11 ingenious uses for a Billy bookcase

You either own one, or know someone who does. But did you realise the Ikea Billy bookcase was THIS versatile? Check out these cool DIY projects.

See how easy it is to transform Ikea’s most popular Billy bookcase into a custom-looking piece.

Geometric buffet

A Billy bookcase turns into a modern buffet when turned on its side, cut in half diagonally and reinforced with shelves cut from another Billy. Faisaal told IkeaHackers how he added an Ikea Broder top, some Capita legs and a coat of white paint to finish the look.

Get the how-to at Ikea Hackers.

Library wall with remote-controlled picture lights and hidden speakers

Kristin at Bliss at Home built this gorgeous library wall for less than $450 using four Billy bookcases plus lumber, molding and paint from the home-supply store. Another $90 on the brass picture lights and $65 on a hidden speaker system complete the custom project.

Get the how-to at Bliss at Home.

Kitchen island

Courtney of Golden Boys & Me made this sweet kitchen island by attaching three Billy bookcases to a half wall and covering the entire structure with white headboard. She capped it off with a butcher-block top with decorative corbels. The open shelving is perfect for stashing baking supplies and cookbooks, while the wire baskets on the side offer a convenient spot to store paper goods.

Get the how-to at Golden Boys & Me.

Open and closed storage

To pull off this massive storage unit, Filippa at ScrapHackers added lumber, trim and some Ikea kitchen cabinets with doors to the bases of three Billy bookcases. Faux drawer fronts made of blocks of wood with knobs complete the custom look.

Get the how-to at ScrapHacker.

Picture-perfect sideboard

Claire of 500 Square transformed a generic birch-finished Billy into a stylish sideboard by flipping it sideways, painting it white and adding a distressed wood top. For extra personality, she Modge-Podged black-and-white airplane photos and chevron-patterned fabric to the backing.

Get the how-to at 500 Squared.

Arched details

Jenny at Little Green Notebook added architectural details to her wall of Billy bookcases by using a jigsaw to cut arches out of pieces of MDF. After painting them white and attaching them to the tops of the shelves, she finished off the edges and seams with trim and caulk and painted the insides forest green.

Get the how-to at Little Green Notebook.

Wall-to-Wall Storage

Need a little more storage? To house her extensive book collection, Beth of Home Stories A to Z lined up five Billys, removing their backs so the exposed brick wall could peek through. To bridge the gap between the top of the shelves and the ceiling -- and create an interesting custom detail -- try layering several pieces of molding.

Get the how-to at Home Stories A to Z.

Beveled crown molding with patterned backing

Brittany of Brittany Makes stenciled an ikat pattern onto the backing of two wide Billy bookcases using graphite chalk paint, then added beveled crown molding. The result is an eye-catching bookcase wall with lots of dimension.

Get the how-to at Brittany Makes.

Three-quarters library wall

Ashli of Mini Manor Blog created some depth with her short wall of Billy built-ins by pulling forward the three units in the center, making the outer units appear recessed. To hide the fact that they don’t line up in the back, she topped the whole unit with sheets of MDF.

Get the how-to at Mini Manor Blog.

Customised built-ins

Liza of Mel & Liza created a custom built-in look on a budget by using Billy bookcases and height extenders to fill the wall around a sunroom door. Pine-board trim conceals where the bookcases connect to each other and the walls, while a shelf with wooden corbels helps support the extender units above the door and TV.

Get the how-to at Mel & Liza.

Modern Sideboard

Elina turned two Billys of different lengths onto their sides and attached Ikea Applad cabinet doors and Capita legs. The uber-modern unit is visually light and airy but offers a ton of storage.

Get the how-to at Ikea Hackers.

Ellen Sturm Niz is an editor and writer working, parenting, and living in New York City. Follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Google+.