IKEA's Smart Varmblixt Donut Lamp Ships Matter-Over-Thread at $99, With 40 Color Presets

What it is

The IKEA Varmblixt Smart is a 12-inch donut-shaped LED table-or-wall lamp designed by Sabine Marcelis, re-released in 2026 with color-shifting smart-home features. The original Varmblixt launched in 2023 and became a viral design object; the smart version adds dimming, 40+ color shades via the IKEA Home Smart app, 12 preset color cycles, and Matter-over-Thread integration that works with Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa. A small two-button remote ships in the box.

Price is $99 at IKEA, confirmed on the product page and Dezeen's CES 2026 coverage.

What's interesting

Matter-over-Thread is the genuine technical story. Thread is the low-power mesh networking layer under Matter, and IKEA has historically been a Matter early adopter. The Varmblixt Smart does not require the IKEA Dirigera hub if the home already has a Thread border router (Apple TV 4K with Thread, Google Nest Hub, Amazon Echo Dot, etc.). For households committed to Matter, this lamp joins the network without a dedicated IKEA bridge.

The diffuser design is the reason to buy this specifically. Most $99 color-changing smart lamps are cheap plastic globes that look like novelty items. The Varmblixt is a designer object whose diffusion of LED light through matte glass is the actual aesthetic payoff. Gizmodo called out that the matte finish on the smart version is a deliberate change from the glossy original, specifically to make the color-changing LEDs glow softly from within.

The 12 preset color cycles are curated rather than randomized. Users can also explore 40+ individual shades via the IKEA Home Smart app for custom presets and automations. Gear Patrol reported that the cycles shift gently rather than snapping between hues.

What's missing or unverified

Brightness is 120 lumens. Tom's Guide characterised it as what you would expect from a dim bedside lamp. For mood lighting and decorative accent use this is fine; for reading or task lighting it is not the right product.

There is no motion sensor, no sunrise-alarm integration, and no circadian-friendly warm-to-cool transition as a default cycle. Those features would cost more but are absent here.

The original Varmblixt came in an orange glass version that many buyers prefer aesthetically. The smart version is white-matte only, which may not appeal to owners of the orange original.

Table-versus-wall positioning requires removing the cord and flipping the lamp; there is no auto-orientation sensor. For frequent mode changes, the connector becomes the wear point.

Who it's for

Existing IKEA Home Smart customers who want to add a sculptural accent lamp to their Matter network. Apartment dwellers looking for a designer-feel object at IKEA pricing. Bedside or console-table placement where decorative glow is the primary goal.

Not for: task lighting (get a Philips Hue Go or similar), buyers who want the original orange Varmblixt, or smart-home households committed to Zigbee-only ecosystems.

Setup and automation

Setup is straightforward: plug in the lamp, press the pair button on the small two-button remote, and either connect via the remote alone (for basic on/off/dim and color cycling) or commission to a Matter controller via the IKEA Home Smart app. Commissioning to Apple Home or Google Home via Matter takes roughly 2 minutes and does not require the IKEA Dirigera hub if a Thread border router is already on the network.

Scene integration works with HomeKit automations (sunrise/sunset color cycles), Home Assistant (via Matter over Thread), and IFTTT (via the IKEA bridge). Power draw is 5W at max brightness, which is low enough that always-on ambient-light automations do not add meaningfully to a household power bill.

Verdict

The Varmblixt Smart is the rare $99 smart lamp that earns its price through design rather than smart features alone. Sabine Marcelis's shape, the matte glass diffusion, and the Matter-over-Thread networking are all meaningful choices that justify the premium over $30 generic color-changing bulbs. Against the Philips Hue Go Portable or the Govee Portable Table Lamp 2, the Varmblixt loses on brightness and software ecosystem depth but wins on design and Matter integration. It is a decorator piece that happens to be a smart bulb. For the buyer who cares about design, that is the right trade.