IKEA's donut-shaped Varmblixt smart lamp shines candy-colored light anywhere in your home, though the app experience isn't quite as sweet

by · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

This super stylish lamp caused a stir when it debuted at the CES 2026 technology show, and it looks just as striking in real life. The curated color palette is a perfect match for its smooth curves, and it's a piece of cake to control with the included remote. The IKEA Home Smart app adds another layer of functionality, but connecting can be tricky and requires a pricey smart hub, so you may prefer to skip the app and avoid the hassle.

Pros

  • +Eye-catching, unusual shape
  • +Gives smooth indirect lighting
  • +Can be used with remote or app
  • +Can be used on a table or wall
  • +Reasonably priced

Cons

  • -Issues connecting to IKEA app
  • -Smart home functionality requires separate hub

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IKEA Varmblixt LED lamp: two-minute review

IKEA's color-shifting Varmblixt smart lamp, with its donut-shaped frosted glass diffuser, makes a striking focal point. It's easy to operate using the switch included in the box, and it casts a soft glow whether you use it on a table or mounted on a wall.

The Varmblixt was designed by Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis and comes with a preset palette of pastel hues designed to complement its curves. Pressing the button on its remote once will turn it on, and double-pressing will switch to the next shade in the sequence.

This works well straight out of the box (and handing it to visitors so they can change the mood lighting during dinner is fun), but the Varmblixt really comes into its own when used with the IKEA Home Smart mobile app. This lets you choose from a much larger range of colors, adjust the lamp's brightness, and link it to other IKEA smart devices such as motion sensors and scroll wheel switches.

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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)

You can even incorporate it into a mix-and-match smart home setup using the Matter protocol. To do this, you'll need IKEA's Dirigera smart hub, so be prepared for that extra expense if you want to use the Varmblixt's smart capabilities.

Connecting the Varmblixt to the Home Smart app wasn't quite as straightforward as it should have been and involved some trial and error. You should be able to link any IKEA smart home device by scanning the QR code on the item or its packaging, but the app failed to connect to the Varmblixt (or the Bilresa switches I later used to control it).

I eventually found that I could get around the problem by waiting for the connection failure notification to appear in the app, then selecting the option to connect without Bluetooth. The lamp and switches were then linked to the app without a hitch.

(Image credit: Future)

Once your devices are linked, IKEA's app is extremely simple to use and is a good introduction to smart home tech. Unlike the Philips Hue app, which gives you granular control over every switch and light in your home, linking a device to IKEA Home Smart works immediately, with a limited but useful set of options.

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