It is no secret that I am all the time on the hunt for dependable, inexpensive good house gear, which frequently means turning to Ikea every time I want a brand new distant or sensor for my house. Ikea’s low value is actually a significant component, however I additionally recognize the good selection and choice to regulate every thing domestically with out an web connection.
So, I jumped on the probability to cease by Ikea’s cozy show suite on the Venetian throughout CES 2026. Since that is the corporate’s first foray into CES, I believe choosing a non-public suite slightly than a showy sales space on the primary present flooring was a good selection to emphasise the comfortable vibes (and comfortable costs) of its newest expertise.
Learn extra:Â Better of CES 2026: 22 Winners Awarded by CNET Group
Whereas Ikea introduced many of those merchandise final November — together with good house sensors, good lighting and Bluetooth audio system — the house furnishings firm additionally shocked me with updates to the gorgeous Varmblixt collection of lamps and a $10 Bluetooth speaker that is not half dangerous. Here is every thing the model had on show, with a couple of highlights that caught my consideration.
Varmblixt enters the Matter equation
You may place the Varmblixt donut lamp on a shelf or mount it on the wall — I like the sci-fi vibe you get when stacking them.
Essentially the most placing parts of Ikea’s CES show are the up to date Varmblixt donut and pendant lamps. Initially debuting in 2023 by means of a collaboration with Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis, these newest Varmblixt variations at the moment are appropriate with the broader Ikea Residence Good app and Matter ecosystem.
Whereas the primary iterations of the Varmblixt donut lamp boasted a hard and fast colour palette, the Varmblixt good donut lamp’s Matter capabilities help an automated colour cycle of 12 preset colours proper out of the field utilizing the included Bilresa distant management. You may even broaden it to 40 colours and entry dimming controls by linking it with Ikea’s Dirigera good house hub.
Throughout my go to, I did not assume to strive the distant with the good donut lamp to see if it solely cycles by means of a preset colour sample or should you can pause it on a particular colour. My Ikea contact confirmed you can manually cycle by means of the colours to search out your favourite. You do not want a Dirigera hub for this operate, solely the included distant. (The identical applies to the good pendant mild.)
I like the three-curved mild bars of the Varmblixt good pendant mild, which create a comfortable environment that will be nice over a kitchen desk or as a modernist chandelier in a excessive atrium.
The Varmblixt good pendant mild additionally options an interesting design. Nevertheless, it limits its colour palette to shades of white, so you may snuggle up with a mellow, comfortable, heat white or lock in your focus with cool daylight — and every thing in between.
Ikea not often stands nonetheless, and has already hinted at further good lighting merchandise on the horizon in 2027, together with extra collaborations with Marcelis. Maybe we’ll see the remainder of the Varmblixt collection receiving Matter compatibility and even some new designs?
A set of Matter-enabled gear for below $15
When you can hyperlink Ikea remotes and bulbs and not using a hub, most Ikea good house units require a $110 Dirigera good hub to work — or unlock superior controls like scheduling and automation.
Ikea introduced its Matter-compatible good house lineup on the finish of 2025, however my go to to the model’s CES exhibit was my first time seeing many of those merchandise in motion. (I have been utilizing the Klippbok water-leak sensor, Timmerflotte temperature and humidity sensor, Myggbett door and window sensor since Nov. 2025.)
The fast standout was the Alpstuga air high quality sensor, which displays carbon dioxide, particulate matter, temperature and humidity. You may test the standing of your air anytime on the built-in show or within the Ikea Residence Good app.
Personally, I like the choice to make use of Alpstuga as a digital clock — I’ve a ton of clocks round my house to assist with the inevitable time-blindness of ADHD.
I additionally recognize that the brand new Myggspray movement sensor is weatherproof with an IP67 score. That is enormous as a result of outside movement detectors are nonetheless comparatively uncommon in comparison with indoor items — and way more costly. The earlier Ikea Vallhorn movement sensor had some weatherproofing — a comparatively weak IP44 score — but it surely’s good to have a bit extra safety in inclement climate.
Whereas the costs are largely corresponding to the earlier lineup of Zigbee-based items, most of the sensors are extra inexpensive than their predecessors, which have been already among the many greatest values for good house gear:
- Bilresa distant management, twin button: $6 (in comparison with the $6 Rodret and $9 Somrig)
- Bilresa distant management, scroll wheel: $10
- Myggspray movement sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $9 Vallhorn)
- Myggbett door and window sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $10 Parasoll)
- Klippbok water leakage sensor: $8 (in comparison with the $9 Badring)
- Timmerflotte temperature and humidity sensor: $10
- Alpstuga air high quality sensor: $30 (in comparison with the $42 Vindstryka)
The above merchandise can be found now. Ikea additionally has a number of new good plugs and good mild bulbs on deck for availability in April 2026:
- Grillplats good plug: $8
- Tofsmygga outside good plug: $15
- Kajplats good mild bulbs: $6 to $14 (contains numerous colour and brightness choices for traditional E26 sockets, E12 candelabra sockets and GU10 observe lighting)
- Numerous combo packs with Kajplats bulbs and a Bilresa distant management: $10 to $24
I stay up for placing a lot of Ikea’s newest good house merchandise by means of their paces this yr. Nonetheless, I ought to observe that the easy nature of most good sensors means there’s not often a lot to say past noting their affordability and reliability.
Samsung SmartThings now helps Ikea’s newest good house merchandise
Whereas it is a on condition that two Matter-compatible good house techniques ought to be interoperable, having a extra formal partnership makes the method quite a bit smoother for everybody.
One other announcement to return out of CES is Ikea’s new partnership with Samsung SmartThings. One of many fruits of stronger SmartThings help is the power so as to add Ikea merchandise on to a SmartThings hub, which generally expands performance with out requiring workarounds.
For instance, I exploit a lot of Ikea’s discontinued Tradfri remotes in my SmartThings system, however they operate otherwise than within the Ikea Residence Good app and sometimes require a customized third-party driver to work effectively. Getting them working is not tough for a veteran good house nerd, however I am all for having a transparent setup course of that is a lot simpler for the typical particular person.
In keeping with Samsung’s weblog put up, this Ikea replace remains to be rolling out — particularly, Bilesa scroll wheel distant help. Nevertheless, my SmartThings system nonetheless has bother detecting new Matter units on the Ikea hub, regardless of the method working independently for each techniques utilizing a Myggspray movement sensor. I think that these minor compatibility points shall be resolved because the rollout progresses.
Ikea’s newest Bluetooth audio system
The colours on the limited-edition Solskydd Teklan audio system are particularly eye-catching, and I like you can take away the bottom for wall mounting.Â
Bluetooth audio system aren’t strictly good house merchandise, however I wished to say Ikea’s new Solskydd, Kulglass and Kallsup audio system. All three speaker designs characteristic collaborations with Ola Wihlborg, together with limited-edition designs on the Solskydd and Kulglass, created by Swedish colorist Tekla Evelina Severin (Tekla).
The Solskydd speaker is available in three sizes: 8 inches ($80), 11 inches ($100) and 18 inches ($140). Notably, the 8-inch measurement is moveable with a built-in battery, whereas the 2 bigger sizes require an influence twine for operation.
Whereas the audio high quality appeared good throughout my time with the audio system, I might want to listen to them in isolation earlier than making any definitive statements. My favourite factor of the Solskydd audio system is the wall-mounting choice, which provides them only a bit extra flexibility than different Bluetooth audio system I’ve used. The distinctive designs additionally appear to work effectively for people who need audio system that do not distract from a room’s inside design.
Lastly, Ikea confirmed off the brand new $10 Kallsup moveable speaker, a colourful dice in regards to the measurement of an orange — I imply, if oranges have been cubes.
I actually like the intense inexperienced colour choice, and my demo unit produces surprisingly nice audio high quality for a $10 speaker. For comparability, I examined an inexpensive $8 speaker from 5 Under, which carried out a lot worse at most quantity. That mentioned, you should not anticipate audiophile high quality, significantly when it comes to bass, however the midtones and treble sound excellent.
Apparently, you may hyperlink a number of Kallsup audio system collectively. Sara Ottosson, senior product developer for Ikea, mentioned the workforce examined this operate with as much as 100 audio system, however hinted at presumably including greater than that. I am skeptical in regards to the practicality of operating 100 Kallsup audio system directly, however even having 4 or 5 linked units might change the sport for a small indoor social gathering. (It is not waterproof just like the $16 Vappeby, which launched in 2023.)
Though the Solskydd and Kulglass audio system can be found now, you will have to attend till April for the Kallsup.