Whenever I pass by IKEA, one of the things that always catches my eye are their minimalist lamps (well, a lot of their items are minimalist of course). They look simple, elegant, and something that would fit right into my space. Probably one of their most popular lamps is the VARMBLIXT donut lamp designed by renowned Dutch artist Sabine Marcelis, which is, as its name suggests, a donut-shaped lamp.

Now this lamp is seeing a 2026 upgrade with the new VARMBLIXT smart donut lamp that still keeps the popular sculptural but playful form intact but adds a smarter component. The light now radiates from the inside with its matte finish instead of the previous version where external light reflected and bounced off on its glossy surface. This shift from glossy to matte white glass fundamentally changes how you experience the lamp – instead of being a reflective object, it becomes a glowing light source that creates ambiance from within.

Designer: Sabine Marcelis for IKEA

The difference in the design, specifically the material, allows the lamp to create a different atmospheric experience. For those that love more colorful ambience lighting, you now get 12 preset colors that were personally curated by the designer herself. The colors also transition smoothly through the different hues so that there is no abrupt change to your environment. You get different temperatures of white light to glowing amber and warm red to soft pink to cool lavender and turquoise to gentle yellow tones and finally back to white light. Marcelis designed these transitions to be subtle and natural, so the shifts feel organic rather than jarring.

When you connect the lamp to the IKEA Home Smart app through DIRIGERA, you get the “full colour spectrum with more than 40 shades” to play with, giving you even more control over your lighting mood. The VARMBLIXT lamp comes with the BILRESA remote so you can start cycling through the colors without any complicated setup. But it is built on the Matter standard so you can integrate it with your smart home system including Apple Home, Siri, and other compatible platforms.

Just like the original donut lamp, you can use this smart version as a table lamp or you can also mount it on your wall if you need this to be part of your wall decor. You get flexibility on how you want this sculptural piece to be displayed in your space, whether to blend in with your aesthetic or to be the centerpiece decoration while providing ambient light. At $99.99, it hits that sweet spot of designer quality at an accessible price point.

IKEA is also launching a VARMBLIXT smart pendant lamp which focuses mostly on how white light can move from cool daylight to the yellow glow that mimics candles when it gets darker. Its design is a cluster of curved tubes made from frosted white glass that creates a sculptural presence even when turned off. When illuminated, those frosted tubes transform into a magical piece of light engineering, casting a soft, diffused glow. You can also use it with the included remote or connect it to your smart home system. The pendant is priced at $149.99.

Both lamps will be available starting in April 2026, and they represent more than just a product upgrade. They’re part of IKEA’s ongoing collaboration with Sabine Marcelis, with another collection already planned for 2027. For collectors and design enthusiasts, this makes the VARMBLIXT pieces part of an evolving story worth following.

What I love most about these smart upgrades is that IKEA didn’t sacrifice the design integrity that made these lamps iconic in the first place. They’ve simply enhanced what was already working beautifully, adding functionality that feels intuitive rather than overwhelming. Whether you’re drawn to the playful personality of the donut lamp or the refined elegance of the pendant, both pieces prove that smart lighting can be sculptural, affordable, and genuinely beautiful.

The post IKEA’s Viral Donut Lamp Just Got a $100 Smart Upgrade first appeared on Yanko Design.