Hello everyone, I am planning to install a series of Billy bookcases in a relatively narrow niche in my living room. The niche is 80 cm (31.5 inches) wide and 220 cm (86.6 inches) high. My question is: What is the best way to adapt Billy bookcases to fit such niches so that no space is wasted, the appearance remains harmonious, and stability is ensured? Are there any recommended additional components or modifications that have proven effective? It would be great if you could also share practical experiences and possibly point out common pitfalls when fitting bookcases into niches like this.
Chendu schrieb:
Always secure to the wall for stability. This is a very important point. Especially with recesses, there is often little room for adjustment, so the shelf should be fixed at several points. I recommend first measuring the exact depth of the recess, because BILLY shelves are usually 28 cm (11 inches) deep. If the recess is shallower, leave a few millimeters (a fraction of an inch) of space at the back wall so the shelf is not wedged tight and can avoid warping.
Chendu schrieb:
Use side panels or cover strips to close gaps. MDF or solid wood cover strips can be cut to size at IKEA or hardware stores. Alternatively, you can use wall panels or shelving components adjusted with brackets. It is important that all elements are securely screwed together to maintain stability.
Are there any unevennesses in your recess, for example irregular walls? That can also cause difficulties with fitting.
Domau0 schrieb:
Are there any uneven surfaces in your niche, for example irregular walls? Yes, that is actually a problem – the walls are not perfectly straight, especially the left side which deviates slightly. This creates a small gap of about 2 cm (0.8 inches) between the shelf and the wall. How could this gap be concealed without it looking sloppy? Also, I wonder if it is possible to extend BILLY shelving units upwards to make full use of the space above.
The side gap can best be filled with an edge made of wood or MDF, which can be trimmed to fit and then painted. Slightly curved trim panels are a great solution to visually even out small irregularities.
To extend the shelves: IKEA offers an extension kit for BILLY that allows you to increase the height by about 40 cm (16 inches). It is important to make the connection very stable, ideally using dowels and extra screws. You will also need to adjust the wall fixing, as the shelf will then have to support more weight.
If that is not enough, you can also stack two shelves on top of each other, but you should connect them properly to ensure safety.
To extend the shelves: IKEA offers an extension kit for BILLY that allows you to increase the height by about 40 cm (16 inches). It is important to make the connection very stable, ideally using dowels and extra screws. You will also need to adjust the wall fixing, as the shelf will then have to support more weight.
If that is not enough, you can also stack two shelves on top of each other, but you should connect them properly to ensure safety.
kinto67 schrieb:
How could this gap be concealed without it looking sloppy? There are also flexible plastic trims that you can cut to size and glue in place. They are thin and adapt well to small irregularities. Alternatively, simply fill a color-matched shadow gap with acrylic; it looks neat and is easy to do.
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