Ikea has always had a knack for making home life simpler. From flat-pack furniture to self-serve cafeterias, the Swedish retailer has built its reputation on affordability and accessibility. Now, the company is applying the same philosophy to technology with a major relaunch of its smart home range.

Starting in January, Ikea will release more than 20 new devices designed to work seamlessly with Matter, the universal smart home standard.

These will include smart lights, sensors, plugs, and remotes built on Thread, a wireless protocol that allows devices to talk to each other directly. The goal is straightforward: make smart home tech as easy to use as a light switch and as affordable as a lamp.

That may sound ambitious, but Ikea believes the timing is right. And if these new products live up to the promise, they could help transform the smart home from a niche hobby into something millions of households adopt without a second thought.

The big question is whether Ikea can really pull it off, and that’s where the story gets interesting. Ready to find out how Ikea plans to make the smart home finally feel simple? Let’s dive in.

Why Ikea is betting big on smart homes

IKEA logo displayed on the IKEA store
Source: jipen/Depositphotos

The smart home market has been buzzing for over a decade, yet it’s still confusing for most people.

Devices often need specific hubs, apps, or even brands to work properly together. That fragmentation has kept many households from buying in.

Ikea has been watching and learning. Over the last few years, it has sold smart lights and speakers under its Tradfri and Symfonisk lines, experimenting with Zigbee hubs and a partnership with Sonos. Those products had fans, but they also revealed pain points.

David Granath, range manager at Ikea of Sweden, says the company’s new approach is about stripping away those barriers.

With Matter and Thread, Ikea’s new products are designed to work with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings, though the IKEA app may still be needed for advanced features and updates.

Customers can buy a bulb or remote and know it will work in the system they already use.

This kind of openness could reset expectations. Instead of making people adapt to a new platform, Ikea is trying to meet them where they already are.

What makes Matter and Thread important

Woman standing in a modern kitchen surrounded by smart home icons connecting devices like lights, blender, and oven.
Source: Shutterstock

For years, smart devices spoke different languages. Some needed Zigbee, others required Wi-Fi, and many were locked into one app or brand. Matter is the industry’s attempt to fix that.

Matter provides a common standard so that devices from different manufacturers can talk to each other. A smart bulb with the Matter logo can be controlled by Apple’s Home app and Google Home at the same time. It’s a bit like USB for smart homes, one standard that works across everything.

Thread adds another layer. It’s a low-power mesh network that lets devices like bulbs and sensors talk directly to each other instead of relying on Wi-Fi. That means better range, more reliability, and less pressure on a home’s internet connection.

IKEA has been a long-time supporter of open standards like Matter and Thread, working alongside other industry players to make smart home tech more accessible. Now it’s betting that the combination is mature enough to bring to a mass audience.

Here is a social media post that explains Ikea’s push for easier and more open smart homes.

What to expect from the new devices

Ikea says the new lineup will include replacements for existing smart bulbs, plugs, buttons, and sensors. Temperature and humidity monitors are also on the way. 

The design language is being refreshed, and pricing will remain within IKEA’s familiar budget-friendly range, with many products costing under $10. Here’s what stands out:

  • New smart lights that can connect directly to Matter systems without an Ikea hub
  • Some new remotes and buttons are expected to support both Thread and existing Zigbee ecosystems, helping to preserve compatibility for existing IKEA smart home customers.
  • Air quality sensors that monitor temperature and humidity, designed for everyday households rather than just tech enthusiasts
  • Smart plugs that are simple to set up and can be used in any Matter-compatible system

Beyond these, Ikea has hinted at expanding its smart home range further, though details on future product types, such as possible Matter-over-Wi-Fi devices, have not been confirmed.

Ikea is also rethinking smart sound

Lighting and sensors aren’t the only focus. IKEA is expanding its audio lineup with new Bluetooth-based speakers, offering alternatives to its previous Symfonisk products developed in partnership with Sonos.

Two new speakers are coming this year:

  • Nattbad: a retro-style Bluetooth speaker priced around fifty dollars, is arriving in bright colors like yellow and pink, as well as black.
  • Blomprakt: a table lamp with a built-in speaker, is designed to blend with furniture and provide warm lighting along with music

Both are simple to set up, with features like Spotify Tap and easy pairing. They don’t require any special apps or subscriptions, which fits Ikea’s theme of keeping things simple.

The company has also teamed up with Swedish designer Tekla Severin to create a collection that merges tech with bold personal style. Ikea wants smart devices to feel like part of the home rather than something clinical or purely functional.

The role of the Dirigera hub

Ikea’s Dirigera hub, first introduced in 2022, is receiving firmware updates to enable Matter controller capabilities and future support for Thread border routing.

That means it can manage any Matter device, whether it’s from Ikea or another brand, and extend Thread networks across the home.

While the new devices can be set up without Dirigera, Ikea still sees value in having its own hub. It offers a central app experience for people who want it and ensures backward compatibility with existing Zigbee products. Ikea’s Zigbee remotes, for example, can still control the new Thread bulbs.

This balance of openness and continuity is a key part of the strategy. Ikea wants the experience to be smooth for newcomers but not alienating for long-time customers.

Why affordability is a big deal here

Smart home tech has often been priced as a luxury. A single bulb from some brands can cost thirty dollars or more. For many households, that’s a tough sell when a standard bulb is just a couple of dollars.

Ikea’s ability to scale and cut costs is its ace card. By offering bulbs and remotes at prices starting under ten dollars, it lowers the barrier to entry. Granath says the premium for adding smart features is now small enough that Ikea can keep its products affordable.

That affordability, combined with Matter’s interoperability, could finally make smart homes practical for everyday families instead of just early adopters.

How does this change the smart home market?

Ikea’s decision to go all-in on Matter positions it as one of the first major retailers to bring the standard to the mainstream. Other companies have released Matter devices, but adoption has been slow due to compatibility hiccups and limited product ranges.

If Ikea succeeds, it could force the rest of the industry to accelerate. When bulbs and sensors that cost ten dollars at Ikea work just as well as those from premium brands, consumers may rethink their choices.

The company’s reputation for reliability and simplicity could also help build trust in a category that has long felt complicated.

Here is a YouTube video that explores Ikea’s new smart home range and what Matter means for users:

A smart home that feels less like tech

What stands out in Ikea’s approach is the effort to make smart products feel like part of normal life. A lamp that happens to include a speaker. A remote that looks like a simple button. Sensors tucked away quietly.

The strategy isn’t about flashy gadgets. It’s about weaving technology into the home in ways that feel natural and personal. Ikea seems to understand that for many people, the smart home will only stick if it feels less like technology and more like furniture.

Where this could lead next

Ikea is rolling out the first wave in January, with more to come in April and beyond. The range will expand over time, and the company says affordability will remain at the heart of it.

The big question is whether Matter itself will deliver on its promises. The standard has struggled with fragmentation and slow adoption since its launch. Ikea is betting that the technology is now ready for the mainstream.

If it works, the impact could be huge. Smart homes could finally move past the tinkerers and into everyday households around the world. But if Matter still stumbles, Ikea may find itself waiting once again.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.