Paying Homage to the Great Billy Bookcase
We celebrate the life of one of Ikea's founding designers, Gillis Lundgren, by taking a look at one of his most famous creations
Ikea’s Billy bookcase designer, Gillis Lundgren recently passed away at age 86, and leaves behind a great legacy. The native Swede joined Ikea in 1953 as their fourth employee and designed the Billy bookcase, which today Ikea makes 15 of every minute. He also came up with the idea behind the flat-pack self-assembly concept, which has made life much easier for homeowners and renters around the world. The Billy bookcase is a design that has endured throughout the years as a simple low-fuss structure for book lovers to store their collections in. Here are some ways in which Houzzers have used the iconic bookcase in their own homes.
2. Mix and match
There are many different sizes of Billy bookcases and they are built to be paired together. Mix it up with the wider 80-centimetre and 40-centimetre models like this homeowner has done.
There are many different sizes of Billy bookcases and they are built to be paired together. Mix it up with the wider 80-centimetre and 40-centimetre models like this homeowner has done.
3. Personalised with paint
As the design is so simple, it’s easy to customise the bookcase with a bit of DIY. The homeowner of this fun-filled apartment in New York has painted her Billy bookcase yellow and orange to make it unique.
As the design is so simple, it’s easy to customise the bookcase with a bit of DIY. The homeowner of this fun-filled apartment in New York has painted her Billy bookcase yellow and orange to make it unique.
4. An enriched look
These Billy bookcases work with the sophisticated decor of this bedroom by featuring a nice veneer finish. Against the rich navy wall paint, it shows how versatile this model can be.
Take a look at the rest of this room
These Billy bookcases work with the sophisticated decor of this bedroom by featuring a nice veneer finish. Against the rich navy wall paint, it shows how versatile this model can be.
Take a look at the rest of this room
5. Playing with shelves
There’s no need to stick with the conventional when it comes to assembling this bookcase. The model is flexible for you to choose where you put the shelves. Pick a level you want to fit your taller pieces of decor in, such as artwork and flowers, and leave extra gaps in between the shelves to make room for them.
There’s no need to stick with the conventional when it comes to assembling this bookcase. The model is flexible for you to choose where you put the shelves. Pick a level you want to fit your taller pieces of decor in, such as artwork and flowers, and leave extra gaps in between the shelves to make room for them.
6. Billy hack
Another way to personalise the Billy bookcase is to put patterned coverings on the blank backing as this homeowner has done. This injects a touch of fun to the design, and fits in nicely with a kids’ space.
Another way to personalise the Billy bookcase is to put patterned coverings on the blank backing as this homeowner has done. This injects a touch of fun to the design, and fits in nicely with a kids’ space.
7. At a height
This bookcase doesn’t need to remain on the floor either, it can be positioned at a height to make a grand statement – especially if you have high ceilings. These Billy bookcases have been placed on top of low cupboards, which offer extra storage.
SHOW US
Do you have a Billy bookcase at home? Show us how you use it by uploading photos in the Comments section.
MORE
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This bookcase doesn’t need to remain on the floor either, it can be positioned at a height to make a grand statement – especially if you have high ceilings. These Billy bookcases have been placed on top of low cupboards, which offer extra storage.
SHOW US
Do you have a Billy bookcase at home? Show us how you use it by uploading photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Why Real Books Will Never Die
World of Design: 11 Book Lovers and Where They Like to Read
14 Spaces That Prove There’s Always Room for Books
Of course, it’s natural for a book collection to grow over time, and Mr. Lundgren considered this when he designed the Billy bookcase. Book collectors are covered with the option of adding a height extension unit to the top shelf. This homeowner has done exactly that in their study, so that the bookcase is ceiling-height.