IKEA Expands Its Smart Home Offerings with the Zigbee-Connected PARASOLL, VALLHORN, and BADRING

Swedish flat-pack furniture specialist IKEA has announced the expansion of its burgeoning smart home product line, unveiling three new Zigbee-connected sensors — designed for use with the company's DIRIGERA hub and its in-house app.

"Our research in the latest Life at Home Report found that people prioritize comfort and security in their homes. Everyone wants to feel safe at home and we feel excited about entering a new smart product area that creates not only a better, but safer life at home," claims IKEA's Stjepan Begic of the company's growing presence in the smart home sector. "We believe these products can provide our customers with peace of mind and a greater sense of control and comfort."

Those products are, specifically, a trio of smart home sensors designed to connect to the company's DIRIGERA over a Zigbee link. The first is the PARASOLL, which is not an umbrella for sunny days but a door and window sensor triggering open open and close. The VALLHORN is a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, designed for both indoor and outdoor use and with a mount suitable for placing in the corner of a room.

The final sensor in the range is the BADRING, a water-leakage sensor which can trigger a local audible alarm or trigger mobile notifications through IKEA's own smart home mobile app. In all three cases, the sensors can also be used to trigger automations on other devices — adjusting lighting when motion is detected, for example, or turning off smart sockets when there's a leak.

"At IKEA, we want to make smarter living simpler and more convenient for everyone," claims the company's range manager David Granath. "Our new sensors merge technology with our home furnishing expertise, to provide affordable solutions that elevate everyday moments at home."

The PARASOLL and VALLHORN are due to launch in January 2024, IKEA has confirmed, with the BADRING following in April that year; pricing has not yet been confirmed.