessible to more people.
As IKEA Kuching gets ready to welcome customers, IKEA Malaysia will also begin getting in touch with the local community to build its team of co-workers in Kuching. The focus will be on creating opportunities for local talent to grow with IKEA and be part of bringing the IKEA experience to life in Sarawak.
IKEA Kuching is expected to open to the public in December 2026, with more details on the store, opening date and what customers can look forward to in the months ahead.
For more information, visit their website.
Also read: Three Cheers For Three Decades: IKEA Malaysia Celebrates 30 Years of Shaping Life at Home, Together
