IKEA and Philips Hue Smart Lights Can Be Combined in Four Ways, TechRadar Guide Says

According to TechRadar, IKEA recently launched a driver for its integrated lights, including strips and spots of the kind installed in cupboards and cabinets. The driver allows remote control through the IKEA Home app and is compatible with the Matter smart home standard, so the integrated lights can be combined into a larger smart home setup. Users can then control them with a Matter-compatible smart speaker, set schedules, dim them and perform other functions. IKEA also offers other Matter-compatible lights, including the color-shifting, donut-shaped Varmblixt and Kajplats bulbs, and the guide says lights from other brands such as Nanoleaf, Govee and Philips Hue can be added as well.

For users who already have a Philips Hue setup and want to keep using the Hue app, TechRadar says IKEA smart lights such as Varmblixt and Kajplats support Zigbee Light Link, the same wireless protocol used by Philips Hue bulbs. They can therefore be connected directly to a Philips Hue Bridge. The guide lists several steps: ensure the IKEA smart light has software version 1.2.x or later, keep the light close to the Hue Bridge, search for new devices in the Philips Hue app, and perform a factory reset of the smart light by toggling the main switch six times. Connecting IKEA lights this way allows basic control through the Hue app, including schedules, groups and triggers from Hue sensors and switches. However, TechRadar says users will not get the same degree of control as with a native Hue smart light. They cannot, for example, dim IKEA lights using a Hue Tap Dial switch or include them in a Philips Hue Play entertainment setup.

TechRadar also describes a hardware hack for users who like the look of an IKEA smart light but want full Philips Hue functionality. The Varmblixt lamp is a popular choice among smart lighting DIYers because its frosted glass case can conceal a Philips Hue light strip. A Reddit user named K1uppy described opening the IKEA lamp, removing its innards and replacing them with a coiled Hue strip, according to the guide. Another Redditor's experiment with a non-Hue LED strip showed how dramatic the effect could be with a gradient, TechRadar reports. The guide warns that a coiled light strip could overheat and damage the LEDs.

A safer alternative, according to TechRadar, is to use Hue bulbs with IKEA lamps designed for standard light bulbs. The guide recommends looking for lamps that diffuse light, such as the Fado table lamp, the ruffled Vindkast or the multi-bulb Simrishamn. Users can create a group of these bulbs in the Philips Hue app and control them together or apply a scene so they coordinate for an interesting effect. Because Hue bulbs fit virtually all light fixtures, the guide says users should be able to find one that fits their chosen IKEA lamp. Reddit users cited by TechRadar have suggested dialing Hue bulb brightness down to around 50 percent to create soft ambient lighting.

Editor's Summary

TechRadar's September 19, 2026 guide outlines four ways to make IKEA and Philips Hue smart lights work together, including Matter compatibility, direct Hue Bridge pairing, hardware modification and using Hue bulbs in IKEA lamps. The options vary in control and risk, with the Hue Bridge method supporting basic functions but not full Hue features and the hardware hack carrying overheating concerns. The guide gives users practical routes to combine the two ecosystems without being locked into a single app.