IKEA announced smart upgrades to its much-talked-about Varmblixt donut lamp at CES 2026, bringing app control, smooth color transitions, and smart home integration to one of its most famous lighting designs.
Originally launched as a statement ambient light, Varmblixt became widely popular for its glowing donut-shaped design and soft visual presence in modern interiors.
The updated Varmblixt was once again created in collaboration with Sabine Marcelis, with IKEA focusing on enhancing the lamp’s atmosphere rather than dramatically changing its shape.
IKEA says the new model is designed to feel familiar to fans of the original lamp, while adding practical smart features that make it a natural fit for connected homes.
Smooth color transitions and smart home support
When switched on, Smart Varmblixt automatically cycles through 12 preset colors using gradual transitions rather than sudden changes, creating what IKEA describes as a softer, more immersive lighting experience.
The IKEA Home Smart app allows users to choose from over 40 color options, adjust brightness levels, and control dimming remotely without relying solely on the included physical remote control.
Marcelis says the lamp’s defining feature is its smooth color changes, allowing the light to subtly change the mood of a space, rather than drawing attention to the change itself.
The Smart Varmblixt is available as both a table lamp and a wall-mounted light, and IKEA has confirmed that the donut lamp will cost $99.
As part of the same collaboration, IKEA is launching a smart version of its Varmblixt pendant light for $149. It focuses on gentle transitions between tones of white light rather than full color changes.
Both lights are built on the Matter smart home standard, so they can be paired with a wide range of platforms and easily integrated into your existing smart home setup.
IKEA says the update reflects its broader commitment to smart home products, following the announcement of more than 20 new connected devices late last year.
Smart Varmblixt lights are expected to launch in April 2026 and become more widely available across IKEA’s global retail channels.
