These products are independently selected by us. We may earn a commission when you purchase from one of our links. All prices are correct at the time of publication.
What’s great about IKEA hacks? They’re so smart. Given the retailer’s low price point, many of the items are wallet-friendly. IKEA items serve as the perfect building blocks when you don’t know how to assemble furniture from scratch. The final point is Courtney Sjoberg (@thecourtneysjoberghome) loves IKEA BILLY so much that it became the basis for her new living room wall. “I wasn’t too confident about building a full-fledged shelf, but I plan to do so in the future,” she says. In her latest redo, she “wanted to challenge herself as a construction Courtney (that’s what I call it),” she says.
Follow topics like this
Follow us for more stories like this
Construction Courtney grabbed a drill, circular saw, tack saw, paint, fasteners, caulk and, of course, safety glasses to get to work. It was her first time using a saw. “Literally, she was afraid to use a saw,” she says. “But one night she ordered both on Amazon and she decided to buy this one.”
“It was right in the 2000s when I moved into this house,” says Courtney. “Brown, boring, outdated, and to top it off, there is no storage space in this space. I have a lot of things I want to keep on my floor, so I decided that creating a few built-in things was the best option to achieve a functional and beautiful space.”
The first step in the build process was taking measurements to figure out how many shelves we needed. Courtney found that he had room for four BILLYs and an extender at the top to make him taller. The second step is assembling the shelves. Pro tip: Courtney flipped the back of the shelf over so the raw “wood” side was facing forward. Because it’s easier to apply.
From there, Courtney created a platform for shelving. This, she says, is one of the most important steps in the project to make the shelves look like built-in. She built it out of her 2×4 lumber and plywood she bought at the hardware store, and once the platform was securely fastened to the wall, she placed the bookshelf on top and bolted the back of the bookshelf to the wall as well.
Once I had Courtney’s four BILLYs (and extenders) on top of the base, I created a frame to connect the top of the shelf to the ceiling. I then added wood planks and trim between the front of the frame and the bookshelf for a seamless look. Courtney says that another important step in the process is caulking. “To make it look super custom, fill in all the holes in the IKEA shelves,” she advises. It takes a lot of steps, but meticulous care will give you a better end result,” she says.
I then caulked and painted everything white (to match the door color). I chose white paint not only to avoid having to paint the door, but also because I had something timeless in mind. “We’re not going to live in this house forever, so everything we do in this house is trying to add value that other people will love,” she said. said on Instagram.
Next, Courtney added doors and decorated open shelving. In the future, we may add a candelabra on top as well.
But she’s very proud of her current results and proud of the steps it took to get there. “Honestly, I really enjoyed using the saw and it was very empowering,” says Courtney. “Sometimes I sit on the couch and stare, [the shelves] Because I’m so proud of myself for doing it. “
Courtney’s project totaled $2,500 and added so much storage and style to her living room. “I love how it brings life to the main floor,” she says. “We remodeled the kitchen about a year ago. It’s on the other side of the main floor, so the room feels complete.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.
