Ikea bookcases?

[SarahLovesJS]

Anyone have one? I know it''s cheap, but the Billy system looks cool. Do you think it would look decent and hold up at least for 3 or 4 years or so? Billy Bookcase Ikea

 

[cellentani]

I have a whole bank of Billy bookcases, and they house everything from books (of course) to seldom used china, to my DH''s pipe and tobacco collection. I got the ones in wood veneer, and the matching glass doors, and I love them. I''m very impressed so far, and the shelves show no signs of bowing from the weight. I''ve also got a series of the white ones with doors in my bedroom to house my shoes and accessories, and while I''d rather have everything tucked away in a huge walk-in closet, I think it looks sleek and well-organized. Personally, I think the doors really make it look much classier, but it does add to the cost somewhat. What color are you thinking about getting?

 

[laine]

I have them in white, and have had them for 5 years and they've stood up wonderfully. I'm selling them with my house, but will likely buy them for the new house if they fit right. My parents had a few sets for probably close to 20 years that are still in good shape. We don't have the height extensions, so I can't speak to the quality of that--personally, I think seeing where it attaches would bother me. I bought each bookcase separately, not any of the combos that Ikea lists.

Be careful though, a lot of Ikea stuff has declined in quality (they seem to drop quality rather than raise prices), so I'd want to see them in person.

ETA: I haven't had any bowing of the shelves, though mine aren't packed full. The ones at my parents house held up to a full set of encyclopedias, so they're pretty sturdy. I'll measure the thickness of the shelf when I go downstairs. As long as the shelves of the current bookcases are still as thick, they should be fine!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Ty so much y''all! I am considering the black/brown color. I need a darker color to match everything. I definitely go and check them out in person..but it sounds like these are a good deal!

 

[laine]

My shelves are about 3/4 of an inch thick. As long as Ikea is still making them like that, they should be great. If the shelves are much thinner, I might pass (though if you just want them for 3-4 years, they'd probably be fine).

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Hi everyone! Wanted to update..I went up to IKEA today..looong drive ugh, but it was worth it. I can think I can forgo my $1300 Pottery Barn entertainment center for this cute set I found at IKEA. The shelves were around .65 of an inch thick, so close enough for me since it''s only temporary (we''re moving into a new apartment right now and I hope to get a house one day and get new furniture for the house). It''s hard because I do want the PB one..but it''s so expensive. We don''t have a flat-screen TV..and we could afford to buy one for that much!

So I guess we kind of need the TV..and the IKEA furniture and then one day the PB one. Lol.

Anyway, thanks again for the help, I am excited I think this might be it! I am thinking about checking out the unfinished furniture store one more time to make sure I don''t see something there since it would be nicer wood for around the same price (I got my coffee table and end tables there for a great price!!!), but otherwise I am done looking.

 

[AmberGretchen]

I think IKEA stuff is great for the 3-4 year time frame, and it sounds like you are on a great track - I think that getting those now, and investing in a nice TV, then getting the PB in a few years when you move into a house will be perfect

 

[Mara]

We got tweo sets of small billy's with glass doors for our wall of linen cabinets in our new house... it didn't have any linen storage and while I think about a long-term solution and how I want it to be laid out, these were affordable and look perfect in the laundry room lining the wall in white. Ikea stuff is surprisingly good looking once it's all put together and in-context!