Here’s my IKEA BILLY hack. It’s a bookshelf desk that hides away completely, made out of an IKEA BILLY bookcase.
So far, it works really well as I don’t have space for a big workstation. It also provides storage for my papers and files.
IKEA items used:
- BILLY bookcase (with doors of course) x 1
- Extra BILLY shelf x 1
Other materials:
- 2 x L brackets
- 2 x Flush cabinet hinges
- 2 x Friction hinges
How to make a bookshelf desk
The desk part extends out when pulled down. It’s just a full-size BILLY shelf. Cut about 2 cm off the width so it clears the gap when the doors are open.
Cut 2 cm off the back of one of the existing shelves. (This gives room for the doors to close when the desk is folded up.) Fix the shelf in place using L brackets.
Attach the desk to the shelf using flush cabinet hinges.
Use friction hinges (approx. £15 a pair) which support the desk when upright or folded down and give a smooth opening and closing action.
Add a power strip and that’s it.
And that’s my IKEA bookshelf desk hack. Hope it inspires you to hack your BILLY too.
~ by Andrew Wood
You may also like these IKEA bookshelf desk hacks
#1 Computer hutch in a BILLY bookshelf
My goal was to build a computer hutch that looks clean and uncluttered for a room that doubles as my home office and guest bedroom.
I use a Mac Mini but a larger computer would probably fit in the bottom space of the cabinet. See more of the computer hutch in a BILLY bookshelf.
#2 Easy BILLY desk
Here’s how you can easily add a desk to your IKEA BILLY bookshelf set up. Read more of the BILLY desk.
#3 Removable desk for the BILLY bookshelf
My goal is to build a small, cheap and easy to pack away desk to use alongside the IKEA BILLY bookshelf. The desk needs to be removed to make room for the sofa bed, when I open it. See more of the IKEA BILLY removable desk.