Philips Hue has unveiled a new range of architecturally focused smart lights, including its Liane 360-degree Rope Lights, launched at IFA in Berlin this week and now available via Philips-Hue.com. The move addresses a common gripe with smart lighting design, where colour-changing fixtures often look more suited to a dorm room than a stylish living space, and instead positions the Liane as a genuine interior design feature that doubles as illumination.

Using Hue's OmniGlow technology, the Liane emits diffuse light in all directions rather than harsh pinpoints, and can be bent into organic shapes or hung using clips and mounts. While rope lighting of this kind is already common in interior design, it is usually limited to plain white light, so Hue's innovation lies in adding smart, colour-changing capability; the lights start at $399.99 for three metres, rising to $549.99 for five metres. Hue also announced three new Signe fixtures (from $319.99, available October) and fresh additions to its Festavia indoor/outdoor range, including curtains, nets and icicle lights.