Wondering if you can wall-mount an IKEA Billy bookcase? We’ve got the answers you need right here!
We sometimes include affiliate links and curated AI content to highlight top design styles.
The short answer:
You can wall-mount an IKEA Billy bookcase with enough space and the right tools. The best way to mount one on the wall is first to skip nailing the foldable cover onto the back of the shelves.
Next, attach brackets at critical points that match up with studs within the wall. This will keep your wall-mounted Billy Bookcase safe from potential falls.
Customizing an Ikea piece of furniture, like the Billy Bookcase, involves much more.
In this post, we’ll cover how to wall-mount it, why you might want to, and what it can handle regarding weight and usage. So, stick around!
Wall-Mounting An Ikea Billy Bookcase
A wall-mounted bookcase is a self-contained stack of shelves attached to the wall so that no part of the piece of furniture is touching the ground.
The Billy Bookcase is one of Ikea’s more common and affordable bookcases. It’s simple and comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
Although it’s not designed for wall mounting—only featuring small brackets for securing the top to the wall—you can still get creative.
With extra brackets and enough wall space, you can successfully wall-mount a Billy Bookcase.
Why Should You Wall Mount a Billy Bookcase?
Mounting a Billy Bookcase from IKEA is a great idea for several reasons. First, wall-mounted bookcases look modern and stylish, giving the illusion they’re floating.
They also make cleaning easier since the floor underneath is clear, simplifying home improvement projects like carpet removal.
Second, Billy Bookcase is affordable, easy to find, and simple to work with. Ikea stores have locations in North America and Europe, making finding a Billy Bookcase very simple.
It’s also a budget-friendly option with various sizes and colors, perfect for DIY projects.
Lastly, wall-mounting the Billy Bookcase makes it fall-proof and child-safe, achieving the same goal as the included small brackets.
How to Wall-Mount a Billy Bookcase
A common complaint with IKEA furniture is the difficulty of instructions. For this project, you’ll need to abandon those instructions halfway through, which might be even trickier than usual.
To successfully wall-mount an Ikea Billy Bookcase, please follow these steps carefully:
- Choose the wall space where you would like to mount the bookcase, measuring it to ensure enough space for the piece.
- Purchase the correct Billy Bookcase from Ikea. Also, purchase the appropriate brackets and screws.
- Follow the included Ikea instructions to build the bookcase, stopping before the step where you nail on the foldable back covering. This is where you will veer away from the instructions.
- Use another piece of furniture or a stool to hold the bookcase where you want it on the wall. Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs behind the drywall. Mark the shelf in those studs’ locations so you know where to attach the brackets.
- Attach the brackets to the shelf in as many locations as possible, especially on the structure’s top and bottom.
- Place the shelf back onto the placeholder you previously used and drill the shelf into place.
Tips for Wall-Mounting a Billy Bookcase
A note of caution; always drill a hole before inserting a screw using a drill or screwdriver. Skipping this can cause the wood to split and be ruined.
For greater stability, use four brackets to make one shelf permanent within the bookcase. This shelf can then be attached to more wall brackets for added support.
Large Billy Bookcases, up to 6 feet tall, can be tough to wall-mount and may not look as good. Smaller options, like the 3.4-foot Billy Bookcase, are better for wall-mounting.
Ensure your brackets and screws fit the Billy’s pre-drilled holes, or be ready to drill new ones. When possible, a bracket that has multiple holes for screws is best.
More on Ikea’s Billy Bookcases
Wall-mounting furniture from Ikea, like the Billy Bookcase,is a great way to add a different layer to a room and surprise your house guests.
On the other hand, the Billy Bookcase also works well as a regular floor shelving unit. But how much stress and use can this shelf handle?
How Strong are Ikea Billy Bookcases?
Like much of Ikea’s furniture, Billy Bookcases are made of particleboard. This material is cheap and easy to produce but not the strongest material.
Since they are not strong by nature, it’s necessary to anchor them to a wall and be reasonable with weight expectations.
Although resilient, the shelves can sag under too much weight. But rest assured, the Billy Bookcase is strong enough for most home usage, such as displaying books or decor.
How Much Weight Can an Ikea Billy Bookcase Hold?
The 3.4-foot and 6.6-foot Billy Bookcases have a maximum shelf weight of 66 lbs. Due to its particleboard nature, don’t expect an Ikea Billy Bookcase to function like an antique oak bookshelf.
They will, however, take the weight of anything within their recommended uses. No matter how heavy, filling the shelves end-to-end with books shouldn’t cause any sagging.
Do You Need to Secure Billy Bookcases to a Wall?
As mentioned earlier in the post, two small brackets, which are included with the Billy Bookcase, secure the wall structure.
The brackets are not strong enough to support the shelving unit’s whole weight, but they are still useful. They will prevent accidents in which the shelf can fall and potentially hurt someone.
Always secure Ikea Billy Bookcases to the wall when you use one as a regular bookshelf. This should be standard practice with all bookcases and taller pieces of furniture.
In Closing
A Billy Bookcase from Ikea is a good-looking and affordable way to add something nice to a room.
You can also take them a step further and turn them into fancier wall-mounted bookcases, which can make a lower-priced piece of furniture feel premium.
While you’re here, please take a look at our other posts:
How To Paint An Ikea Billy Bookcase
15 Types of Ikea Bookshelves You Can Choose From
