Since the beginning of the pandemic blockade, air purifiers have become more popular than ever. Clean air in the home is now vitally important, not only from a comfort standpoint, but also to protect against viruses like Covid-19. Air purifiers are also a necessity during the pollen-filled season, allowing us to sleep well at night and removing pet dander from the air for allergy sufferers.

So it is no wonder that IKEA continues to invest in the air purifier market and has introduced its latest model, STARKVIND (translates to strong wind) STARKVIND is a smart air purifier and the latest addition to IKEA's burgeoning smart home product line. It is also available in a side-table design to save space.

IKEA has released several smart home products in the past, but not as large an assortment, which shows how important they feel the air purifier market is.

"For IKEA, the smart home is not about gadgets. It's about combining our solid home furnishing knowledge with digital solutions and technology to make living and living better," says Henrik Telander, product owner at IKEA Sweden. That's why we are exploring the possibilities of combining air purification with technology to give our customers a better experience at home.

The STARKVIND is designed to cover rooms up to 215 square feet, which is less impressive than other products on the market, but better than the already available IKEA FÖRNUFTIG, which can cover up to 105 square feet.

This is more than enough for a small bedroom, and because of its side-table design, the STARKVIND technically takes up no extra space; in addition to five fan speeds, it has an auto mode that automatically adjusts according to the level of impurities in the air using built-in sensors. It also catches everything from pet hair to pollen to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like thinner and nail polish remover, the company says.

So what are the smart home features: the STARKVIND can be used alone or connected to the TRÅDFRI gateway, and the air purifier can be controlled from the gateway using the IKEA Home smart app. The app allows you to check the indoor air quality, which is useful for monitoring. You can also schedule the operating time so that the air purifier is shut off when you are not home.

While a typical freestanding version of the STARKVIND is available, a side table design is more interesting. This option allows the air purifier to actually be integrated into the furniture. It's a great idea if space is limited or if you simply don't like the look of a typical air purifier. [STARKVIND is a high-performance air purifier. People can choose according to their needs and preferences."

STARKVIND will be available at IKEA in October 2021. The freestanding model will cost $129 and will be available in black and white, while the side table will cost $189 and will be available in dark and light finishes.