IKEA is giving one of its most recognisable lighting designs a smart upgrade.
Revealed at CES 2026, the Varmblixt ‘doughnut lamp’ now comes with built-in smart features, adding colour-changing lighting, dimming and app control to a product that already went viral for its sculptural glow.
Designed in collaboration with Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis, the updated Varmblixt stays true to the original’s soft, ambient aesthetic while introducing smarter functionality. Available as both a wall light and a table lamp, the new version will cost $99 and is set to launch in April 2026.
When switched on, the lamp automatically cycles through 12 preset colours, shifting gently rather than snapping between shades. Pair it with the IKEA Home Smart app and you unlock more control, including over 40 colour options, adjustable brightness and custom dimming. According to Marcelis, the focus has been on how the light moves, not just what colour it lands on.
“What makes this lamp unique is that switching between colours is not a sudden change, but a very smooth journey,” she explains, describing transitions designed to subtly transform a space rather than dominate it.
The doughnut lamp isn’t the only product getting the smart treatment. IKEA also confirmed a smart version of the Varmblixt pendant light, priced at $149, which focuses on nuanced white light transitions. Like the doughnut, it can be controlled via the included remote or integrated into a wider smart home setup.
Importantly, the entire Varmblixt smart range is built on the Matter standard, making it compatible with a wide range of smart home platforms. That should make it easier to slot into existing ecosystems without locking users into IKEA-only control.
The launch follows IKEA’s announcement of 21 new smart home devices back in November, signalling a broader push beyond furniture and into connected living. With the Varmblixt, IKEA isn’t reinventing its design icon — it’s making it more flexible, more connected and, arguably, more future-proof.
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