plurigrid IKEA VARMBLIXT Smart Lamp
Sabine Marcelis design. Donut-shaped LED table/wall lamp with Matter over Thread. Article numbers: 80613524 (US), 90623160 (UK/EU). Price: $99.99.
Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Power | 3.4W |
| Lumens | ~120-180 lm (accent only) |
| CRI | 90 |
| Lifespan | ~25,000 hours |
| Diameter | 12" / 30 cm |
| Height | 5" |
| Cord | 6'3" |
| Weight | ~5 lbs |
| Protocol | Matter over Thread |
| Shell | Matte frosted glass |
| Body | ABS plastic, steel mounting plate |
In the Box
- VARMBLIXT lamp
- BILRESA 2-button remote (pre-paired, needs 2x AAA)
- Wall mounting plate + hardware
- Matter QR code (on lamp underside AND box)
Physical Controls
Power button: next to the power cable on the base. Hard on/off toggle.
Glass shell release: push-button clip on base pops off top glass for wall mounting.
BILRESA Remote (included, pre-paired)
Two buttons, no labels. Larger divot = up/brighter.
- Tap: toggle on/off
- Hold: brighten / dim
- Double-tap: cycle preset colors (smooth blending)
Pairing
First power-on (automatic)
- Plug in, turn on. Lamp enters 15-minute pairing window automatically.
- Scan Matter QR code (lamp underside or box) with your ecosystem app.
- Done in under 1 minute typically.
The lamp must be ON and powered when you scan. Do not turn it off to scan.
Pairing window expired
Turn lamp off then on again. New 15-minute window opens.
Factory reset
Turn the lamp off and on 6 times at a steady rhythm:
- ~1 second on, ~1 second off
- Leave ON after the 6th cycle
- Lamp flashes/pulses to confirm
- All previous Matter bindings cleared
- New 15-minute pairing window opens
If 6 cycles doesn't trigger: try slower (~2s each). Must be real power cuts, not a smart switch.
Re-pair BILRESA remote (hubless)
Press BILRESA system button 4 times within 5-30 cm of lamp. Lamp pulses then blinks twice = paired.
Compatible Ecosystems
No DIRIGERA hub required. All need a Thread Border Router:
| Ecosystem | Border Router examples |
|---|---|
| Apple Home | HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K 2nd gen+ |
| Google Home | Nest Hub 2nd gen, Nest WiFi Pro |
| Amazon Alexa | Echo 4th gen+ |
| SmartThings | Thread-capable hub |
| Home Assistant | SkyConnect, ZBT-1/2, any OTBR |
| Homey | With Matter support |
| IKEA DIRIGERA | Works but not required |
Apple Home specific
- Factory reset lamp if previously attempted pairing
- Lamp ON and in pairing window
- Apple Home app > + > Add Accessory
- Scan QR code on lamp underside (box print quality often bad)
- Keep phone near HomePod during pairing (BLE handshake)
- HomePod must be on latest software
- Phone must be on same WiFi as HomePod
Home Assistant specific
- Enable IPv6: Settings > System > Network > IPv6 > Automatic
- HA and border router on same network
- Pair directly to HA, not through Apple Home first
- ZBT-1 more reliable than other OTBR options
Critical Quirk: Remote vs Matter
Pairing to Matter unpairs the BILRESA remote. You cannot use both.
- Remote back: factory reset lamp, re-pair remote
- Remote WITH smart home: pair remote separately to Matter hub, associate via hub app
- This is by design
Color Behavior
Remote only: double-tap cycles colors with smooth blending. Pleasant.
Matter/app: color changes are abrupt, no transitions. Known limitation.
Adaptive Lighting (Matter): auto-shifts white temp through the day.
Min brightness: color still faintly visible — glass looks tinted.
Wall Mounting
- Push glass release, remove shell
- Mount base plate to wall with screws
- Reattach glass shell
- Route cable (6'3")
Troubleshooting
Won't pair
- Physical power button must be ON
- Factory reset: 6x power cycles, leave on, wait for flash
- Move within 50 cm of border router
- Enable IPv6 on router
- Unplug all other Thread border routers temporarily
- Use QR on lamp, not box
Offline in app
- Check physical power
- Restart border router
- Restart hub
Mottled light
Normal with other light sources present. Most uniform in dark room at full brightness.
What Not To Do
- Don't expect room lighting — this is 120 lm accent light
- Don't use a smart switch for factory reset — must be real power cuts
- Don't try BILRESA remote + Matter simultaneously
- Don't drop it — the glass breaks
Smart vs Original VARMBLIXT
| Smart | Original | |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Matte frosted | Glossy caramel |
| Light | Color spectrum | Warm only |
| Smart | Matter/Thread | None |
| Remote | BILRESA included | None |
| Price | $99.99 | $99.99 |
Original's caramel warmth cannot be replicated by the smart version.