This Clever IKEA Hack Creates the Most Stylish Kitchen Storage Using the Famous BILLY Bookcase(for Under $200!)

Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey
Olivia Harvey is a freelance writer and award-winning scriptwriter from outside Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a big fan of scented candles, getting dressed up, and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. You can make sure she’s doing okay via Instagram and/or Twitter.
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published Aug 24, 2024
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Sunrise, Florida, USA - June 26, 2020: IKEA South Florida storefront. Companies that are hiring during COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has hit workers in the U.S. hard.
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If you’ve been wanting to add more storage and workspace to your kitchen with a new island, then you’ve probably gotten sticker shock from how pricey those freestanding pieces can be. Luckily, it might actually be more economical to DIY your kitchen island using this under-$200 IKEA BILLY bookcase hack.

This idea comes from the creator behind the Interior x Lifestyle Instagram account, which was shared by IKEA Hacks & Ideas. It uses two short IKEA BILLY bookcases in the oak finish, which start at $39.99 on IKEA’s website (although they’re also easy to find secondhand at thrift stores or on Facebook Marketplace).

As the Instagram video below shows, you’ll turn both BILLY bookcases onto their sides, remove the bottom pieces between the two “legs,” and then replace them with a matching individual BILLY shelf. You can use additional BILLY shelves and doors, which start at just $10 each, to customize the storage space slots, too.

Next, if you want the island to be movable, attach casters to the corners of each BILLY bookcase. From there, connect the bookcases back to back, using flat brackets to build out your island and make the storage slots and shelves deeper and accessible from both sides.

BILLY Bookcase, Oak Effect
$49
IKEA
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Finally, pick up a countertop from IKEA, a local hardware store, or even Facebook Marketplace to attach to the top of your island base, and you’re ready to get cooking! The Interior x Lifestyle creator used her BILLY bookcase island as a coffee bar, but it can truly be customized to fit your needs and budget.

Save money and get crafty with this BILLY bookcase IKEA hack that will make your kitchen so much more functional and stylish.

This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: This Must-See IKEA Hack Transforms the BILLY Bookcase Into Stylish Kitchen Storage

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