Furniture retailer, Ikea, is venturing into the smart home tech space.

The Swedish-based homewares giant has announced a lighting collection which can be remotely controlled, automated and custom designed.

The Ikea smart lighting collection, which will be made available in Asia-Pacific next year, features smart globes and light panels that can dim and switch between warm and cool light, using either a controller or the ‘Tradfri’ app for phones and tablets.

The range offers a plug-and-play solution, which removes hardwiring or hiring an electrician.

The company says the solution can be set up with one integrated light or can be a fully automated system that operates throughout an entire home.

“Ikea smart lighting was designed to enable people to have better lighting at home, in an easy and affordable way,” said Ikea home furnishing expert, Helen Longford.

“There are endless possibilities with the collection, for example it can be set up so create a different type of light for early mornings, another setting for late nights and one for working or cooking.”

She adds that being able to dim and adjust lighting is one of the things that people look for and appreciate at home, “and for them to be able to do this remotely or via the app with smart lighting would make the collection really exciting”.

Longford says it is not just about making gadgets, but adding functionality “into their entire product range by integrating technology into their home furnishing offer”.

“We want to use this innovative project to help people use technology in their homes in clever ways to enrich their lives or to simply make things easier. Smart lighting is just the beginning for us,” she says.