ᐅ What to do if Billy shelves are installed crooked?

Hello everyone, I recently assembled a few Billy shelves from Ikea, but unfortunately, they are noticeably crooked. The shelves are not level, which is especially apparent when stacking books and binders. I have already checked whether the floor is uneven, but I can largely rule that out. My question is: What practical and preferably long-lasting solutions are there to straighten crookedly installed Billy shelves? I am particularly interested in how to proceed without having to completely disassemble or damage the shelf. Are there any tips for simple adjustments to the shelf feet or the wall mounting that can help level the shelf? I look forward to your experiences and recommendations!

The easiest way is to place small washers under the feet or use special furniture shims. If the wall mounting is loose, tightening it often helps as well.

Hello! It’s useful to know that Billy shelves are generally not designed for uneven floors. If the floor isn’t the issue, adjusting the shelf feet by screwing them out or using shims can often help level the shelf. It’s also important to double-check the wall attachments, as slight adjustments there can significantly improve the shelf’s stability. Make sure the shelf is securely fixed to the wall, especially when the weight of books is unevenly distributed. It’s better to invest some time in this before disassembling the entire shelf. 🙂

GUMARTINA schrieb:
The easiest solution is to place small washers under the feet or to use special furniture wedges.

Using furniture wedges sounds reasonable, but I wonder how stable that really is, especially if the shelf holds several kilograms (pounds) of books and might get bumped during the day. Does anyone have experience with how safe and reliable this method is in everyday use?

GiRoyce schrieb:
It’s also important to double-check the wall mounting, since a slight adjustment there can significantly stabilize the shelf.

Is it possible to improve or replace the existing wall mounts if the originals are not sufficient? Are there any specific recommendations?

Furniture wedges are safe when made of hard rubber or wood. You need to push them firmly under the legs. Regarding wall fixings: use stronger anchors and screws if the original ones seem too unstable.

I would like to add that you should pay special attention to leveling the depth, meaning you need to check that the shelf does not tilt forward or backward. Washers made of plastic or metal work well; they are durable and can provide lasting support.

If the floor is uneven, you can also replace the feet with adjustable furniture legs, which are available at hardware stores. This allows for precise height adjustment. Wall mounting is important not only for stability but also for keeping the shelf straight, so a strong anchor or screw in solid wall material is advisable.

Sometimes it is also worth slightly repositioning the furniture if the wall is especially uneven.