ᐅ How can I secure BILLY shelves in rental apartments without drilling into the walls?

Hello everyone, I rent my apartment and would like to use IKEA Billy bookcases without drilling into the walls. Since wall drilling is usually not allowed in my apartment and I don’t want to damage the walls, I’m looking for alternative mounting options to set up the shelves securely and stably. Does anyone have experience or tips on how to install Billy bookcases without damaging the wall? Maybe with special clamp or tension systems, freestanding versions, or other mounting aids? I look forward to your suggestions and practical advice!

The most practical solution is a freestanding shelving unit with additional supports, for example anchored to the floor. Drill-free fastenings such as adhesive strips are usually not strong enough for fully loaded BILLY shelves.

I find your question very understandable, as I was in a similar situation and was afraid of damaging walls. For me, a combination of freestanding shelves and anti-tip safety devices that can be used without drilling proved effective. It’s not always easy to find the perfect solution, but there are definitely alternatives that work well and respect the rental situation.

RICCARDO schrieb:
Drill-free fasteners like adhesive strips are usually not strong enough for fully loaded BILLY shelves.

I agree – adhesive strips might seem convenient, but a BILLY shelf with books on it? Often not even the best glue holds up ;-)

I would rather recommend room divider or tension shelves that are fixed from floor to ceiling. They don’t require drilling, but are securely installed! And they often look quite stylish, too.

This way you get the stability a BILLY shelf needs, without any trouble with your landlord. 🙂

I would like to add that in rental apartments where drilling is not allowed, you can also consider mobile truss structures or plug-in systems that securely support the shelves.

Many people underestimate how important it is to anchor shelves to prevent tipping—especially with children or pets around. There are safety straps that can be fixed to the back panels using adhesive materials, which is often sufficient to prevent them from falling over.

It is also worth applying non-slip materials to the back of the shelves to ensure they have good grip on the floor.

From a purely technical perspective, stability can only be achieved through force transfer to a fixed point.

Since neither drilling nor gluing is practical for BILLY shelves (due to their weight), I recommend using room dividers that are tensioned between floor and ceiling, such as telescopic poles with shelf attachments. The shelves are supported in a way that no wall fixing is necessary.

Alternatively, shelves with larger bases or combined with furniture systems like Kallax are advisable, as they can stand more securely without being fixed to a wall.