IKEA has launched VARPTROSS, a new family of lighting solutions that brings traditional Vietnamese bamboo handcraft into the contemporary home. Available from July 1st, 2026, the collection includes floor, pendant, wall, and table lamps, each one a quiet balance between artisanal technique and clean, architectural form.
The collection was designed by Andreas Fredriksson and Akanksha Deo, two IKEA designers with deliberately different perspectives. Fredriksson brings a Scandinavian, function-first approach rooted in structure and restraint, while Deo draws on a background in textiles and material craft. The creative tension between the two shaped a collection that feels both precise and warm, which was exactly the effect the designs were aiming for.
What makes VARPTROSS stand out from the usual natural fibre lamp is its double-layer bamboo slat construction. The slats are arranged in an alternating crisscross pattern, gently blocking the light source to reduce glare while still allowing a soft, diffused glow to pass through. Each lamp is hand-cut, bent, and assembled by skilled weavers in Vietnam, with certain steps supported by machinery for consistency, a model IKEA describes as handmade with industrial precision.
The starting point for the collection was a deliberate departure from the lantern aesthetic that dominates natural fibre lighting, particularly in Asian markets where woven bamboo and rattan pieces are already ubiquitous. The goal, as product developer Chiara Ripalti explains, was to create something that felt more streamlined and global, rooted in craft but shaped by contemporary design thinking.
The result is a collection that works across a range of interiors, from a bedroom corner to a living room or hallway, without leaning into any single decorating style. The lamps are designed to age well, improve with time, and bring the quiet presence of handcraft and natural materials into everyday life, at a price point IKEA is known for making accessible.
Photography courtesy of IKEA
