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Choose Life in the after- after the spouse dies, after the marriage ends, after the kids leave

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Billy Bookcase IKEA Hack Built-ins

February 28, 2021 by Sharon

IKEA Hack
Billy Bookcase Built-ins

Billy Bookcases can easily be made into built-in bookshelves. It takes forethought and patience. Have you heard of Billy Bookcase IKEA Hack?

I live in an area where finding reliable and fair workers is extremely hard. After months of carpenters not showing up to give me bids, I finally had a man give me a bid for built-in bookshelves, but it wasn’t what I wanted.

I wanted wooden built-ins. What he bid for me was prefabricated melamine bookshelves, and I fell over at the cost. I told Dr. T that if I was going to have melamine bookshelves, I would buy them from IKEA- Enter our IKEA Hack!

We started by measuring the area in the office where we wanted the built-ins. Our ceiling are very tall, and we have a lot of books. I didn’t want space to go to waste so we decided to create floor to ceiling shelves.

Billy Bookcases IKEA Hack

That meant we had to order full bookshelves and half bookshelves.

Can be purchased HERE.

Here is our process in pictures. Dr. T did a great job of measuring and planning for stability with these built-ins.

Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
Dr. T put wood along the wall and marked the studs for stability.
Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
He used cardboard templates for accurate placement of cutouts
around existing power outlets.
Billy Bookcase Hack
Ikea
He measured and placed boards in between shelves so
the spacing created a perfect fit on the wall.
Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
He framed out all electrical outlets for stability.
Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
He cut holes in the boards and ran electrical wiring
so I would have a few shelves with electricity.
Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
The finished project- his side. All science books on this side.
Billy Bookcase
IKEA Hack
I love my side. This is a good shot of the floor to ceiling shelves.

I don’t have bookshelves just for show. I would NEVER tear the spine or cover off of a book. All the books in our house are for real. They are not a decoration– although I do love decorating with books.

We are not completely finished with our shelves. We have some finishing work to do, but I love how they turned out.

This room quickly became my favorite room in the house. I find comfort in being surrounded by books.

Some of our purchases for the bookshelves.

Billy Bookcases IKEA hack
Can be found HERE.

Other electric cords can be found HERE.

Now Choose Life Past Post- Nothing But The Kitchen Sink

I wonder how many of you are living in a house that you know isn’t your “forever home”? We are pretty sure this isn’t where we will live out our days. I’m happy that we were able to build bookcases that will last for many years to come, but not cost a fortune to build.

Filed Under: Home

Comments

  1. Beth says

    March 2, 2021 at 3:16 pm

    Sooooo, you did find a fair and honest (and cheap) handy-man!!!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      March 3, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      Yes, I did!!

      Reply
  2. Linda Johnston says

    March 3, 2021 at 6:03 am

    looks great! IKEA to the rescue and handy husband.

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      March 3, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      Absolutely! Thankful for both!!

      Reply
  3. Leslie Watkins says

    March 6, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    Love this!! Great inspiration!!❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      March 7, 2021 at 12:56 pm

      Thank you. Thanks for stopping by!!

      Reply
  4. Danielle says

    March 16, 2021 at 5:35 pm

    This is such a smart way of doing this, and they look beautiful!

    Reply
    • Sharon says

      March 17, 2021 at 11:02 am

      Thank you! I’m really enjoying them.

      Sharon

      Reply

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After her husband’s sudden and unexpected death, Sharon McCuistian found herself a widow at the age of 48. With two grown children in college, Sharon had to find a way to live in her new reality. She turned to the things she loved to help in her grief: faith, family, and friends. Her love of words and writing became the cathartic venue by which she began to process her loss. It is through her grief journey that Now Choose Life was born. Read More

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