18 Best DIY IKEA Bookshelf And Bookcase Hacks

IKEA is loved by everyone! I can’t name any other furniture manufacturer that would regularly release chic modern furniture, which is practical, useful and fits most of interiors easily. IKEA furniture seems to shout ‘change me!’, and of course we will! IKEA furniture is a great canvas to create what you want, and I’m talking not only about renovating furniture, I also mean turning furniture items into different ones. Today we’ll have a look how to hack some IKEA bookshelves and how to turn IKEA pieces into bookshelves – let’s take a look at these awesome DIYs.

Kallax/Expedit Hacks

The basic, cubicle-shaped Ikea Kallax bookshelf is one of my all-time favorite pieces for decorating and organizing alike. It’s so versatile because it comes in lots of configurations and can be stood up or laid on it’s side. And grouped together, two of them work perfectly in a corner. The Ikea Kallax doors currently come in a variety of colors – including white, brown, black, and even turquoise and yellow – but they may not fit your room. If not – just cover them with adhesive vinyl in the shade that you like. Read the whole tutorial to find out how to do that.

An IKEA Kallax hack that will turn your IKEA Kallax/Expedit storage cube from average, to cool, fun and industrial! The bookshelf is covered with metal and its top is clad with wood, which you can stain or paint if you want.

Here’s one more IKEA Kallax hack, and it’s very easy! The inside was painted with bold yellow paint to make it more eye-catchy and interesting. The author also added cool modern legs to the shelf, they gave the shelf a chic modern look.

Looking for the perfect way to add some rustic charm to a plain IKEA shelf? You’re going to love this IKEA hack! This IKEA shelf was given an ultimate rustic feel as it was wrapped with wood – such a col idea!

IKEA hacks are very popular today because IKEA makes basic things that are easy to decorate or repurpose. You can change IKEA Kallax bookshelf into a bar cart with casters and brass handles on top to use it separately as a tray. Read the whole tutorial to make this one!

For all you sad IKEA hacksters who are desolate about the Expedit (above) retiring, never fear, IKEA has a replacement that can be hacked up just as fabulously. Expedit-ers will be happy to know that the new Kallax will maintain the same internal dimensions. The major difference is that the wood that makes up the outer edge of the design is going to be slimmed down. How do you get that striking neon yellow inside effect? Enter Panyl, a fabulous new product that allows you to transform plain vanilla furniture into something poppy and fun. Read the whole tutorial to find out how to make it.

Do you ever live with a piece of furniture for so long that it never even crosses your mind, but then one day you look and realize, “Wow, that is so ugly. Why do I have that?” That’s the story of this vinyl record shelf. IKEA Kallax shelving unit is a great piece to change into a vinyl record shelf with a cool look. Make it yourself using this tutorial.

IKEA hacks are very popular because IKEA furniture is like canvas for painting pictures. IKEA Kallax shelf is great to change it into a stylish coffee table with a plenty of storage. Boxes placed inside are great for storage and very comfortable ones.

The Kallax series is really similar to the Expedit, except the shelves are a bit thinner and it uses less wood in manufacturing. Turn the Kallax shelving on its side, add some table legs and transform it into a sideboard table! Read the whole tutorial to find out how to make it.

IKEA BORGJSO bookshelves are amazing but you can make them bolder using something different for the backing. Wallpaper, wrapping paper, paint and fabric were all on the table as options. This tutorial will tell you how to change the backing for geometric fabric to make these bookshelves chic and bold.

IKEA Expedit shelf can be hacked easily to make storage more comfortable. Canvases can be hung as doors for some parts of this shelf. The author painted canvases turquoise to fit her space but you can choose some other colors. Such a piece will fit both an office and a home – choose your own color and go change your shelf!

Billy Bookcase Hacks

IKEA Billy which is a very plain, basic bookcase. Time to make it gorgeous! This tutorial will tell you how to paint it and add interesting lining. Attach interesting wallpaper inside to make it more special and enjoy your bold look.

IKEA is a go-to retailer for so many of us on the hunt for affordable decor, storage and organizational pieces for our homes. There are endless possibilities for transforming or “hacking” their goods into custom, one-of-a-kind pieces. Want to know what’s even better than an IKEA hack? Give Billy bookcase a bold new look using some wallpaper and a fun, bright color using this tutorial.

Billy bookcase is a great piece to customize: this tutorial will tell you how to change yours using fabric covered cardboard inserts that can be easily changed almost instantly giving them a brand new look.  You can do this bookcase makeover on any bookshelf, cabinet, or china closet to add a permanent or temporary change.

IKEA Billy bookcase is a basic piece, which can be turned into a stunning customized one. Kate from Centsational Girl loves the Billy style bookcase from Ikea so much that she is embarking on her fourth DIY project involving this bookcase. This time round she added a crown, base board, gave it a good paint job and beefed up the trim to give it more solid and stylish feel. It’s really quite a simple DIY but with maximum impact in the results department!

Some contact paper with colors and prints that you like is right what you need to hack a simple Billy bookcase. Add cool backing and the bookcase will get an absolutely new and fresh look. Wallpaper leftovers will also fit for changing backing.

If you have a plain old bookcase that you’re tired of, don’t despair, you can easily change it up with a Homeright Finish Max and some reclaimed wood. Here the author changed a Billy bookcase using reclaimed wood to make it look more interesting and textural. An ideal piece for a rustic feel in your space!

Do you have a standard white or brown bookshelf at home? Looking for a simple, quick and easy way to dress it up and give it a stylish update? Here’s a no-sew trick using fabric to line the back of your shelving unit to make it unique and fun! In one afternoon or evening you can turn your bookcase, storage unit or armoire into a stunner and update your room all at once!