IKEA Billy Bookcase Hack

IKEA Billy Bookcase Hack

Transform your space with this easy bookcase hack! IKEA Billy bookcases are cheap and easy to install but they can use a update. With this Billy Bookcase Hack, you can transform your Billy Ikea shelves in less than five minutes and for free! This Ikea Billy Bookcase Hack requires no fancy tools or special skills. Come see how this simple Bookcase Hack makes your Ikea Billy Bookcase (or any bookscase) look so much nicer with minimal effort and cost

I can’t believe I never wrote a post about this hack. I shared it on my Instagram page when I first did it.

Sometimes I think the easiest DIYs aren’t worth talking about and then I remember the easiest DIYs are the ones TO talk about.

Hello, who doesn’t love an easy DIY?

And in this case, all you need is a pencil and level

Now full disclaimer, I can’t say for 100% certainty that my bookcases are Billy Bookcases from IKEA.

We moved into this house with these bookcases already here but if I had to guess, these are built in Billy Bookcases.

And it really doesn’t matter because you can do this DIY on any bookcase (or on any wall)

I’ve done this before on my laundry room walls too.

My bookcases in my family room were just feeling blah to me.

Here is what they looked like before..

Nothing wrong with them, but like I said they just needed something

Any by something, I mean a pencil

I assume this DIY is self explanatory but just in case you need a tutorial here we go.

Bookcase Hack~How To

A few tips before we get started

~Use either a colored pencil or a regular pencil for this project. Please do not use a sharpie unless you want to torture yourself. A sharpie is not forgiving and H-E-double hockey sticks to paint over if you decide you’re over this look

~Measure four times and draw once. Even though you are using a pencil, erasing your lines from a mistake might be obvious

~ A semi-sharpened pencil worked better for me. If it is too sharpened, the line will not show up as well.

~Use a heavy hand when drawing your line

~Having a long level saved the day. I used the level as my guide and drew my line as I was holding up the level

Step 1:

Remove your shelves. If you cannot remove your shelves this might be a bit trickier but it still can be done.

Step 2:

Step 2 is the hardest part because math is involved. I hate math.

And this is solely up to what you want the back of your bookcase to look like

I measured my bookcase and marked the middle. I also knew I wanted larger looking “boards”.

This part took some measuring and math-ing and I eventually figured it out.

Starting from the middle and working out seemed to help make this process a bit easier

And that is it…you’re done.

I really wasn’t expecting much from this project but I will have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised what a difference a teeny tiny pencil can make

See, aren’t you glad I created this post for you?

I won’t go into great detail about how to decorate your bookcases. That is a post for another time but I will link some of my favorite bookshelf decor pieces below.

Yes, I am fully aware that you can just use books. I’ve been told…mainly by my husband

If you want to see a few more of my easy IKEA hacks you can read this post.

You guys know I love IKEA and I might have written a few posts about IKEA through the years.

(Click on any image to read)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on any image to shop:

If you want to save this for later, you can pin it here: