IKEA's New Portable Bluetooth Lamp Combines Soft Lighting and Impressive Speaker in One Smart Summer Buy
Part portable speaker, part mood lighting, this clever IKEA lamp solves two of the most stressful parts of summer hosting
Any great alfresco gathering post-sunset has three things in common: 1) great people, 2) gorgeous lighting (because eating in total darkness isn't exactly romantic), and 3) music. At some point, someone has to assume the role of DJ to communicate that this is, in fact, a patio party.
Hence why it felt so serendipitous to come across IKEA’s VAPPEBY outdoor lamp, which not only handles the outdoor lighting situation but also connects to Bluetooth so it can soundtrack the entire evening too – ideal for small backyards, balconies, and tiny bistro tables already overwhelmed by olive bowls and half-finished spritzes.
From yacht rock to indie oldies, the VAPPEBY portable lamp lets you DJ from the most unassuming source imaginable for up to 12 hours straight. Also available in gray and rated 4.6 stars across 200+ reviews.
Designed by IKEA legend Sarah Fager, this lighting idea is surprisingly techy, equipped with Spotify Tap Playback™ functionality that resumes music right where you left off. And if the vibe suddenly stops hitting? Press it again, and Spotify will improvise a new direction based on your listening habits, turning the lamp into a somewhat sentient assistant host.
Canceled due to inclement weather? IKEA’s VAPPEBY outdoor lamp has never heard of such a thing, thanks to its resilient rainproof design.
As someone who finds curating the music portion of entertaining disproportionately stressful, this news is, quite literally, music to my ears.
And while I personally plan on placing one on my New York firescape this summer, it’s also a fabulous upgrade for larger outdoor dining tables. Portable speakers (even the chic ones) always look a little out of place sitting in the middle of a beautiful tablescape. Hidden inside a sleek portable lamp, though, the VAPPEBY centralizes sound with the utmost elegance.
Apparently, its sound quality is shockingly good, too. One reviewer called the VAPPEBY a ‘sleeper hit,’ while another wrote, ‘How does this outdoor speaker sound so amazing and clear?’ – not exactly the reaction most people expect from a $90 lamp, but hey, I'm not complaining.
Covering ambience in more ways than one, the VAPPEBY is basically part lighting designer, part DJ, and, perhaps most importantly, rainproof. Frankly, if I were only bringing one object outside to set the mood this summer, it would probably be this.
More Portable Bluetooth Outdoor Lamps
IKEA’s VAPPEBY isn’t actually new. The lamp originally launched back in 2022 and, judging by the reviews, appears to be one of the retailer’s most underrated outdoor ambience essentials. The same could easily be said for these three similarly music-minded lighting options, all of which make portable speakers look leaps and bounds less embarrassing.
Marketed as a shower lamp, this pleated little number remains entirely unfazed by rogue sprinkler systems or sudden summer downpours. Alongside its warm and cool white settings, it also offers eight multicolored light options, should the jazz playlist pair better with blue.
If you prefer a more true-to-flame, analog look, it doesn’t get much better than this impossibly tiny MoriMori lamp. Under four-and-a-half inches wide, the flickering dimmable LED reportedly mimics a real candle remarkably well.
If you’ve spent any amount of time researching portable speakers, you almost certainly know JBL, essentially the gold standard in crystal-clear sound. This compact powder-coated aluminum lamp delivers the brand’s signature audio quality alongside a frosted diffuser that casts an expensive-looking, hotel-restaurant glow.
Lamps are but the gateway. For anyone looking to diversify their lighting portfolio this season, don’t overlook the outdoor lantern.
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