The new 2026 version of IKEA’s doughnut lamp is completely modular. Now connected, the luminaire can change colour at will. Exactly three years ago, Sabine Marcelis unveiled the VARMBLIXT collection for IKEA: a series of objects united by a play of light and colour, ranging from transparent candy boxes to the now-famous doughnut lamp.
Within hours of its release, fans of IKEA and Sabine Marcelis snapped up the VARMBLIXT pieces, elevating the collection – and the doughnut lamp in particular to the status of contemporary design icons. Ultra-viral and regularly sold out, the lamp returns this year in an entirely new form.
IKEA has imagined this new version in line with the evolution of home connectivity. Adapted to the times, the luminaire becomes intelligent. Both the table lamp and the pendant now feature Matter-based technology, allowing users to adjust light colour, intensity and temperature using either a remote control supplied by IKEA or a connected app.
The design has also evolved, with a matte glass finish that offers a softer, more diffused light. According to the Swedish brand, this development aligns with IKEA’s vision of a simple, open and useful connected home, where technology serves above all the ambience and lived experience of the interior.
IKEA has also confirmed the continuation of its collaboration with Sabine Marcelis, with a new collection of intelligent luminaires planned for 2027. The story continues.
A candy-coloured, 20-piece collaboration
We met Sabine Marcelis in 2023 at the launch of the VARMBLIXT collection. “I usually work with noble materials, more for luxury brands. It was a real challenge,” she explains of her collaboration with IKEA.
Together, IKEA and Marcelis designed objects centred on light in its many forms: light as a functional element in the home, but above all as a sensory experience. “A lamp is never just for lighting,” says Marcelis. “There’s also the object behind it. During the day, I don’t light any lamps, but the object remains – and that interests me just as much.”
Based in Rotterdam, Sabine Marcelis is known for working in spatial design, using simple forms that interact with light. Her iconic Candy Cubes and Doughnuts are closely related to the spirit of the VARMBLIXT collection.
The collection includes sconces, pendant lights, mirrors and lamps. The 20 pieces are all singular, poetic objects that bring warmth to interiors through minimalist design. Light appears in many forms: a circular wall lamp, a more monumental pendant, and an ultra-sensory bonbonnière reminiscent of Marcelis’ almost gourmand Doughnut.
“When I imagined the VARMBLIXT bonbonnière, I wanted to combine the magic of light shining through glass with the round shape of the doughnut, which I believe represents a perfect graphic and aesthetic balance,” the designer explains.
Beyond lighting
The VARMBLIXT collection also includes candy boxes, wall-mounted mirrors, coffee tables, tableware and rugs. The mirrors are both playful and warm, while the rugs come in an orange tone reminiscent of the soft glow produced by the lighting pieces.
The collection is completed by a cocktail set whose reflections are, for Sabine Marcelis, “moments of wonder”. Across the range, the objects are sculptural enough to remain visually engaging even when the lights are switched off.
Sabine Marcelis speaks to AD France about working with IKEA
AD: How did the collaboration with IKEA come about?
SM: A few years ago, Henrik Most, IKEA’s Artistic Director, invited me to take part in the Art Event collection in 2021, for which I created a circular lamp. He then asked me to develop a more extensive collection centred on light. I’m fortunate to work with noble, exclusive materials, so this was a real challenge. But it was also an opportunity to apply my way of working to products accessible to a much wider audience.
AD: As a designer, how do you see IKEA?
SM: For me, IKEA is about basics. My kitchen is entirely from IKEA, customised in my own way. What’s interesting about VARMBLIXT is that the pieces are not just functional basics, but also decorative objects. The collection was designed with a timeless approach – not driven by trends, but by an essential, minimalist vision. The objects have character, yet remain neutral enough to suit many interiors and appeal to different customers.
AD: What did you enjoy most about working with IKEA?
SM: Working with the creative team was a lot of fun. Because the designs are so simple, every detail matters – that’s the challenge of minimalist design. One anecdote: I wanted two tables in the collection to be extremely simple, and IKEA struggled to find the right factory. In the end, they were made by a pottery factory in Turkey – as if the table were simply an upside-down dish.
