Hello everyone,
I am planning to fit an Ikea Billy bookshelf into a recess in my living room. The recess is about 85 cm (33.5 inches) wide at its widest point, while the standard Billy is 80 cm (31.5 inches) wide. Unfortunately, the recess is slightly irregular in both width and height, and the side walls are not completely straight.
So my question is: What is the best way to adjust a Billy bookshelf to fit the recess perfectly, in terms of both width and height? Are there any tried-and-tested methods, such as trimming the bookshelf, or is that generally not recommended?
I am also interested in how to secure the bookshelf properly, especially when the recess side walls are not exactly vertical.
I look forward to your experiences and tips, including recommendations on the necessary tools or alternative solutions in case the Billy simply doesn’t fit.
I am planning to fit an Ikea Billy bookshelf into a recess in my living room. The recess is about 85 cm (33.5 inches) wide at its widest point, while the standard Billy is 80 cm (31.5 inches) wide. Unfortunately, the recess is slightly irregular in both width and height, and the side walls are not completely straight.
So my question is: What is the best way to adjust a Billy bookshelf to fit the recess perfectly, in terms of both width and height? Are there any tried-and-tested methods, such as trimming the bookshelf, or is that generally not recommended?
I am also interested in how to secure the bookshelf properly, especially when the recess side walls are not exactly vertical.
I look forward to your experiences and tips, including recommendations on the necessary tools or alternative solutions in case the Billy simply doesn’t fit.
farku8 schrieb:
How can I best adjust a Billy shelf to fit perfectly into a niche, both in terms of width and height?As an addition:
For the width, if the niche is 85 cm (33.5 inches) wide and the Billy is 80 cm (31.5 inches), I recommend avoiding a frame that adds too much thickness. Instead, limit the filler strips to a maximum of 2 cm (0.8 inches).
For the height, a simple solution can be to lightly sand down the top cover panel of the Billy or carefully shorten it with a fine saw if there’s limited clearance at the bottom of the niche.
Make sure that stability is not compromised by these modifications, so do not alter any load-bearing side panels.
Secure the shelf with sturdy brackets and check the alignment and wall straightness with a spirit level before installation.
Using these methods will keep the shelf intact and ensure it looks neat when built in.
LIELCHEN schrieb:
Using Billy as a standard piece of furniture for special niches... is an attempt to force a round peg into a square hole.That is true to some extent, since Billy is not a custom-made item but mass-produced. Still, I think it can be a good compromise if you don’t have the budget or time for a carpenter.
I see fitting Billy more as a DIY project rather than a perfect built-in unit. If you want a millimeter-precise fit and a tailor-made appearance, a custom piece of furniture is a better choice. But sometimes a pragmatic solution that is at least functional and adds a bit of personal charm is enough.
If, like me, you’re not a perfect handyman, simple tools and some patience can help you integrate Billy nicely into a living space niche with small adjustments. 🙂
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