By Aileen Anthony, Executive Editor MALAYSIA SME
Today’s homeowners are seeking homes that improve their quality of life, support their well-being, embrace sustainability and adapt to changing lifestyles. As expectations continue to evolve, businesses are also redefining their roles. from selling products to increasingly providing integrated solutions that combine design, technology and professional expertise.
MALAYSIA SME spoke to four exhibitors whose expertise spans different aspects of modern living. While each business operates within its own niche, together they demonstrate how a diverse ecosystem of specialists is collectively shaping the future of Malaysian homes.
Every Comfortable Home Begins with How It Feels
When people think about designing a home, they often focus on what they can see. Yet one of the first things people actually experience is something they hear.
Whether it is excessive echo in a living room, constant noise in a restaurant or poor acoustics during an online meeting, sound plays an important role in shaping comfort and emotional well-being. For Kenix Chua, Founder of Begins Acoustic, this understanding became the foundation of a business she never initially planned to build.
While studying audio engineering, Chua created a recording studio in her own home. Visitors to her studio became curious about the acoustic panels installed on the walls. “People started asking where they could buy the panels. That was how the business started,” she said.
Eleven years later, Begins Acoustic designs, supplies and installs decorative acoustic solutions for homes, restaurants, offices and commercial spaces. Instead of relying on conventional black acoustic foam commonly associated with recording studios, the company integrates acoustic treatment into aesthetically pleasing interior designs.
Chua believes acoustics directly influence emotional well-being. Poorly designed spaces often create unnecessary stress because excessive echoes and background noise make conversations more difficult and environments less relaxing.
“If you’re constantly in a stressful environment, it affects your emotions. When you reduce the echo, the whole ambience becomes calmer and more comfortable.”
The company’s acoustic panels are produced using recycled PET bottles and polyester fibre, reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainable materials within modern homes. During the pandemic, Begins Acoustic introduced online consultations to help homeowners improve work-from-home environments, demonstrating how the business continues to evolve alongside changing lifestyles.
Its solutions today extend beyond residential homes into restaurants, meeting rooms, sales booths and collaborative workplaces, illustrating how thoughtful acoustic design contributes to healthier and more productive environments.
If Sound Shapes Comfort, Light Shapes Experience
Creating a comfortable environment, however, extends beyond sound alone. Once acoustics have been considered, lighting becomes another powerful element that influences how people feel within a space. For Paul Cheong, Founder of Mr Bright Lighting, this understanding fundamentally transformed his business.
“When we first started in 2013, we were simply a traditional lighting shop,” he said. “After the MCO, we realised customers were no longer looking to buy lights. They were looking for lighting solutions.”
Today, Mr Bright Lighting provides professional lighting design, premium LED systems, smart lighting controls and customised lighting planning for homes, offices and commercial buildings. Cheong believes lighting remains one of the most overlooked aspects of interior design because many homeowners still view it purely as a functional necessity rather than an experience.
“When you come home after work, you don’t always want every light switched on. Sometimes you want a movie mood, sometimes a relaxation mood, and sometimes you’re entertaining guests. Lighting should adapt to how you live.”
The company designs lighting layouts that improve ambience while also considering energy efficiency and comfort. It also educates customers about Colour Rendering Index (CRI), which measures how accurately lighting reproduces colours compared to natural sunlight. “The closer the lighting is to natural sunlight, the more comfortable and natural everything looks,” Cheong explained.
Rather than encouraging expensive renovations, the company often works within existing layouts to deliver better lighting performance while helping customers manage costs. Beyond residential projects, its expertise also extends to offices, retail outlets and factories where lighting directly influences employee productivity, customer experience and workplace safety.
Good Design Begins Long Before Renovation Starts
Even with a clear vision for better lighting, acoustics and interior design, homeowners still face one of the biggest challenges in the renovation journey: finding the right professionals.
That is where HOMEs X Qanvast ID Pavilion at the show has carved out its role within the industry. Founded in Singapore in 2013 and operating in Malaysia since 2016, the platform connects homeowners with suitable interior designers based on their specific renovation needs. “We connect homeowners with interior designers who best match their requirements,” said Cheong Jo Yee, Business Development Manager.
However, Qanvast positions itself as much more than a digital directory. After receiving an enquiry, the team verifies the homeowner’s requirements before recommending four or five suitable interior design firms.
“We also want to educate homeowners because many people are completely new to renovation. They don’t know how budgeting works or what the renovation process involves.”
The platform complements its matching services with renovation articles, design inspiration, practical home tips and project showcases that help homeowners make informed decisions before work even begins.
One of its strongest differentiators is the Qanvast Trust Programme. “If homeowners engage one of our recommended interior designers, they may claim a prescribed amount, terms apply, in the event of firm insolvency,” Cheong explained.
Beyond its online platform, Qanvast also organises consultation events where homeowners can meet multiple interior designers in a single session, compare ideas and receive professional advice based on their floor plans.
While residential projects remain its primary focus, the platform also supports commercial renovations for SMEs seeking offices, retail outlets and other business spaces. By combining technology, education and trusted partnerships, Qanvast is helping raise confidence and professionalism throughout Malaysia’s renovation ecosystem.
Designing Homes That Continue Serving Families
Malaysia’s ageing population is encouraging homeowners to think about accessibility much earlier than previous generations, and families are incorporating long-term planning into today’s renovation decisions.
Nicholas Poovan, Head of Sales at Cibes Lift Malaysia shared that this changing mindset is driving growing demand for residential lifts.
“Many families don’t want their parents to move downstairs simply because climbing the stairs becomes difficult,” he said.
Unlike conventional lifts that require deep structural pits, Cibes’ screw-driven lift technology requires only a shallow installation depth, making it practical for existing homes without major structural modifications.
“The biggest challenge when retrofitting a lift has always been the pit requirement. Our technology only requires around two inches, or we can simply install a ramp.”
Originally developed in Sweden, Cibes has expanded its product offering through customised manufacturing in China, giving homeowners greater flexibility in colours, finishes and touchscreen controls while retaining Swedish engineering standards.
Beyond homes, the company also provides accessible lift solutions for cinemas, commercial buildings and public facilities where universal accessibility has become increasingly important.
“We’re seeing more homeowners thinking ahead. They want homes that can adapt together with their families through different stages of life.”
That philosophy reflects the broader direction of today’s home living industry, where comfort is no longer measured solely by appearance but also by how well a home continues serving its occupants over time.
More Than Products, An Industry Creating Better Living
Today’s homes are no longer defined simply by the products they contain. They are increasingly shaped by how well different specialists collaborate to create environments that are healthier, more sustainable, more comfortable and better prepared for the future.
HOMEs brings that transformation together under one roof, demonstrating that the future of home living lies not in individual innovations, but in how diverse expertise comes together to create better places for people to live, work and thrive.
