How IKEA and Philips Hue lights can work together

TechRadar's Cat Ellis outlines 4 ways to combine IKEA and Philips Hue smart lights, from Matter pairing to DIY hardware changes.

• Matter: IKEA's new driver for integrated lights, including strips and spots, supports remote control through the IKEA Home app and works with the Matter standard. Matter-compatible speakers can control the lights, schedule them, and dim them. IKEA's Matter-compatible range includes Varmblixt and Kajplats bulbs, and can also include products from Nanoleaf, Govee, and Philips Hue.
• Philips Hue Bridge: IKEA lights such as Varmblixt and Kajplats support Zigbee Light Link, the wireless protocol used by Philips Hue bulbs. Connecting them to a Philips Hue Bridge enables basic controls, schedules, groups, and Hue sensor or switch triggers. Some Hue features, including Hue Tap Dial dimming and Philips Hue Play entertainment setups, are unavailable.
• DIY modification: Some Reddit users have put a coiled Philips Hue light strip inside the frosted glass Varmblixt lamp. TechRadar notes that the strip could overheat and damage its LEDs.
• Hue bulbs in IKEA lamps: Philips Hue bulbs can be used in IKEA lamps designed for standard bulbs, such as Fado, Vindkast, and Simrishamn. The 3 bulbs can be grouped in the Philips Hue app, while Reddit users have suggested setting brightness to around 50% for softer ambient light.