IKEA-BILLY shelf hack: upcycling & DIY instructions

In Painting - How-To · 4 min reading time

It can be found in countless flats and houses around the world: the indestructible IKEA BILLY shelf. With its perfect depth, it is simply the ideal bookshelf. Unfortunately, as with most IKEA furniture, the choice of colours is limited - so we're giving you a BILLY shelf upcycling hack: just paint and turn your IKEA BILLY into your personal DIY favourite!

Which colours are suitable for painting a BILLY shelf?

The BILLY shelf can be used in a variety of ways - it provides indispensable storage space in children's rooms or kitchens and is the ultimate bookshelf for many. Fitted with doors, the furniture can be converted into a simple cupboard.
To perfectly showcase your IKEA BILLY shelf, we recommend using varnishes. Our MissPompadour Eggshell Varnish is a silky matt, robust varnish that you can find in many great colours. Whether you prefer a delicate pastel shade like MissPompadour Beige with Peach, or a bright colour like MissPompadour Orange with Tangerine is right up your street.
If you prefer a matt finish for your IKEA BILLY furniture, our Matt Varnish is just right for you. It is also available in all our colour shades.

You can also paint your BILLY shelf with chalk paints. Choose your favourite colour from the CosyColours or LittlePomp chalk varnishes and get started! If your piece of furniture is subject to heavy use, we recommend applying a final coat of chalk varnish.

BILLY shelf hack: step-by-step instructions by MissPompadour

Whether you use your IKEA BILLY classically as a bookshelf, or as a shoe rack hack, a new coat of paint can quickly and easily turn your BILLY into a real design eye-catcher. IKEA BILLY shelves are covered with plastic veneer and have a very smooth surface. They therefore need to be well prepared for painting. To make sure your IKEA BILLY hack is a success, here are some simple instructions and tips.

Step 1: Cleaning

Clean all surfaces thoroughly before painting your IKEA BILLY shelf. The surfaces must be completely free of dust and grease. We recommend using our environmentally friendly MissPompadour Cleaner. Clean your BILLY thoroughly even if it is completely new. Even new furniture can have residues of grease or silicone.

If you plan to repaint all parts of your IKEA BILLY shelf in the same colour, you don't necessarily have to dismantle the shelf before painting. If you decide on different colours, it is helpful to dismantle the BILLY shelf first and paint the individual parts separately.

Step 2: Priming

Now prime all surfaces of the furniture with our To Bond & Block - MissPompadour Primer. This creates a perfect base for your varnish and allows it to adhere firmly. Leave the primer to dry for at least 3 hours, or overnight. Always make sure to use clean tools.

Step 3: Painting

After the primer has dried, the actual painting begins with the colour of your choice. We recommend our silk matt MissPompadour Eggshell Varnish. It provides a robust and easy-care surface and you can get it in many great colours. Varnish your IKEA BILLY shelf with a brush or roller. You should paint at least twice. If you have a light colour on a dark background, you can paint three times.

Step 4: Let dry

Let the paint dry thoroughly before reassembling your BILLY. After 14 days drying time, the books can move back into the shelf.

Tip: If you use your BILLY shelf as a shoe rack, for example, or if it is subject to heavy use in other ways, we recommend applying an additional layer of MissPompadour To Seal, at least on the shelves. This will make your coating even more impact- and scratch-resistant and longer-lasting!

MissPompadour Blue with Violet

MissPompadour Grey with Linen

MissPompadour Blue with Midnight

MissPompadour Blue with Cloud

MissPompadour Green with Aqua

FAQ about the IKEA BILLY shelf hack

So it's not all work and no doubt you have some questions about upcycling IKEA BILLY shelves.

How can I make my BILLY bookshelf look expensive?

There's a simple way to give your IKEA BILLY shelf a makeover: this shelf will be a real winner if it gets a new colour. Choose a bold contrast to your wall paint. Or paint it tone-in-tone with the wall behind it. Another option is to make the shelf multi-coloured. Paint all the front-facing surfaces a different colour to the horizontal and vertical surfaces. Or give only the back wall a bright colour.

Your BILLY can also be given a completely new, elegant look if you treat it with a completely matt varnish. Use our MissPompadour Matt Varnish in one of the many great colour shades. This way, your IKEA BILLY shelf will quickly become a designer piece in your living room!

BILLY Painting shelves: Which paint will last?

All varnishes from MissPompadour are perfect for pimping your IKEA BILLY shelf. An extra coat of MissPompadour To Bond ensures that the paint adheres perfectly to the smooth plastic veneer. Once your coat is dry, the paint will stay strong and secure.

You need these tools to paint an IKEA BILLY shelf

Firstly, protect the floor under your work surface well. MissPompadour has a completely compostable film for this purpose. It would be practical if you could get one or two work trestles. The shelves can be easily worked on them. As a shelf consists of lots of large, smooth surfaces, we recommend working with a paint roller. You will need the right paint trays for this. It makes it easier for you to pick up the paint and protects the wood paint in the original tin from contamination. The narrow edges of the IKEA BILLY shelf are best finished with our fine MissPompadour brush.

And how about the practical work apron with lots of pockets from MissPompadour? It helps you keep your clothes clean and provides you with storage space for the little helpers at the same time.