Stefan chairs, the Malm dresser, the Billy bookcase … The products of the Swedish furniture brand, IKEA, have seen entire generations grow. Timeless, practical and above all at low prices, everyone loves pieces with a minimalist and modern design. The advantage is that with their discreet lines, the kit furniture blends everywhere. Between diversions and personalizations, creative people regularly reinvent the classics of the furniture house. The "IKEA hacking" has even become a real trend with its hashtag and dedicated Facebook groups.
The Billy library, imagined by Gillis Lundgren, is one of the favorite products of DIY enthusiasts. On social networks, Instagram and Pinterest especially, there is no shortage of inspirations to decorate this model which has moreover sold over 60 million copies since it was put on the market in the late 70s. Painting, masking tape , doors and suspensions. Discover all our ideas to hack the famous Billy in your turn. Only test: it is better to be a good handyman to successfully assemble the kit furniture.
How to transform the Billy library from IKEA with doors?
Originally intended to display books and trinkets, the Billy library tends to be used for everything. Crockery, household linen, shoes … To prevent your shelves from collecting dust and to smooth the view, sometimes hiding the mess, you can very easily fix doors. As for style, let yourself be carried away by current trends. Cabinet-style display cabinet or more natural materials and seventies, such as caning? It's up to you to choose between chic and rustic, Art Deco or minimalist country house looks.
How do I add doors to an IKEA bookcase? To decorate the Billy model, nothing could be simpler than having a screwdriver and four chassis. Attach the frames on each side of the bookcase. Remember to measure well so that the frames are aligned. Screw them to the cabinet, then do the same with the doors. For even more convenience, note that IKEA sells doors directly supplied with adjustable hinges. Fancy caning? Buy a cane roll and a glass door at IKEA. Remove the glass and position the cane instead. Cut the cane to fit the size of the door and staple it.
Painting and masking tape: our ideas for a colorful touch
Transform a piece of furniture into a game. This is a funny idea that thrills some (big) children! Doll house, fire station, police station to store your police cars or collective garden on several floors to maintain felt fruit? We have fun diverting the mini version of the Billy library into new playgrounds. Obviously, this idea is also available in a more sober version with a background upholstered in floral wallpaper or covered with a single layer of solid color .
How to paint the Billy library? First of all, get the right tools. So you will need special wood paint, a roller and fine brushes if you want to add details. You can also use wallpaper or masking tape, these rolls of tape in various colors and patterns. Start by lightly sanding the furniture, then apply a first coat of paint. Let it dry and start again. Then have fun decorating the library with masking tape or scraps of paper.
Billy: why not suspend the IKEA library?
The advantage with kit furniture is that they are modular. So you can do what you want with it, as you wish. The idea of hanging furniture is then ideal for ventilating a room and sometimes even enlarging it. The concept is simple: set up the bookcase or hang it directly on the wall, leaving a space between the floor and the bottom of the furniture. In this way, you can create new storage space, by adding boxes to the floor, for example, or by transforming the library into a TV stand.
How do I suspend the library? You have two options: buy feet and screw them under the furniture, or hang them directly on the wall. To do this, the process is quite simple. Using a ruler fitted with a spirit level, draw a line on which you will align the library. Then place plates on the corners of the furniture and transfer the measurements to the wall. Drill the wall to slide the dowels in, then fix the hooks of the plates. Finally, screw the furniture to the wall. Easy !
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