The IKEA Billy bookcase is, arguably, a design classic. There aren't many people who haven't had one at some point, especially when first setting up a home.
It's affordable and a great basic — a combination that not only means plenty of people buy it just for what it already offers, but also for its versatility as a opportunity for a clever IKEA Hack.
"The simplicity of the IKEA Billy bookcase design makes it the perfect — and budget-friendly — piece to create bespoke built-in shelving to suit your needs and aesthetic," says Debbie Black, managing editor at Livingetc.com. "It's no surprise, then, that it's often an IKEA hacker's go-to, for its versatility and affordability. With Billy height extension kits available, too, the opportunities are endless."
We've put together a selection of inspiring IKEA Billy Bookcase hacks to help you on your storage building journey.
1. Design a seamless wall-to-wall shelf
DIY-er Kaari (@thesommerhome) and her husband wanted to create a beautiful yet practical shelf to store and display their books and collectibles. The units they found in shops were too expensive, so they started Googling budget options. "I came across a few IKEA storage hacks and decided that that may be the perfect solution."
"We caulked and painted the piece using Benjamin Moore Simply White and prepped with a Zinsser primer before painting," shares Kaari. And to enhance the piece, they added hardwired lighting and wood trims. The piece now looks like a part of the home's original architecture. And adds oodles of function and style to their living room storage.
2. Create the perfect alcove shelving
Home renovator and interior designer Felicity Hinchliffe's (@fjhinteriors) living room was completely transformed with two of the best IKEA products — the IKEA BILLY and HAVSTA.
"The whole house is a renovation project and I wanted to create this area, with the log burner as the focal point in the living room," she says. "Storage space is very important for us and I also wanted somewhere to display decorative items and books, so this hack helped to achieve that."
Felicity used two HAVSTA base cabinets and two BILLY Bookcases for the unit. She used the HAVSTA cabinets for the bottom of the built-ins and then cut down the two BILLY bookcases to sit on top of them. "I filled the holes on the insides of the bookcase and sanded these down," she shares. She then used decorators caulk around the back and sides of the shelves to cover any small gaps, and primed all the units using primer paint.
For the finishing touch, she painted the unit Farrow & Ball's Pigeon for a cool, contemporary feel.
3. Build an easily accessible pantry
DIY-er Kellie(@breakfastatkellies) loves baking but her existing kitchen pantry did not have enough space to include all her baking products. "It wasn't functional for someone who had four different types of flours, let alone a cupboard full of other dry ingredients," she shares.
And so, she came up with a great IKEA kitchen hack using two Billy bookcases, and lined them up to the ceiling, attaching them with wall brackets. She then applied MDF to all the seams and used concave trim on the back of the shelves to ensure the bookcase had no gaps. "Once all of my moldings and panels were applied, I dapped the entire bookcase and then sanded it down for a smooth finish," adds Kellie. To paint it, she used Benjamin Moore Advance paint, which dries with an enamel finish.
4. Create a stylish display cabinet
This contemporary IKEA Billy hack adds oodles of character to this dining room. Home renovator Sophia Kostich (@diydoctorsoph) designed this piece in just a few simple steps.
"The project started with a Billy bookcase from IKEA and I bought doors to go with it — the ones specifically with glass at the top half, and opaque at the bottom half," she explains. She wanted to update the piece with a pastel palette which would go well with the natural wood tones in the room. She used peel-and-stick samples from Lick in two soft sage greens and a pale dusky pink to help decide the final hue.
For the cabinet doors, she purchased some mouldings from her local hardware store to attach to the lower half of the bookcase and then used No More Nails glue to stick them on. Finally, to dress the piece she used brass handles for the doors. "The final layer was some polyvine matt varnish to protect it before styling," she concludes.
5. Add color to the room with the IKEA Billy Bookcase
Designer Claire Douglas elevated her built-in by drenching the unit in a stylish mint green hue. This makeover celebrates the enduring power of green — which remains one of the most sought-after tones.
Even prior to picking up the paintbrush, Claire's built-in BILLY was already something to behold, as it wonderfully took over the living room and the fireplace. However, the lick of paint truly turned the space into a style haven.
"The changes to these built-in shelves were only cosmetic and really straightforward to do," Claire says. The designer went from a white tone (similar to that of Farrow & Ball's All White) to a green and peachy pastel palette. She chose Farrow and Ball's Setting Plaster for the inside of her shelves. Meanwhile, the green is a Deep Breath from Decorating Centre Online's Wellness Collection.
"I probably had a bit too much fun with this DIY project, but that's the great thing about decorating in your own home — you can make it as mad as you like," Claire adds. We’re taking this as our cue to experiment with a new paint idea asap.
6. Create an incredible library wall
If you're blessed with ample space, creating a library wall will add to your elegant living room's aesthetic.
"When we first saw the scale of this room we knew it deserved a library wall,' says Sarah from (@s.e.w.athome). "But being over five and a half meters wide, we also knew we couldn't afford fitted cabinetry, so we took seven BILLY bookcases with height extenders and Oxberg doors, and we set to work."
"We decided we didn't want to use the back panels so that you could see the wall color behind, and as a result, we flipped them upside down so that the backs of the height extenders were hidden at the bottom of the bookcases," says Sarah. "This also gave us something to fix when moving to the top. We built a plinth to raise the bookcases high enough to add skirting to the bottom, and we then added molding between the vertical joins. In preparation for painting them, we primed them with Zinsser BIN primer and then used furniture paint for the color."
"To finish them, we chose antique brass pull handles, and I finished them off with some colorful tassels. It was a fair bit of work but we saved a fortune and we're so happy with the result."
7. Make built-in shelves with two IKEA BILLY bookcases
With metallic wallpaper and lighting — and some creative styling — this designer IKEA hack featuring a BILLY bookcase hack is the epitome of innovation.
"The wall width that I had to work with was 175cm, and as the BILLY bookcase is 80cm wide; I knew I had space for two of the bookcases," says Melanie Lissack (@melanielissackinteriors). "I purchased two of the cheapest versions of the BILLY. As the ceiling in this room is high and I wanted to make the most of the wall space, I also purchased two of the 'BILLY Height Extension Kits' to get in another level of shelving."
"Before screwing the bookcases to the wall I had threaded through an electrical extension bar so that the lights could be plugged in around the back of the bookcase," says Melanie. "I also 'pimped up' the unit using several decorative moldings and beading."
8. Use the BILLY bookcase to create Art Deco-inspired built ins
Renovator Tamara Smith (@mygrandparentschair) decided she wanted a bright, sophisticated living room storage piece but on a budget. And for that, she experimented with this IKEA furniture hack. She chose a bare wall in this space and removed the baseboard along the bottom of the wall so the shelving could sit flush.
She also created a level base for the shelves to sit on using 2 x 3 lumber frames, drilling directly into the floor. She bought three white BILLY Bookcases, as well as three height extenders to create a base underneath for the bookshelves to sit on. "To ensure the flatpacks were sturdy, I reinforced them by nailing directly into the sides and back to keep all the components in place," says Tamara.
To create the arches, she used a 1/8-inch tempered hardboard and penciled out the shape. Once she'd cut them out with a jigsaw, it was just a case of fixing them to the shelves. After the frames were all set, she sanded them and added two coats of primer. For the exterior paint, she used white BEHR semi-gloss enamel; for the contrasting interior of the shelves, she used two coats of Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black.
9. Design a bespoke library at home
Designer Claire Douglas re-invented the IKEA BILLY into an eye-catching and bespoke IKEA shelving hack that looks like a library.
She experimented with the positions of the flatpack units before fixing them to her wall. She added MDF strips over the joining to make it look thicker. And then, she filled the gaps down the sides of the wall. For the base, she added a skirting board that concealed the individual bookcase bases. She also added pre-drilled shelf holes and inserted MDF panels with poly filler.
To decorate the unit, she added cut foliage and greenery from the garden to help fill the gaps and give a more natural and rustic feel. "I've also picked up a few bits from some online shops recently and paired them with some antique books to create an interesting mix of old and new color and texture," says Claire.
10. Create a cozy sleeping space in the kids' bedroom
Designer Johanna Hollstrand (@villaalvsjo) transformed a minimalist kids' room into a wonderland using one of the best IKEA hacks involving IKEA BILLY, PLATA and HJÄLPA.
She bought the BILLY and picked up their PLATSA and eight HJÄLPA drawers. Even the mattress is from IKEA. She erected the frame from the IKEA frames before adding a top shelf in oak veneer. The rest was site-built with MDF boards and a curtain rail attached to the ceiling.
"I painted the nooks in a charcoal hue to complement the surrounding walls," says Johanna. "Then, I plastered Woodland — designed by Fleur Harris for Jimmy Cricket — on the main wall." The toys and pillows were added in, which contributed to the forest theme. The overall look is fascinating and wonderful.
11. Fashion a stylish display cabinet
A smart, well-thought out BILLY bookcase hack can result in a versatile piece of furniture that can elevate your home. Jen Rothbury (@crack_the_shutters), created a beautiful display cabinet with her IKEA BILLY bookcase for a fabulous narrow hallway.
"I decided to use a BILLY bookcase with Oxberg glass doors as it was the perfect size to fit in a gap we had on our landing and would make a perfect linen cupboard/display cabinet," she says. "Firstly, I gave it all a sand down to take off the shine from the laminate finish. We used 6mm thick MDF and cut-out arches for both top sections of the glass and then used decorative reeded pine moldings cut to length along the bottom half of the glass doors."
"We used No More Nails adhesive to stick the MDF and moldings, caulked the gaps, primed and painted in Craig and Rose Dried Plaster, and added new handles from Plank Hardware," says Jen.
12. Transform Ikea BILLY bookcases into a sleek and stylish mudroom
Steph (@henrikjunehome) turned a garage load of IKEA BILLY bookcases into a fortuitous event.
"When we moved into our home, the previous owners left a garage full of BILLY bookcases for storage," says Steph. "This area became the primary way we entered our home, so, shoes, jackets, gloves, helmets, leashes — you name it — were stored on open shelves here."
"As you can imagine, a family of four with a large pup can accumulate a lot of stuff, which leads to an eyesore of a view with open storage," says Steph. "So, to keep it all at bay, I bumped out the Ikea BILLY bookcases and secured them to studs. Added height extenders, Oxberg doors, and bins to contain the chaos."
"Following this, I added a bench, floating shelves, and budget shiplap to finish the look," says Steph. "The shiplap cost $30 in total to make. I am a beginner builder and learned how to do this from YouTube and Instagram. So, all in all, I would say this is a doable DIY. Now, we have a catchall spot that holds all the shoes, all the necessities, and all the chaos at the small entryway...all behind closed doors."
13. Construct a chic kitchen cabinet
Bookcases can make for great kitchen shelf ideas for storage, too! "When searching for the perfect display cabinet for our dining nook, we wanted something that felt high-end and embodied a timeless, traditional design," says Katie (@ouracaciagrovehome). "After hours of searching and considering different cabinets from interior design companies, we concluded that the best way to make what we wanted was to build it. And that’s where the IKEA BILLY bookcase came in."
"We added legs, primed and painted the entire bookcase, attached beadboard to the back, and added custom features, panes, and hardware to give it a more high-style look," says Katie.
By transforming this BILLY, Katie saved hundreds of dollars. It’s amazing how pieces of furniture can make a house feel more like a cozy home!
14. Add contemporary wall units around your fireplace
For a modern, sleek storage and TV mounting idea, take a basic IKEA BILLY bookcase and elevate it with new handles and modern black paint.
"We wanted to add some contrast to the large open space and decided to go with this bolder, but still calming, Ikea BILLY bookcase, cement fireplace, and cozy furniture combination," says Carolin Friese, interior stylist at @house_to_home.interiors. "We changed the handles and the contractor added the header and molding so it looks custom. We used another smaller unit for the extra material and painted it matte black for an on-trend finish."
15. Craft beautiful built-in alcove shelving
Fitted alcove shelving for a living room corner can be very expensive but, with an IKEA BILLY bookcase hack, it's affordable as well as stylish.
"I made a raised platform for them both to stand on, at skirting board height, out of CLS timber screwed securely into the back wall and a piece of MDF," says Liz (@prettyprospectcottage). "I put the bookcases on top and fixed them to the wall with small blocks of CLS timber and metal brackets. To make them look fully built-in, I made a frame surround for the bookcases using molding that matched the paneling details elsewhere in the room. I added a piece of skirting board along the front bottom edge and had a strip of timber cut to fit the gap in the middle."
"I used wood filler to fill all of the shelf adjuster holes and any other gaps and gave the whole bookcase sand all over," says Liz. "I then painted them to match the walls and finished them with a coat of matte varnish."
16. Showcase a stunning fluted vanity unit in your bedroom
Get a celebrity-worthy dressing room with this high-style IKEA dresser hack on a low budget.
Robyn (@the_house_acc) created this stunning fluted unit for a covetable glow-up. "I used two BILLY bookcases and two Ikea Oxberg glass doors," says Robyn. "I used Frenchic Paint's Black Jack for the doors before adding reeded adhesive film to create the on-trend fluted glass effect."
17. Elevate the IKEA BILLY bookcase with a modern rustic shelving makeover
Ruth (@mrs_macs_home) is a dab-hand when it comes to Ikea hacks, and we love this clever IKEA BILLY bookcase hack and how it allows adding so much texture and interest to this neutral living room.
"We first removed the skirting board so the units could go flush against the wall," says Ruth. "We had to raise the bookcases to accommodate the height of the skirting so attached adjustable kitchen plinth feet to each unit. Once all the units were in position and correct height, we glued and screwed the units together and anchored them to the wall. Then simply refitted the skirting board to finish."
Just add books, glassware, oversized bottles, logs, rattan baskets, and objet d'art for a super-chic modern rustic finish.
18. Transform a BILLY bookcase into a boho-luxe rattan kitchen dresser
With a little imagination and a lot of rattan roll, you can take an IKEA BILLY bookcase from boring to showstopping. Wondering how? Interior stylist Kathryn Hawkes shows us how with the transformation of her BILLY into a unique piece of furniture. In fact, her business Fronteriors inspires IKEA enthusiasts to get creative with their furniture in many different ways.
At first, Kathryn admits she was reluctant to tamper with the original BILLY, so she initially decorated the bookshelf with some books and accessories. But she inevitably fell for the allure of rattan and decided to experiment with her shelves and give the piece a glow-up. She began by picking up some cane webbing, which she passed to her carpenter friend, who converted them into doors which she then fit on the BILLY.
She painted the entire piece a nice color with Soothing Beige by the Norwegian paint company, JOTUN, and decided to place the unit, front and centre in the living room. This has to be one of the easiest but effective hacks ever!
19. Create arched shelving for high-end built-ins
For the small home office, a great storage idea is a BILLY bookcase. "Firstly, we had to figure out how many BILLY bookcases and how many height extensions we would need for our space," says Rachael (@firsthouseonfinn). "For our nine-foot ceilings, we needed two height extensions per bookcase, so a total of four BILLY bookcases, and eight height extensions. It took a day just to put all of these together."
"For the front face and arches, my husband used 1/2 inch MDF because it was so cheap ($20/sheet)," says Rachael. "To make the arches, he laid out the spacing on a sheet of MDF and cut two circles out using a router and a circle jig. Once the two holes were cut, he cut the MDF down the center to get a total of four arches. He nailed the arches to the bookcases, reattached the crown molding at the top, and then applied filler and sanded to make everything smooth."
20. Produce a wall-mounted display unit
Would you believe this design-driven wall display unit is a collection of IKEA BILLY bookcases? Not only does it add functionality, it also creates a cozy living room space.
"I wanted to create a wall-mounted storage/display unit but without the costly price tag," says Malcolm (@designsixtynine). "With IKEA BILLY bookcases in mind, I measured the wall to see which configuration would work best to fill the space. Two 800mm and two 400mm bookcases are mounted over four 600mm kitchen bridging units. These are secured into wooden batons, which are screwed into the studs of the wall."
"The bookcases rest on these (upside down, with the top removed) and are in turn screwed to the wall," says Malcolm. "The joins are covered with wooden molding and the base plinths (which are now at the top) are covered with crown molding. The whole thing was given a coat of Zinsser primer and painted the same color as the wall to help blend it into the room."
Why is Ikea Billy so popular?
The origins of the IKEA BILLY are interesting. In 1978, an IKEA designer called Gillis Lundgren sketched it on the back of a napkin, worried that he would forget it. The design was instantly popular within the brand and now, as per statistics, there are 60-odd million in the world. This piece is unique because it is a bare-bones, functional bookshelf and looks great as is. But it is also a blank canvas for creativity. DIYers for years have repurposed it — everything from a wine rack, TV unit and room divider to a baby-changing station.
How to make a BILLY bookcase look high end?
If you're going in for an IKEA BILLY Bookcase hack and want to give the new piece a high-end look, consider adding some decorative moldings to it. You could purchase those at a store or make some yourself with plywood. Alternatively, you could add lovely wallpaper or paint the front to give the unit a truly high-end look.
Other than that, you could attach multiple units to the piece and add a trim. You could also swap in new handles for the piece and go in for the more trendy handle finishes. And finally, consider adding texture to the surface for a refined look. There is a large variety of textural paints available in the market that you could try. From sand texture paint, limewash, suede finish to combed texture, choose a type that will go well with your interiors.
Which doors fit a BILLY bookcase?
The possibilities are endless. You can personalize your BILLY with wooden doors, glass doors, rattan doors or even do away with doors if you want to create a more open storage piece.
Can you paint over Ikea Billy bookcase?
Yes, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Painting IKEA furniture can feel tough at times because they are finished in a seemingly impenetrable laminate finish. The key, is sanding, painting, and drying on repeat. So budget your time and paint costs accordingly. Consider investing in a good primer, like the Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer after lightly sanding the BILLY and wiping it down. Then use a high-quality paint such as a chalk paint or a mineral paint for the piece. You'll need a paint brush, foam roller and drop cloths for it.
