Ikea is preparing to introduce two entirely new entries in its audio lineup—Bluetooth speakers named Solskydd and Kulglass—scheduled for launch next month as part of a larger, previously announced design collection that marks the continuation of the company’s exploration into home-integrated technology. This expansion follows the conclusion of Ikea’s collaborative partnership with Sonos, signaling both a strategic and a creative shift in how the Swedish home furnishings giant approaches sound and design synergy. These upcoming devices embody Ikea’s evolving vision of merging technology with interior aesthetics, furthering the philosophy that practical household electronics can also serve as works of decorative art seamlessly blended within the home environment.
The new Solskydd and Kulglass models build conceptually on the design principles exemplified by the Blomprakt speaker lamp, which debuted in the United States only a month earlier. Much like that previous release, each new product epitomizes a careful balance between functional engineering and stylistic expression, enabling the speakers to contribute as much to a room’s ambiance as to its auditory experience. Sara Ottosson, product developer at Ikea, describes this approach as a deliberate effort to elevate speakers to the same aesthetic standard as furniture, textiles, and lighting. According to Ottosson, Ikea’s audio products are now designed to shape a room’s atmosphere and convey distinctive personality not just through melodies and acoustics but equally through their physical presence—through thoughtful attention to form, color, and texture. To achieve this harmony between technology and artistry, Ikea collaborated with designer and colorist Tekla Evelina Severin, whose expertise in spatial color composition helped sculpt devices that challenge conventional preconceptions of how Bluetooth speakers should appear.
The Solskydd series introduces an entire family of rounded, tray-like speakers that are strikingly unconventional in their visual design, cleverly disguising their technological nature beneath layers of textile patterns and organic shapes. Available in three different sizes, these speakers are as visually adaptable as they are functional. The smallest, an approximately eight-inch model retailing at $79.99, houses a single 2.5-inch driver concealed behind an elegant orange fabric cover patterned with a checkerboard-inspired motif. Despite its compact dimensions, it delivers an impressive maximum output of 80.5 decibels and distinguishes itself as the only portable member of the Solskydd line, featuring a rechargeable battery capable of up to twenty-five hours of uninterrupted playback.
Next in the range, the eleven-inch Solskydd—priced at $99.99—reflects a thoughtful balance between portability and acoustic depth. It incorporates a 1-inch tweeter paired with a 4-inch woofer, producing a richer and more spatially dynamic soundscape that can reach up to 83.6 decibels. Its outward design features a textured green fabric accented by diagonal stripes of brown and beige, creating a warm, naturalistic pattern suitable for both minimalist and eclectic interiors. In terms of placement, this model maintains versatility: it can either be wall-mounted or displayed stylishly using the included stand. The largest version, measuring approximately eighteen inches in diameter and priced at $139.99, offers a considerably more powerful audio experience. Inside, a 1-inch tweeter and two 4-inch woofers generate sound levels of up to 93.6 decibels. Its orange textured exterior makes a confident stylistic statement and is specifically tailored for wall mounting. The two larger Solskydd variants offer users the option of three distinct equalizer settings, allowing adjustments that subtly tailor tonal balance to different listening spaces. All three versions of Solskydd are also available in minimalist white finishes, offering a more understated aesthetic for those who prefer quiet elegance over bold color expressions.
True to Ikea’s recent trajectory toward user-friendly smart technology, the Solskydd speakers support more than basic Bluetooth connectivity. They integrate Spotify Tap functionality, enabling listeners to instantly resume playback precisely where they left off within the streaming app. Furthermore, the speakers incorporate multi-unit pairing capabilities—allowing owners to link two devices to form a left-and-right stereo channel setup ideal for enhancing television or multimedia sound, or to synchronize as many as one hundred speakers simultaneously to broadcast music throughout an expansive environment. This combination of modular flexibility and intuitive control positions the Solskydd not only as a decorative element but also as a scalable sound system adaptable to a wide range of living spaces and social scenarios.
For those seeking a more whimsical yet equally functional option, Ikea’s forthcoming Kulglass model ($129.99) introduces a novel fusion of illumination and sound. The design centers around an imaginative lamp topped with a swirl-shaped glass shade reminiscent of soft-serve ice cream, elegantly merging playfulness and sophistication. Embedded within its base resides a Bluetooth-compatible speaker that houses a 1-inch tweeter and a 3.5-inch woofer, delivering crisp highs and warm midrange tones up to 82.6 decibels. Unlike the Solskydd speakers, which operate via discrete button controls, Kulglass includes a tactile volume knob for more intuitive adjustment. The lamp-speaker hybrid will be available in two distinct finishes—one in muted green and another in rich red—each offering its own stylistic complement to different interior palettes and moods. Kulglass thereby manifests Ikea’s philosophy of transforming practical furnishings into interactive design pieces that appeal to multiple senses simultaneously.
While the exact launch schedule may vary internationally, Ikea has confirmed that specific release dates across global markets will fall throughout December 2025. However, for U.S. consumers, availability will officially begin on January 1, 2026. With this upcoming release, Ikea reaffirms its commitment to reimagining everyday technology as part of the holistic living environment—where visual design, tactile comfort, and acoustic quality coexist in perfect equilibrium, turning common household objects into genuine extensions of one’s personal style and atmosphere.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/827516/ikea-bluetooth-speaker-solskydd-kulglass-lamp-spotify-tap
