Hello everyone, I am planning to visually separate open areas in my apartment without building solid walls. Therefore, I want to use IKEA’s Billy bookcases as room dividers. My question is: based on your experience, which versions or sizes of the Billy bookcases are best suited for use as room dividers? Important factors for me are stability, appearance, storage capacity, and whether the back panels can be easily removed or adjusted to create a see-through effect. If anyone has practical tips or experiences with specific models, I would greatly appreciate detailed feedback. Thanks in advance!
Hello niken35,
for using BILLY shelving units as room dividers, I believe the standard widths of 80 cm (31.5 inches) and 40 cm (16 inches) are especially suitable. The 80 cm (31.5 inches) shelf provides enough storage space and stability, particularly when the back panel is installed.
Here, I recommend leaving out the back panel entirely when using the shelves as room dividers, as otherwise the unit tends to look too closed off. This creates a more open view, which is often perceived as pleasant. For larger room separations, you can also place two 40 cm (16 inches) shelves side by side to combine width and slight flexibility.
The shelves should also be secured to the ceiling to ensure they stand safely as room dividers. Overall, BILLY shelving units are well suited for this use due to their light weight and adjustable shelves.
for using BILLY shelving units as room dividers, I believe the standard widths of 80 cm (31.5 inches) and 40 cm (16 inches) are especially suitable. The 80 cm (31.5 inches) shelf provides enough storage space and stability, particularly when the back panel is installed.
niken35 schrieb:
whether the back panels can be easily removed or adjusted to create a more open effect.
Here, I recommend leaving out the back panel entirely when using the shelves as room dividers, as otherwise the unit tends to look too closed off. This creates a more open view, which is often perceived as pleasant. For larger room separations, you can also place two 40 cm (16 inches) shelves side by side to combine width and slight flexibility.
The shelves should also be secured to the ceiling to ensure they stand safely as room dividers. Overall, BILLY shelving units are well suited for this use due to their light weight and adjustable shelves.
sihau schrieb:
to completely omit the back panel in room dividers, as the shelf otherwise looks visually too closed off. Definitely a good tip!
You can also use open baskets or boxes in the BILLY shelves to increase storage capacity while still maintaining visibility.
For me, the 80 cm (31.5 inches) models with a height of 202 cm (79.5 inches) are real room divider heroes because they fill the space well without feeling too bulky. If you want something even more airy, you can consider the 28 cm (11 inches) narrow shelf – it’s slim but works great when placed in the middle of the room, providing a semi-transparent separation.
Just keep in mind that BILLY shelves can sometimes feel a bit unstable without wall mounting, so it’s better to screw them firmly or secure them with metal brackets to the floor and ceiling.
I’ve done this in my apartment and am satisfied – it looks stylish and still doesn’t completely block off the space.
I would say that if stability is the most important criterion, then BILLY shelves with a back panel and a width of 80cm (31.5 inches) are best. You can also use them without a back panel, but then smaller widths are preferable. A height of 202cm (79.5 inches) is optimal for room dividers.
For me, room dividers are always about creating the right atmosphere. At first, I used an 80cm (31.5 inch) shelf without a back panel as a partition, but it felt a bit bare and unstable. That’s why I added plants and decorative elements to make the shelf not only functional but also cozy.
In my case, the back panel could be removed, but you definitely need to secure it well to the floor or ceiling; otherwise, it wobbles easily when touched. Do you have a high-traffic area? Then I also recommend anchoring it to the sides.
Do you already have a specific size in mind or have you precisely measured the rooms you want to divide?
niken35 schrieb:
Appearance, storage space, and whether the back panels can be easily removed or adjusted
In my case, the back panel could be removed, but you definitely need to secure it well to the floor or ceiling; otherwise, it wobbles easily when touched. Do you have a high-traffic area? Then I also recommend anchoring it to the sides.
Do you already have a specific size in mind or have you precisely measured the rooms you want to divide?
koduga schrieb:
Do you already have a specific size in mind or have you measured the rooms where you want to create a separation? Thanks for asking! Yes, I have two areas of about 3 x 4 meters (10 x 13 feet) that I want to keep open in terms of light but separate acoustically and visually. That’s why I was thinking of the 80 cm (32 inches) BILLY, which I can place in the middle.
I find your comments about the back panel interesting. I want to maintain an airy feel but also use storage space. Maybe I’ll try using the back panel without fixing it first.
Roberta schrieb:
If stability is important, then BILLY shelves with back panel and in 80 cm width. That’s roughly in line with my thinking.Thanks for all the helpful tips so far. I’ll take my time implementing your suggestions and get back to you if I have more questions!
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