ᐅ How can I install BILLY shelves in apartments without drilling holes?

Hello everyone,

I have a small problem: I want to install my BILLY shelves from IKEA in my apartment, but for various reasons (rental agreement, no drilling holes in the walls) I am not allowed to drill any holes. However, the shelves still need to be stable and secure, even when loaded.

Does anyone have experience or tips on how to fix BILLY shelves without any drilling? I am especially interested in solutions that are easy to implement and do not cause any damage to the walls. Maybe there are special clamp or tension systems or other innovative options?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Hi,

The easiest way is to secure the shelves with angle brackets between the floor and ceiling. This creates pressure and eliminates the need for drill holes.

Alternatively, there are anti-slip pads for the feet to prevent the shelf from sliding.

Cool topic! 🙂 I recently did exactly the same thing – the BILLY shelves are really great, but at first, I was hesitant about not drilling.

What worked really well for me were these self-adhesive felt pads under the shelf feet, combined with a tension rod system that I got from the hardware store. You just wedge it between the floor and ceiling, no screws needed! That’s brilliant!

Good luck, you’ve got this! 🙂

NUPIN schrieb:
What worked really well for me were these self-adhesive felt pads under the shelf feet

This is a good tip to prevent scratches on the floor, especially on parquet or laminate.

Regarding secure mounting without drilling, I would like to add that in addition to tension rods, special wall adhesives or mounting tapes can also work, but only if the surface is clean and smooth.

It is important that the load is not too heavy, as adhesive solutions often fail with heavy shelves. However, for light loads and small shelves, this can be an alternative.

It may also be worth considering freestanding shelving systems that are stable on their own without needing to be fixed to the wall.

PAUREO54 schrieb:
The easiest way is to secure the shelves with tension brackets between floor and ceiling

That is true, but I would like to raise a critical question: How stable is such a construction really in practice? Especially with thin or uneven ceilings, this can lead to problems.

I have also read that some of these tension systems can leave pressure marks on ceilings or floors, which can be a real issue for tenants.

An alternative could be modular shelving units that use counterweights or have a wide base, making wall fixing practically unnecessary. Overall, however, the best solution strongly depends on the specific conditions – ceiling height, wall material, and the load on the shelving.

Perhaps Lispa could provide more details about the room dimensions and the intended load, so more targeted help can be offered.