I’m a little picky when it comes to furniture, but I’m also a money saver, so, I’m not the kinda person that’s willing to pay a fortune for a piece. It should have adequate storage space, be made of durable materials, be aesthetically pleasing, be easy to assemble and not to take a lot of space from my small apartment. I found all these characteristics in Ikea a couple of years ago, and I couldn’t believe how affordable it was for its top-notch quality.
As a habitué book reader, I was always looking for the perfect bookcase, and Ikea had the solution for me. I didn’t know that this furniture piece was a classic, avant-garde creation that have sold over 60 millions units until now. It’s so popular, and it has been a success for many years, that there’s even a world index, that follows the prices in all the countries where it’s sold. For example, they cost most in Egypt, just over $100, whereas in Slovakia you can get them for less than $40.
IKEA Has Been Selling This Bookcase for Almost 50 Years Now!
I’m talking about the Ikea’s BILLY bookcase, that took over the world for its Nordic elegant, clean design, but also for its affordable price. It’s the coolest storage solution from Ikea that has been in production since 1979. Yes! Almost half a century as a sales success. It is made of particleboard, fiberboard, and paper with a veneer finish (this last, not for so long, and we’ll tell you later), and it comes in a variety of sizes and colors to fit a range of needs and styles.
The BILLY bookcase has a simple and functional design, with adjustable shelves that can be arranged to accommodate books, decor, and other items. It is also designed to be easily assembled, with a step-by-step instruction manual included.
One of the features that makes the BILLY bookcase so popular is its versatility. It can be used as a standalone bookcase or grouped with other BILLY units to create a larger storage wall. It can also be paired with other Ikea furniture pieces, such as the BILLY desk or the BESTA storage system, to create a cohesive and functional space.
A renovation for a classic masterpiece
In 2020, Ikea relaunched its BILLY bookcase, refreshing the classic design and making some changes in its production chain for it to be more sustainable. “BILLY is one of our most beloved products, and it represents an important part of IKEA’s history. The new wood expressions will be a great facelift, and the shift to paper foil enables more efficient material use and reduces production waste. It is a giant leap into the future for BILLY. We hope it continues to be as popular and spread joy in people’s lives for many more years to come”, says Jesper Samuelsson, Business Leader at Inter IKEA Group.
“The veneer used today will be replaced with a high-quality paper foil, enabling new eye-catching wood expressions while making it more durable without compromising the scratch resistance”, Ikea explained when presented the new version of the BILLY bookcase.
New colors and finishes, such as black oak, dark brown oak, brown walnut, oak, and birch are now available in the stores, replacing today’s available colors, except for the white finish, which will remain available with the same improvements.
The Billy bookcase was designed by Gillis Lundgren, one of the original designers for IKEA. Lundgren designed the Billy bookcase in 1979, and it has since become one of the most popular and iconic products offered by IKEA. The bookcase is named after Billy, the nickname of IKEA’s founder, Ingvar Kamprad.