Ikea home automation: Matter is finally here!

We were talking about it a few days ago, and well, the Matter standard has just arrived at Ikea! This advancement marks a significant milestone for users of Ikea's home automation system, promising improved compatibility and interoperability with a multitude of other devices. Let's find out a little more about how it works…

What is Matter?

First of all, a little reminder for latecomers: what is Matter? It is an open and secure communication protocol designed to facilitate interoperability between smart home devices, regardless of brand. Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which includes tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon, Matter aims to become the universal standard for home automation. Using Matter, devices can easily connect and communicate with each other, creating an integrated and frictionless home ecosystem, accessible via any voice control platform or smart home app.

Matter’s appeal for home automation

One of Matter’s main advantages is its ability to break down the silos that exist between different home automation ecosystems. Until now, users were often forced to choose devices that were compatible with their specific system, limiting their options and making it difficult to integrate new devices from different brands. With Matter, the promise is true universality, where all compatible devices can be managed from a single interface, whether it’s Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod. This standardization should significantly simplify the user experience and encourage the adoption of home automation technology in more homes. It’s a small revolution that we’ve been waiting for for over 30 years!

Implementing Matter at Ikea

Ikea has made the strategic decision to adopt the Matter protocol for its second generation of home automation hubs, named Dirigera. This update represents a significant opening of the Ikea ecosystem towards greater compatibility and flexibility. However, to benefit from it, users will need to have the new Dirigera hub, as the first version of the Ikea home automation hub (Tradfri) was not compatible with Matter.

Initially, this Matter integration at Ikea focuses on lighting products, without specifying exactly which devices are involved. We can anticipate that this will include not only bulbs, but also potentially motion sensors and remote controls, opening the way to more complex and personalized automations.

To activate Matter on the Dirigera hub, Ikea offers a simple process via the Ikea Home smart app, allowing users to generate a QR Code to connect their system to one of the main Matter driver hubs (HomePod, Echo, Google Nest Home).

You must first go to the application settings, “workshop” section, to activate the Matter bridge. Once activated, a new “Matter Bridge” entry appears in the “integration” section, just under the Homekit option.

You can then create a new Matter QRCode, which you can submit to one of the compatible Hubs (Google Nest, Amazon Echo, or Homepod).

Be careful, however, we had already seen that if Matter worked relatively well at Apple and Google, there was still a lot of development to be done at Amazon.

Although this feature is still in beta at Ikea, it announces promising possibilities for the future of Ikea home automation.

Towards a more integrated smart home

While Matter’s arrival at Ikea is still in its early stages, and the actual impact on the user experience is modest so far, the initiative offers hope for a more seamless integration of smart home technologies. As Matter matures, we can expect Ikea’s home automation, as well as that of other brands, to become even more accessible and customizable. Ikea’s commitment to Matter underscores the importance of interoperability in the evolution of the smart home. By adopting this protocol, Ikea is not only expanding its compatibility with other devices; it is also taking a significant step toward a future where smart home technology is truly universal, simplified, and user-centric.