Decorating
7 Ways With the Classic Billy Bookcase
One of Ikea’s founding designers, Gillis Lundgren, leaves behind an iconic bookcase found in homes across the UK
The designer of Ikea’s Billy bookcase, Gillis Lundgren, recently died aged 86, but he leaves behind a great legacy. The native Swede joined Ikea in 1953 as its fourth employee and designed the Billy bookcase, which Ikea now makes 15 of every minute. He also came up with the idea behind the flat-pack, self-assembly concept, which has made life much easier for homeowners and renters around the world.
The Billy bookcase is a design that has endured throughout the years as a simple, low-fuss structure. Here are some ways in which Houzzers have used the iconic bookcase in their own homes.
The Billy bookcase is a design that has endured throughout the years as a simple, low-fuss structure. Here are some ways in which Houzzers have used the iconic bookcase in their own homes.
Mix and match
There are many different sizes of Billy bookcase and they’re built to be paired together. Mix it up with the 80cm and 40cm models, as this homeowner has done.
See more stylish storage solutions for living rooms
There are many different sizes of Billy bookcase and they’re built to be paired together. Mix it up with the 80cm and 40cm models, as this homeowner has done.
See more stylish storage solutions for living rooms
Personalise with paint
As the design is so simple, it’s easy to customise the bookcase with a bit of DIY. The homeowner of this fun-filled apartment in New York has painted her Billy bookcase yellow and orange to make it unique.
Check out 10 creative ways to personalise a living space
As the design is so simple, it’s easy to customise the bookcase with a bit of DIY. The homeowner of this fun-filled apartment in New York has painted her Billy bookcase yellow and orange to make it unique.
Check out 10 creative ways to personalise a living space
Play with the shelves
There’s no need to stick with the conventional when it comes to assembling this bookcase. The model is flexible for you to choose where you put the shelves. Pick a level where you want to display your taller pieces, such as an artwork or flowers, and leave extra gaps in-between the shelves to make room for them.
There’s no need to stick with the conventional when it comes to assembling this bookcase. The model is flexible for you to choose where you put the shelves. Pick a level where you want to display your taller pieces, such as an artwork or flowers, and leave extra gaps in-between the shelves to make room for them.
Hack to work with your scheme
Another way to personalise the Billy bookcase is to put patterned coverings on the blank backing, as this homeowner has done. This injects a touch of fun into the design, and fits in nicely in a child’s space.
Another way to personalise the Billy bookcase is to put patterned coverings on the blank backing, as this homeowner has done. This injects a touch of fun into the design, and fits in nicely in a child’s space.
Lift it up
This bookcase doesn’t need to remain on the floor: it can be positioned at a height to make a grand statement – especially if you have a high ceiling. These Billy bookcases have been placed on top of low cupboards, which offer extra storage.
TELL US…
Do you have a Billy bookcase at home? Tell us how you use it or share a photo in the Comments below.
This bookcase doesn’t need to remain on the floor: it can be positioned at a height to make a grand statement – especially if you have a high ceiling. These Billy bookcases have been placed on top of low cupboards, which offer extra storage.
TELL US…
Do you have a Billy bookcase at home? Tell us how you use it or share a photo in the Comments below.
Of course, it’s natural for a book collection to grow over time, and Mr Lundgren considered this when he designed the Billy bookcase. Book collectors are covered with the option of adding a height extension unit to the top shelf. This homeowner has done exactly that in this study, taking the shelves to the ceiling.