If getting up to dim or turn off the lights is a chore too far, you will soon be able to do it from the comfort of your seat.

Flat-packed furniture giant Ikea has announced it is to release a range of smart light bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly using a remote control.

The move promises to take smart lighting, which until now has largely confined to expensive high-end products, into the mainstream.

A number of manufacturers already sell lighting systems that link to a central hub and the internet and can be controlled through a smartphone app.

These are often very expensive and may need an electrician to fit them.

The Ikea system is simpler in that the brains sit inside the bulb itself which has a tiny transmitter that links to a remote control.

Each remote control can control 10 bulbs around the house.

The screw-in LED bulbs are the sort found in room pendant lights and lamps, but Ikea says it will also sell lighting panels and even doors.

The lighting options range from a relaxing warm yellow glow through to 'full beam' brightness.

The bulbs are the latest innovation from Ikea's 'Home Smart' research, which previously delivered pieces of furniture which work as wireless charging stations for smartphones.

A spokesman said: 'It has been developed after research showed that small changes in lighting can have a great impact on people's well-being and intellectual abilities, with cold lighting suited for learning and warm for relaxing.

The Smart Lighting collection includes LED bulbs, lighting panels and doors.

It is a plug and play solution, meaning that there is no need for hardwiring as customers can simply switch their traditional lightbulbs with a TRÅDFRI LED bulb to enable them to adjust their lighting.

Since the technology developed for switching between light tones and dimming is found inside the bulb itself, TRÅDFRI can be used in any lamp with the standard socket sizes.

Björn Block, Business Leader for IKEA Home Smart said: 'Through home visits and research we identified that existing technology is perceived as being too expensive and difficult to understand.

With this in mind, we set out to make the TRÅDFRI dimming kit easy to use and affordable.

The bulbs and panels will go in to stores in April next year. It has not yet put a price on them.

Ikea says it will also be possible to control the lights using a smartphone app but this will require a hub. 

Electronics giant Philips has been selling similar bulbs for several years now and offers the opportunity to select colours as well as brightness.

These connected bulbs can be controlled using a mobile phone app via a central hub.

But a single Philips Hue light bulb can cost £49.99 ($59.99 in the US).

(Source: dailymail.co.uk  Author: SEAN POULTER)