ᐅ BILLY Bookcase Alternative Shelves – Which Material?

Hello everyone,

I have a Billy bookshelf from IKEA and would like to try an alternative material for the shelves instead of the usual particleboard. Currently, the shelves are typically made of coated particleboard with a thin melamine layer, which works well for many purposes, but I am interested in more durable, possibly sturdier, or visually more appealing materials.

I would appreciate any experiences and recommendations regarding suitable replacement materials for the BILLY shelves. The material should be relatively easy to work with (cutting, etc.), remain stable, and not add too much thickness, so the bookshelf does not look too bulky.

Have you ever used solid wood, plywood, MDF, or other materials for shelves? How durable are they, what about their appearance, and do you have any practical tips for selecting or working with them?

I look forward to your opinions and advice!

Hello Bo-be66,

I think your question is well formulated and very focused. For a durable and sturdy alternative to the usual BILLY shelf made of particleboard, multiplex plywood is a great option. Multiplex panels are glued from several veneer layers, making them stronger and less prone to warping than particleboard or MDF.

Working with it is a bit more demanding due to the glued layers, but with a good saw and sandpaper, it is quite manageable. Visually, you can leave multiplex in its natural wood color, or paint or oil it.

If you want the shelf to look less bulky, you can choose panels with a thickness of 15mm (0.6 inches). Thanks to the higher strength, you can make them thinner than particleboard.

I would also recommend sealing the cut edges carefully, as multiplex needs to be protected from moisture.

Plywood or MDF are good alternatives. MDF has a very smooth surface, is easy to paint, but is less stable and slightly heavier. Plywood is more stable and visually more appealing. Solid wood is expensive and can warp.

I would choose plywood when it comes to stability.

MDF is too heavy and less durable under load.

Solid wood can warp if it is not properly dried.

flo-Theres schrieb:
For a durable and sturdy alternative to the usual BILLY shelf made of particleboard, multiplex plywood is recommended.

Thanks for the explanation! I’m also curious about the weight. I plan to take the shelves out regularly and rearrange them, so they shouldn't be too heavy. Is multiplex noticeably heavier than the standard boards, or is it still manageable?

And what about the effect of moisture? I want to keep the shelf in my hobby room, which can sometimes be a bit damp.

Bo-be66 schrieb:
How about the weight aspect?

Plywood is actually a bit heavier than coated particle board, but usually not so much that it becomes noticeably inconvenient in everyday use. Especially if you adjust the thickness accordingly, you hardly notice a difference.

Bo-be66 schrieb:
And what about the impact of moisture?

Plywood is less susceptible to moisture than standard particle board, particularly when bonded with waterproof glue (which you can look out for). However, it should not be exposed to constant dampness. It could still work for a hobby room if the humidity levels aren’t too high. Additional sealing with suitable oils or varnishes also provides protection.