Build Your Home Library for $600 IKEA Billy Bookshelf Hack

We love books! We love libraries. We wanted a home library but didn't want to build it from scratch or hire a carpenter. We are not carpenters. We also wanted the library to be cost-efficient and look built-in and permanent. This video is how we did it.
#bookshelf #billybookshelves #librarybuild #doityourself #ikeahacks
Materials Used:
4 - IKEA Billy Bookcase Shelves 31 1/2 x 11 x 79 x 1/2
2 - 2X8X8 boards for bookshelf base
3 - 1x6x8 boards for tops and sides of bookshelf base
2 - 2"x8x8 decorative trim pieces for top of Bookshelves
4 - 12 ft decorative trim pieces for vertical and horizontal trim
2 - 1x2x8 trim pieces for the sides to the wall
3 - 12' 1/4 round trim pieces
Camera: Sony A6600
Editing Software: Da Vinci Resolve
All Music by Joe Feldpausch:
open.spotify.com/artist/4Ww4I...
Buy Ikea Bookshelf from Amazon with this link: amzn.to/3Z2t6Sg You get the best prices and I get a small percent of the sale as an Amazon Affiliate.

[@fotomakr]

Best one of these I’ve seen. Hadn’t thought of spacing the Billys out and putting the 4” trim over the gap. Very cool. I see you have lights on the shelves. Are those battery powered?

[@joefeldpausch]

Sorry for the delay🤣 The lights are battery powered. They’re cool but I’m not crazy about them. Im ordering o ER the top lamps for each section (from IKEA🤣). Thanks for your comments!

[@istp1967]

Books, DVEDs, CDs, Records, Photo Albums... I need this! Thanks so much for showing this project.

[@susankurpeski9704]

Great job. Looks wonderful.

[@maxpatch67]

Thank you! 😊

[@tinamarie8699]

Goodness. This video could not have come at a better time. Thank you. Looks incredible.

[@maxpatch67]

I'm so glad you found this video and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here. Good luck and have a great day!!

[@tinamarie8699]

@@maxpatch67 I will send pics when done. 🤞 it comes out good lol.

[@maxpatch67]

Its gonna be perfect. You got this!!

[@XL-5117]

Billy bookcases do sag in the middle. Ikea have tried to address this by making the shelves shorter and slightly thicker than the sides. But in time the shelves will sag. The only way to avoid this is to reinforce the shelves in the middle with either a bracket or a screw going through the back of the unit to attach to a strengthening piece of wood, as illustrated in the video of Proper DIY.

[@joefeldpausch]

Thanks for the comment! I’m almost a year in from the build and still no sag. However, I do plan to use matching paint and real wood boards to replace in the event that they do sag. It’s worth it to have a relaxing little area. We’ve now turned it into a reading room, moving the dining table to another space. Thanks!

[@MrTresto]

It depends on humidity and how much weight you put on them. And of course you can always replace the shelves with something more rigid (plywood) if needed

[@marting4042]

With the Billy Bookcase the top of the Bookcase has the cams facing the ceiling. That's why it didn't fit when you tried to install the top of the Bookcase. The cams are ugly and ikea engineered it so the cams are hidden from view by facing them upwards for the top of the Bookcase.

[@valairmiller2806]

I loved your video! The trim you added is absolutely amazing. I actually have the billy bookcase from IKEA too, and it really made my office look fantastic. Thanks a bunch for sharing. You've inspired me to go back and add some trim to my own home, just like you did!

[@maxpatch67]

I'm really glad to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to leave this comment! I really appreciate that! Have a good day, @valairmailler2806.

[@eddieknox6843]

Absolutely fantastic job! I really like the trim.

[@maxpatch67]

Hey, thanks so much. I really appreciate that!!

[@TheDrewbe3]

What a great video. Definitely will be drawing inspiration from this as I go to start building my library.

[@maxpatch67]

Glad to hear it. Have a great day and thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!!

[@CloseLook29]

Before seeing this video: I thought it will cost me at least $ 2, 000.00 to create a bookshelf for my books (stored in 38-50 Home Depot plastic containers). After watching it: I now know I can accomplish it for far less than that amount. I also know now I could do it alone also provided I plan and set aside three days to a week for it. This video has been an eye opener. Thank you.

[@maxpatch67]

I'm really glad you found this video and thank you for taking the time to leave this comment. Have a great day, @closeLook29!!

[@amineech1621]

Looks amazing, you guys have done a brilliant job.

[@joefeldpausch]

Thanks for watching. We enjoy the space every day!

[@ericsyre9418]

Well done! I like those projects which are realistic and relatively easy to achieve.

[@maxpatch67]

Thanks for your comment, @ericsyre9418!! Have a great day!!

[@danaperry8851]

Thank you for this - VERY HELPFUL!!!

[@maxpatch67]

My pleasure, Dana. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment here. :)

[@aarondixon7]

Nice!!!.. thx

[@MI-bj5md]

Looks great!

[@eddyecko94]

Brilliant!!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space!

[@annja1516]

impressive!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space every day!

[@film.dscotland9314]

Very well done, we're doing the same thing in our living room.. :)

[@maxpatch67]

Glad to hear it. You won't regret it!! Have a great day!!

[@pb-bx1ll]

Great video thank you

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space!

[@fazlinamrasip4547]

Thank youu sir! I love it!!

[@maxpatch67]

My pleasure, @fazlinamrasip4547!!

[@rexxkramer2832]

Looks damn good. Great job!

[@kashifakbar7]

Thanks for the guide

[@maxpatch67]

And thank you so much, kashifakbar7, for taking the time to leave a comment. Have a great day!!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space every day!

[@martinkenny9384]

Lovely job

[@maxpatch67]

Thanks so much. Have a great day!!!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space!

[@jem8302]

I love it.! Looks great!

[@maxpatch67]

Thank you, JEM!!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We enjoy the space every day!

[@joefeldpausch]

Thank you! We are thoroughly enjoying the space!

[@jayakrishnant6013]

Great work and appreciate the details. One question is did you screw the base to the walls anywhere or its just kept just like that?

[@user-ji4im3zw3q]

Question: How did you fasten your base to the wall and/or floor? Or did you just leave it floating and rely on the weight of the bookcases to level it out in place?

[@loveusoc]

hardy boys

[@joefeldpausch]

Childhood favorites! Wish I still had my original entire set!

[@savannahsmiles67]

About the white paint you used-does it match? If so what brand and type? Flat, satin, etc.

[@mitzibutler6415]

🙏

[@danielakriesche3658]

Looks good but i don't have 600$!!!!!!😢

[@zx12098]

Hi! Glad i found this video. I wanted to know how did you screw in the base to the walls? I noticed you didnt remove the baseboard and so your base wasnt flush with the wall. I have a similar situation and would like to install the base without removing the trim or the carpet. Appreciate the advice.

[@joefeldpausch]

Sorry for the delay and thanks for your question. The Billy Bookshelves have a groove cut out on the bottom for a typical baseboard. Also, I secured the shelves with “L”brackets in the middle part of the shelves after using a stud finder. At the top (you can see in the video) I secured the shelving to the wall using a 1 X 2 board across the back. I also added some small extra pieces of the 1X 2 for added security. I finished it by custom cutting (with a jigsaw) 1 X 2 pieces of trim to give it a more finished look on the sides. I also intentionally left the baseboard and carpet so that a future homebuyer could easily remove all of the shelving and restore the room to the original size if they wanted that option. Hope that helps!

[@zx12098]

@@joefeldpausch appreciate the response. Quick follow up, what screws did you use for the 1x2 you installed to wall? And which ones did you use to connect the L brackets? Thanks again

[@joefeldpausch]

I believe that I used 2" drywall screws on the 1 x 2s and I just used the screws that came in the bags with the L brackets. Hope that helps@@zx12098

[@sasstewart1222]

How did you connect the electrical? (would like to see that in another video)

[@joefeldpausch]

Thanks! Right now, the lights are battery powered in the bookcases. However, I left the electrical outlet and marked it so that if I put in electrical lighting I know right where the outlet is. I just pop out the section where the outlet is, drop the plugs and plug them in. They outlet markers and pop outs are behind books to be concealed. Thanks!

[@jintsfan]

How did you add the spotlights ?

[@joefeldpausch]

Sorry for the delay. We ordered those remote controlled, and battery powered from Amazon. They’re attached via sticky round circles. I’m not terribly happy with those so I plan to order some lighting that will sit on top of the shelving, extend out and shine down on all four sections of the shelving. Hope that helps!

[@Eddiea2024]

Excited to learn

[@maxpatch67]

Awesome. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ernststravoblofeld]

I'd consider this if I already had the shelves, but if you're going to this much trouble anyway, why not spend another couple hours making the bookshelves? Adding the trim is really the harder part.

[@chichita9202]

what about the light you put there? how was that done?

[@joefeldpausch]

Sorry for the delay. We used battery powered lights with remote control. I’m no crazy about them and am actually going to order lamps that will shine down from the top. Thanks!

[@woodworkingphoto8083]

Is that base treated lumber? Inside a home?

[@maxpatch67]

This lumber is normal and not treated for outdoor use. There would be no reason for that.

[@rodneydixon1259]

It looks quite good however I noticed that most shelves weren't overly stacked and the books were of the smaller,lighter size; I expect that it is because;the thinness and width of the shelves will not support much weight without the shelves bowing,which never looks attractive;it's thebiggest peeve that I have with "IKEA"(and most other flat pack shelving),they are not of solid wood or stronger material,and the shelves are just too wide .Could the shelf support plugs be some how lengthened and/or strengthened to stop the bowing effect,or could "IKEA" offer stronger shelves even if there is a cost increase; I'm sure that it would be still considerably cheaper than getting custom built shelving: Greetings from Australia.

[@joefeldpausch]

Hey Rodney! Greetings from Nashville! Thanks for your comment! I too was initially concerned and did take that into consideration when stacking all of my books and various items. After almost four months, I'm happy to say that I've had no bowing after over four months and we enjoy that space every day! I also put most of my bigger and heavier books lower. That said, I've considered what I would do if the shelves begin bowing over time. I think I would cut "real" boards to fit, grooves for the mounting/support pegs, and paint them with the same paint I used on the trim. I figure that the value of having a library would be worth a little extra investment if the IKEA boards don't withstand the test of time. Thanks again!

[@jacqueline6926]

I got Billy bookshelves about 20 years ago and have some pretty heavy books (replicas of Jules Verne's first edition) and the shelves are as good as new. I am in the process of customizing them so they loose the Ikea vibe and I hope they'll look as nice as this ones. Great job

[@rodneydixon1259]

G'day Joe, Thanks for your reply and suggestions;I think that I too will have solid shelves made which should solve the bowing problem..Best wishes from Down Under!Rod.

[@joefeldpausch]

@@rodneydixon1259 Thanks for your input Rodeny! Best wishes on your bookshelves!

[@EsraDoingThings]

Why do you need a base?

[@joefeldpausch]

Hi, thanks for the question! Obviously, it would still look great without a base. However, I wanted the bookshelves to be tall and seem more prominent in the room. I also knew that if I was going to add a base, I wanted the shelving to be well-secured to the wall as a safety precaution, and I did that. Ultimately, after looking at the shelving height just sitting on the floor, it seemed right for the room I was working with. Hope that helps! Take care!

[@richardkurtz9661]

L brackets 🙁