Ikea is expanding its smart home ecosystem with the launch of 21 new products covering lighting, sensors and controls - all built on Matter, the universal smart home connectivity standard. While the new range is primarily targeted at consumers, it could have notable implications for the digital signage industry, especially as Matter is also supported by Samsung SmartThings Pro, one of the most relevant emerging frameworks in professional signage.
Ikea: Consumer IoT Moves Into Signage
For years, smart home technologies have evolved separately from commercial digital signage solutions. Professional projects have relied on robust sensor systems from providers like Nexmosphere and others, designed specifically for 24/7 retail, hospitality and experiential environments. These remain the gold standard for reliability, precision and advanced triggering. Yet the rapid evolution of B2C smart devices – now standardized and interoperable thanks to Matter – is beginning to create a complementary layer of affordable, low‑complexity interactivity.
With its latest launch, Ikea is essentially rebuilding its entire smart home platform from scratch. The company is updating existing product categories and introducing new ones, all re‑engineered to work natively with Matter. For the digital signage industry, the connection to SmartThings Pro is particularly relevant. Samsung’s B2B platform extends Matter beyond the home, allowing signage installations to interact with sensors, lighting or environmental triggers typically associated with consumer IoT.
Looking ahead, ISE 2026 in Barcelona is shaping up to be a turning point. The convergence of smart home technology with professional AV and signage is accelerating, and Matter-enabled devices are expected to make a visible entrance into B2B demonstrations. While Ikea’s sensors will not replace commercial‑grade hardware, they introduce a compelling option: low‑cost, easy‑to‑deploy triggers that can enhance basic interactivity in retail and hospitality installations.
For many use cases — from simple presence detection to ambient lighting cues or dynamic scene changes — affordable B2C sensors can serve as an additional layer of smartness. The combination of professional digital signage platforms with consumer‑driven IoT ecosystems opens up new creative possibilities while reducing entry barriers for smaller installations or concept spaces.
Ikea’s move may not be targeted at digital signage, yet the potential impact on the market is clear. When the world’s largest home furnishings brand shifts its entire smart home ecosystem to an open standard, it accelerates adoption far beyond the living room – reaching into retail, hospitality and the connected store environments where digital signage already plays a central role.
The updated range focuses on three key segments: Lighting, Sensors and Control.
Lighting
- The smart bulb range includes eleven variations, offering a mix of shapes, sizes, lumen levels, and styles – with options for both colour and white spectrum, as well as dimmable functionality.
Smart sensors
Five variations for motion, air quality, humidity and water leakage.
- Motion sensor for indoor and outdoor use that turns on lighting automatically.
- Door/Window sensor. Detects when a door or window is opened or closed, and if connected to a smart system you can get notifications on your phone. Also works for spaces like storage rooms, where it can trigger a light to turn on or off.
- Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Measures the indoor climate and press the button to view temperature, followed by humidity.
- Air quality sensor. Measures CO₂, particles (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity to show the air quality at a retail location or office
- Water leakage sensor. Detects leaks and alerts with a sound and remotely.
Remote controls and plugs
- Remote control with dual button – to control smart products from afar e.g. to switch lights on or off, adjust brightness, change colour, or trigger a preset scene.
- Remote control with scroll wheel – to adjust smart products with a simple turn. Use it to switch lights on or off, dim, change colour, or control a group or preset scene.
- Remote Control Kits – Kits of three colourful versions of the remote controls, in green, red and beige. One kit with three scroll wheels, and the other is with remote control with dual buttons.
- Smart plug. This smart plug controls ordinary lamps or smaller appliances remotely – turning them into smart products. It also tracks energy use and can be paired with a remote or motion sensor.
