Ikea has given its popular Varmblixt lamp a makeover, turning the bulbous light into a multifunctional smart home companion. Now featuring color-changing and dimming capabilities, this donut-shaped lamp can add both ambiance and functionality to your space.

My daughter gave it a ‘nice’ thumbs up, which is high praise from her 15-year-old tech-skeptic self. The lamp comes with a matte finish that looks stylish and works well with its new color-changing feature, though it does look a bit plain when turned off. Connectivity can be hit or miss, but the included remote control provides easy access to its features.

With a price point of $100, Varmblixt isn’t exactly budget-friendly, but it offers decent value for accent lighting. It’s perfect for setting a cozy glow in small rooms and works well with both Ikea’s Home Smart app and Apple Home. However, it does require an additional hub for full functionality.

The lamp is part of a new line of affordable smart home devices from Ikea that use Matter-over-Thread technology. While some connectivity issues persist, the Varmblixt stands out as one of the few devices in this line that functions without needing a hub, making it easier to set up and use.