Bookcase love! (Ikea Billy Bookcases)

Member Name: serennos

Product:	Ikea Billy Bookcases
Date:	28/11/08 (351 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's gorgeous, easy to construct, easy on the pocket, and oh, it's gorgeous!

Disadvantages: You need a few tools, and the box is heavy

I am so in love with my new Billy bookcases that putting it into words is quite difficult!

We purchased two Billy book cases 80 x 202cm and two CD units to go with them; they were to fit in the alcoves on either side of our chimney. Since we have a house where the walls are not quite true, building a book case in was not really an option, so we went with these as a second choice.

*Purchase: Very light on the pocket! These come in scarily long boxes, but fitted into a Ford Focus with the back and front passenger seats folded down.

*Putting together: this is really a job for two people, but it can be done by one person if push comes to shove. Bear in mind that you will need; a screwdriver, a hammer, a screw that is suitable for your wall if you want to screw it back with the provided bracket, floor space to put it together, and preferably someone to help you to do it.

The cases are made up lying down (the shelves, not the putter-togetherer) in this manner; lay the two side panels side-to-side, insert dowel pegs and metal screw peg things as per the instructions.

When you have the pegs sticking up out of the panel, push the top, bottom, and the middle shelf onto the relevant pegs as per the instructions, and gently knock together (using a piece of spare wood to prevent your hammer damaging the veneer).

Slot in the little flat round metal things (give me a break - I'm doing my best to be technical!) into the holes in the underside of the shelves where the pegs are sticking through, and tighten them up with a screw driver.

Next get someone to help you to position the other side panel onto the shelves that you have just put on (the bookcase will now be lying on its side). Knock together as before, and insert the remaining little flat round metal things, and tighten.

Now get someone to help you to turn the bookcase onto its front Grab a pencil and mark on the raw back upright edge of the book case where the middle shelf is; you need to nail the back panel on, and it's far easier to do this to find the middle shelf than to try to measure it with a tape.

Nail on the back panel making sure that the veneer side is facing the front of the bookcase so that you will see it behind your books.

Get someone to help you stand it up and walk it back to the wall (it has a cut-out so that is can sit right up against a skirting board). Now you can decide where you want the rest of your shelves, and whether you want to screw it to the wall (you will need to provide the screw that goes into the wall).

*Looks: It's gorgeous! You couldn't have this as a free standing bookcase though as the back is unfinished.

Summary: A wonderful addition to our living room!