IKEA is making smart lighting more affordable
One day, we will laugh at the memory of physical light switches. In the meantime, few homes have smart lighting installed. The technology is ready, but many people are put off by relatively high prices. IKEA wants to change that with a brand new range of affordable smart lighting solutions.
– The new Trådfri range includes motion sensors and a smart dimmer switch
– It’s based on the same Zigbee system as Philips Hue
– The base set includes hub, remote and two smart bulbs for under $80
Very smart lighting
Despite owning the homeware game, IKEA has been reluctant to try automation. Perhaps they preferred to stick with what they know. Either way, this long overdue first attempt looks worth the wait.
Trådfri means “wireless” in Swedish, and that neatly describes the new range of products. The standard smart bulbs are LED lights with a choice of three color temperatures. These replace your standard room lights, and IKEA reckons they should last for 25,000 hours.
The E27 bulb is larger, kicking out an impressive 980 lumens. The FLOALT LED light panel offers a nice ambient glow, and you can fit light-up doors on your bathroom cabinet.
All these bulbs are controlled through a smart hub, which connects to your Wi-Fi network. You can dim the lights through the companion smartphone app, or use the compact remote. That said, there is more fun to be had using the wireless dimmer switch. You simply revolve it in mid-air to turn down the lights.
“Lighting is important for our well-being. With clever lighting you can tailor the light in your home, and thus get a more comfortable light, depending on what you are currently doing.” – IKEA website
What we ❤️
Versatile smart lighting that is truly affordable. Bonus points for looking awesome with your BILLY bookcase.
Room for improvement
You can never have too many options, so some extra lighting types would be nice.
Availability
The Trådfri collection is available now online. The base set includes the hub, remote and two smart bulbs for $79.99.
Will you be driving down to IKEA when the Trådfri range arrives? Let us know in the comments!
