IKEA has announced a smart upgrade to its viral Varmblixt doughnut lamp at CES 2026, bringing app control, smooth colour transitions, and smart home integration to one of its most recognisable lighting designs.
Originally launched as a statement ambient light, the Varmblixt has gained widespread popularity for its glowing doughnut-shaped design and soft visual presence in modern interiors.
The updated Varmblixt is once again created in collaboration with Sabine Marcelis, with IKEA focusing on enhancing the lamp’s atmospheric qualities rather than dramatically changing its form.
IKEA says the new model is designed to feel familiar to fans of the original lamp while adding practical smart features that fit naturally into connected homes.
Smooth colour transitions and smart home support
When switched on, the smart Varmblixt automatically cycles through twelve preset colours using gradual transitions rather than abrupt changes, creating what IKEA describes as a softer and more immersive lighting experience.
Using the IKEA Home Smart app, users can choose from more than forty colour options, adjust brightness levels, and control dimming remotely without relying solely on the included physical remote.
Marcelis says the defining feature of the lamp is how it moves through colours smoothly, allowing light to subtly transform the mood of a space rather than drawing attention to the transition itself.
The smart Varmblixt will be available as both a table lamp and a wall-mounted light, with IKEA confirming a price of $99 for the doughnut lamp.
As part of the same collaboration, IKEA is also launching a smart version of its Varmblixt pendant light, priced at $149, that focuses on gentle transitions between white light tones rather than full-colour changes.
Both lights are built on the Matter smart home standard, allowing them to pair with a wide range of platforms and integrate easily into existing smart home setups.
IKEA says the update reflects a broader push into smart home products, following the announcement of more than twenty new connected devices late last year.
The smart Varmblixt lights are scheduled to launch in April 2026, with wider availability expected across IKEA’s global retail channels.
