Instead of a thin layer of wood veneer, BILLY now has a hard surface of durable paper foil. ”The foil has different printed patterns that look like natural wood and means that less wood is needed to make each BILLY,” says Umut. Using materials only where they are needed is resource-efficient. “And it has meant another positive thing – an even more affordable BILLY.”
More from the BILLY series
BILLY Bookcase, black oak effect, 80x28x202 cm
Price £ 70
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Black oak effect
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BILLY
404.773.40BILLY bookcase is a beloved icon that never goes out of style. Thanks to its versatility you can use it in many different ways at home – regardless of whether you store books or everyday items in it.
DesignerGillis Lundgren
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BILLY Bookcase, black oak effect, 80x28x202 cm
BILLY is a versatile bookcase that works just as good as a storage unit and is suitable to use in many different ways at home.
The shallow and adjustable shelves help you customise your BILLY and allow you to use it as you like – for storing everyday items, memorabilia or other things you collect.
BILLY has a simple and timeless design that is easy to personalise by adding boxes, lighting and your favourite items.
Make it even more personal by adding doors, allowing you to both hide and display things. In this way your BILLY can get new functions and a new look as your style and living situation changes.
Reviews
Great product but note space required for back panelAnonymous reviewerGood product - couple of things that could be improved or noted.
First, some fixings are now plastic and not metal. I had one of these break whilst tightening. Luckily managed to glue fixing to avoid a visit to the store. Either move back to metal fixing or provide a spare as it is a weaker fixing.
Second, the back panel now slides in as opposed to being offered up and nailed in. This means you need quite a bit of room available to install. So for a 2m high unit you need another 2m clear. I didn't have this so had to try and install by pushing into the slots being careful not to damage the back panel. Should be made clear upon purchase.
Good looking bookcaseAnonymous reviewerLooks smart
Great ShelvesAnonymous reviewerYes
Good qualityAnonymous reviewerEasy to assemble & plenty of room for my many books
Back makes it impossible for 1 person to to assemble Anonymous reviewerI have put up many billy bookcases in my time but they must have changed the back design because I just cannot get it to fit by myself. I am so frustrated. I am living alone and I'm used to doing these things myself so to not be able to complete it due to some badly designed thick cardboard makes me want to scream and throw the whole thing out the window. On top of that the mdf has come away in the corner of one of the pieces. Disappointed.
Book cornerAnonymous reviewerI got the black as it goes with the theme of the room and they look great, easy to build and even better i was able to screw them into the wall so they are very sturdy.
Great classics Anonymous reviewerMy only grip is the back, its a bit flimsy and you dont get enough nails.
Wonderful Billy BookcaseAnonymous reviewerYou can’t go wrong with a Billy Bookcase - it does what it is supposed to do and at a great price.
New Billy is cheap BillyAnonymous reviewerI have a Billy book case for about 8 years, it is great I have loads of heavy books on shelves and it can cope with that, it look fantastic in oak veneer. Sounds great yeah? Well not anymore unfortunately!!! Ikea decided to drop quality and oak veneer, been in store yesterday to check “new Billy” it is AWFUL, oak effect is cheap paper just print no texture, you can see on display pieces how easy it peels and how ridiculously thin it is. If before you could consider it for study room or library, now maybe for kids room as temporary solution or for somewhere where no one will see it.
Now message to IKEA.
You have to admit you really made mistake.
Please bring old reliable good looking Oak veneer Billy back, a lot of people around the world will appreciate that, bring it back at list as more pricy option. A lot of people like me who want to expand their libraries have to look elsewhere because Billy is the only 28cm deep option in IKEA and new Billy is nowhere near old Billy.
Sagging shelvesAnonymous reviewerHad our Billy bookcase for about a year, its only had light objects on, mostly lego. All the shelves have sagged by about half a centimeter.
Small hooks Anonymous reviewerAfter 4 months, my bookshelf fall apart the hooks are too small to balance the shelves let alone the books. A suggestion to have the small frame structure as Kallax. Otherwise Billy is more for decorations, and a few light books.
Just like any other BillyAnonymous reviewerI needed to have a Billy on a darker colour to match other furniture in my office. It looks really good
horribly thin veneerAnonymous reviewerThe quality on the Billy book cases has really dropped. Recently bought this unit and ours arrived with a couple of marks and chips on the veneer.
The veneer on these is actually just a bit of paper with the wood effect and this will not hold up over time.
Great to look at when new but give them a few months of use and they will be wrecked.
Looks goodAnonymous reviewerBought this bookcase for our sons house. It was easy to assemble and looks good in the alcove of his front room. Room for all of his books. Delivery was quick, very pleased with it.
Meeting my needAnonymous reviewerYes been waiting to buy these for while. So pleased with them as I needed two. They fill space where I wanted them. Great for book space and used bottom half for cupboard space.
Easy to buildAnonymous reviewerVery easy to build, correct amount of hardware, easy to understand instructions!
Sturdy, well pricedAnonymous reviewerI've been a fan of this bookshelf line for almost 8 years. All my bookshelves are Billy. Will keep buying
Billy bookcasesAnonymous reviewerEasy to build, look good and excellent storage
PerfectAnonymous reviewerJust what we needed for my Wife’s craft room
Great value bookcaseAnonymous reviewerLooks great and good value
Customer reviews
4.6Average rating
3121Reviews
4.6Average rating
3121Reviews
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Story
An updated storage hero
BILLY bookcase has been a steady customer favourite for more than 40 years – but old faithful servants also need to be updated to keep up with the times. We took a closer look at BILLY and came up with some ideas. One of them means more efficient use of materials, and another makes the bookcase easier to assemble and take apart.
“BILLY was introduced in 1979 and has helped millions of people to organize books and other things in the home. But the world has changed a lot since then, and even popular big-sellers need to adapt to new demands and ways of living,” says Umut Ates, one of our co-workers.
Paper means smarter use of raw materials
Easier to assemble and take apart
BILLY fits just as well in the living room as in other areas of the home – the office, dining room or library. It’s easy to expand and combine with other furniture. But one thing that has had potential for improvement is how the bookcase is assembled and taken apart. “Previously, you had to nail about 50 small nails to get the back panel in place, but that’s history now. Instead, you snap on the back panel without any tools,” explains Umut. It also makes it easier to disassemble BILLY without damaging it if you move or want to resell your bookcase. “The improvements have made BILLY more adaptable – it can keep up changing life situations – and it wouldn’t surprise me if this storage hero is as popular in 40 years as it is today.”