They are generally low rise buildings with two or three storey. On the ground floor there are shops which open up to a five foot way and upstairs it is office or residential accommodation. Shop houses generally have the same design as shop offices, a row of buildings which are linked together.

Usually the shop is a coffee shop, barber, auto workshop or sundry shop. Residential accommodation is meant to accommodate one or more families or used as a dormitory for workers. In Malaysia, some shop houses are usually used for family businesses where the shop is used for businesses and the upper floors for residential purposes.

The position of the shop and residential space depends on the number of floors of the shop house: A single storey shop house tends to include residential space behind the shop, while residential spaces in shop houses of two or more storey are typically located above the shop. This type of shop houses still can be seen in many location in Kuala Lumpur, along Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Chow Kit and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman are few to name here.