ᐅ Why does the color fade on BILLY bookcases?

I have a question that has been on my mind for some time: Why does the color on IKEA’s Billy shelves fade relatively quickly? I own several of these shelves in white and black, and after only a few years, the areas most exposed to sunlight or sometimes artificial light start to fade. I wonder if this is due to the type of coating or the material used, or if external factors like UV radiation or humidity play a role. Are there differences between the various versions (e.g. Billy with lightweight construction or solid wood), and is it possible to reduce discoloration through specific care or by choosing a certain location? I would appreciate well-founded and understandable explanations that also cover the technical background.

Discoloration and fading of the finish on BILLY shelves are mainly due to the type of surface coating and exposure to UV radiation.

IKEA typically uses melamine resin or foil coatings on particleboard for BILLY shelves, which is cost- and resource-efficient but less resistant to light and environmental influences compared to real paint finishes on solid wood.

UV radiation from sunlight or strong artificial light causes photodegradation of the color pigments and binders. This process gradually breaks down the pigments, resulting in fading or yellowing. The underlying material—usually particleboard or MDF—is porous and can undergo additional changes depending on the environment, which visually enhances the fading effect.

Positioning the shelf away from direct sunlight, along with regular cleaning and gentle maintenance, helps extend the life of the finish.

SUBEN60 schrieb:
UV radiation from sunlight or strong artificial light causes photodegradation of colorants and binders.

That is absolutely correct. Additionally, I would like to point out that especially with BILLY shelves featuring a white surface, the surface is often just a thin decorative foil or a melamine coating, which is not UV-protected. This accelerates fading.

This is particularly noticeable with darker colors, where lighter spots appear as the color pigments break down.

So, if shelves are placed in a room with strong natural daylight or direct sunlight exposure, faster color fading must unfortunately be expected.

A tip: sometimes special UV protection sprays for furniture (also available from specialist retailers) can help slow down fading. However, compatibility with the furniture surface should be tested first, as this may otherwise cause stains.

Funau52 schrieb:
Why does the color on BILLY shelves [...] fade relatively quickly?

This is partly a matter of price. IKEA produces BILLY as an affordable option, so you can't expect high-end UV-resistant coatings.

If someone uses regular particleboard with a melamine finish, they shouldn't be surprised if it fades after a few years of exposure to light. This isn't damage but rather inevitable wear for inexpensive furniture.

If you don’t want that, you either have to buy more expensive solid wood or lacquered furniture or repaint it yourself, which requires effort. If you have a shelf like this in a sunny living room, you just have to accept it.

I think this isn't communicated clearly enough. Many believe they are buying a product with "good paint," but these are industrial laminates rather than professional quality coatings.

LEOIX schrieb:
It’s partly a matter of price after all.

Exactly. If you want to look at this technically, you need to understand how the surfaces of BILLY shelves are constructed. Usually, they consist of a particleboard (MDF or similar) as the core material, which is then covered with a decorative melamine resin foil. These foils are applied by machine and are cost-effective, but their durability is limited.

The foils contain color pigments that are not inherently UV-resistant. When exposed to UV light, chemical processes break down the binders and pigments, which appears visually as fading. Another factor is temperature and humidity, which cause the board underneath to “move” slightly, allowing small cracks or micro-shifts in the surface, accelerating wear.

Good care of the shelves can delay this somewhat, but completely preventing fading is technically not possible at this price and manufacturing level.

A useful question would be: Do you have specific locations, such as direct sunlight or just bright light? And how significant is the discoloration in your daily use?

In this whole discussion, it’s important to remember that we are talking about a piece of furniture that is really great for its time and price! 🙂

Of course, the color will fade – many items do, even more expensive furniture, especially if they are often exposed to sunlight. With BILLY, the thing is that the affordable melamine veneers are not treated with UV protection and the material underneath is neither solid wood nor coated like lacquered surfaces.

If you really want to, you can either oil or paint the shelf after a few years, or simply move it to a different spot. It’s no big deal, more like a natural sign of aging.

I myself have a BILLY in a darker room, and after 7 years you can hardly see any changes. ;-) So location really is the biggest factor.

If the color still bothers you, you can treat the surface with special furniture wax, which offers some care and protection. But that’s a bit of a luxury.