Ikea Upgraded Its Artistic Lighting Collection
▼ Summary
– Ikea debuted at CES 2026, announcing new smart home devices including two newly smart-enabled designer lamps from its Varmblixt collection.
– The first is a redesigned “donut lamp” that now features a gentle, shifting RGB light, with colors curated by artist Sabine Marcelis.
– The second is a pendant lamp that transitions gently across the white light temperature spectrum, similar to Philips Hue’s white ambiance lights.
– Both lamps are Matter-compatible for broad platform support and include a simple, pre-paired two-button remote for basic control.
– The smart Varmblixt lamps will launch in April 2026, priced at $99.99 for the donut lamp and $149.99 for the pendant lamp.
Ikea made a significant splash at its first CES appearance, announcing a major upgrade to its artistic Varmblixt lighting collection by integrating smart home technology. The company revealed that two designer lamps, previously static decorative pieces, will now feature Matter-compatible smart controls, ensuring broad compatibility across major smart home ecosystems like Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. This strategic move blends Ikea’s signature accessible design with the growing demand for interconnected, intelligent home environments.
Upon entering the demonstration area, the updated donut lamp immediately captured attention. Once limited to a warm amber glow, it now houses an internal RGB light that cycles through a curated palette. The color transitions are deliberately slow and subtle, creating a soft ambient effect rather than a dramatic light show. While the hues may not be as intensely saturated as those from dedicated brands like Govee, the more muted approach feels intentional and better suited for creating a relaxed home atmosphere.
The second showcased item was a striking pendant lamp composed of multiple bent, tubular forms resembling fluorescent lights. This fixture focuses on tunable white light, allowing users to adjust the color temperature across a spectrum from warm to cool white. It mimics the functionality of dedicated smart white lights, such as those from Philips Hue. Similar to its donut-shaped counterpart, the pendant lamp shifts between temperatures with a gentle, gradual fade.
A key convenience for users is the inclusion of a small, pre-paired remote control. This device features two buttons and offers basic control without requiring a full smart home setup. For the pendant lamp, the remote adjusts brightness and cycles through white temperatures. For the colorful donut lamp, it dims the light or rotates through a sequence of twelve specific colors selected by collaborating designer Sabine Marcelis. This partnership highlights Ikea’s commitment to merging artistic vision with functional technology.
Looking ahead, Ikea confirmed an ongoing collaboration with Marcelis for a new collection slated for 2027, though the potential inclusion of smart features remains unspecified. Consumers won’t have to wait long for these initial smart artistic lights. The enhanced Varmblixt lamps are scheduled to launch in April. The smart donut lamp will carry a price tag of $99.99, while the tunable white pendant lamp will be available for $149.99.
(Source: Gizmodo)
