One weekend I was staring at this plain white IKEA Billy bookcase in the corner of my room, thinking how it looked like something out of a dentist’s office. Just sitting there. So clean, so boring, so…meh.
That’s when I fell headfirst into the world of IKEA hacks, and wow, there’s a whole community of people out there turning their flat-pack furniture into custom masterpieces.
Turns out, the Billy bookcase is like the blank canvas of the furniture world. People are painting them, trimming them out, adding wallpaper inside, making them look like built-ins… It’s kinda wild.
So if you’re also staring at your Billy and wishing it looked like anything but an affordable flat-pack shelf, this is your sign to paint it. It’s not as scary as it sounds, and it makes a huge difference.
Whether you’re going for classy and sophisticated or something bold and colorful, painting your bookcase is one of the easiest IKEA furniture makeovers you can try. Plus, it’s way cheaper than buying a new one that actually fits your vibe.
Here’s exactly how I do it.
Key takeaways before you start:
- You need to prime, or the paint won’t stick
- Use a shellac-based primer (no skipping!)
- Sanding helps, but you don’t need to go crazy with it
- Let everything dry properly – patience pays off
- Adding a topcoat makes it last longer, especially if you’ve got kids, pets, or just…life happening
Materials and Tools Checklist
Before you crack open any paint cans, make sure you’ve got everything ready. Nothing’s worse than being halfway through and realizing you forgot the primer or ran out of rollers.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Degreasing cleaner (like TSP or dish soap and water)
- 180 to 220 grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge or, if you have a sander, perfect!
- Tack cloth or microfiber cloth
- Shellac-based primer (Zinsser B-I-N is the holy grail)
- Paint (acrylic, enamel, chalk, or furniture-specific like Fusion Mineral Paint)
- Foam roller and brushes or, if you have access to a paint sprayer – jackpot!
- Polycrylic or water-based polyurethane (for sealing)
- Painter’s tape (if you’re neat, or just want to fake being neat)
- Drop cloths or plastic sheeting to keep your floor paint-free
1. Clean and Prepare the Surface
First things first, take everything out of the bookcase. If you can, pull off the adjustable shelves. If yours has doors, take those off too. It’s way easier to paint flat pieces than to wiggle a brush into corners.
Then clean the whole thing with a degreasing cleaner. Even brand-new furniture can have a weird film from the factory, and that stuff will ruin your paint job. I used TSP, but dish soap and warm water works in a pinch. Just don’t leave any residue.
Dry everything with a lint-free cloth. Not your old bath towel with fuzz balls all over it. That fuzz ends up in your paint. Trust me. Learned that the hard way.
2. Lightly Sand the Surface
Now it’s time to rough it up a bit. Billy bookcases are made of laminate, which is super smooth and slick. Not ideal for paint. So grab your sandpaper (180 to 220 grit works great) and give every surface a good scuff. You don’t need to sand it down to bare wood – just enough to take the shine off. Think of it like giving your bookcase a tiny exfoliating facial.
When you’re done, wipe off all the dust with a tack cloth or damp microfiber. If you skip this, that dust mixes with your paint and makes the surface all gritty and gross.
3. Apply a Shellac-Based Primer
Here’s the deal: if you skip primer, your paint will peel off. Maybe not right away, but definitely after a couple months. Or when you put something heavy on the shelf. So yeah, don’t skip this part.
Shellac-based primers are the magic potion here. Zinsser B-I-N is basically the MVP of upcycling IKEA Billy furniture. It sticks to laminate like glue and gives your paint something to hold onto. Get white if you’re finishing with a light color, get gray if you’re finishing with a dark color.
Use a foam roller for the big flat parts and a brush for edges and corners. Make sure you cover everything evenly, and don’t overload your brush or you’ll get drips.
Let it dry completely – usually 45 minutes to an hour. Don’t rush it. If it still smells like nail polish remover, it ain’t dry yet.
4. Paint the Bookcase
Now for the fun part. Pick a paint that works for furniture. Acrylic or enamel paint is great if you want durability and a smooth finish. Chalk paint is awesome for a vintage, matte look. I’ve seen people use Fusion Mineral Paint, and Benjamin Moore Advance is another solid pick. Just don’t use wall paint. It chips. A lot.
Roll on your first coat using a foam roller. It gives you that nice, even look without brush strokes. Use a brush for the tricky spots. Don’t try to cover everything in one go – thin coats are better. Thick paint bubbles and takes forever to dry.
Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. Depending on your paint, that could be a few hours or overnight. If you’re a perfectionist (or even if you’re not), give it a super light sand with 320 to 400 grit sandpaper between coats. It makes the finish soooo smooth.
If you can beg, borrow or steal (don’t do that, I didn’t say that!) a paint sprayer, you can achieve a truly professional finish.
Two coats usually does the trick.
5. Seal the Paint (Optional but Recommended)
If your bookcase is going in a high-traffic spot, or you’ve got little ones who love banging their toys around, you’ll want a topcoat. It helps protect the paint from chips, scratches, and spilled juice boxes.
Polycrylic is a solid choice. It dries clear and doesn’t yellow over time like oil-based stuff does. Water-based polyurethane works too, just check the label to make sure it won’t change the color of your paint.
Brush it on carefully with a clean foam brush or synthetic bristle brush. Go with the grain (even if it’s fake laminate grain) and avoid over-brushing or you’ll get bubbles.
Let it cure for at least 24 to 72 hours before using the bookcase. Not just dry to the touch – I mean cured. If it still feels tacky, give it more time.
6. Reassemble and Style
Once everything is good and dry, start putting your bookcase back together. Slide in those shelves, reattach the doors if you took them off, and stand back to admire your work.
This is also a great time to upgrade the hardware if your bookcase has any. You can add gold knobs, leather pulls, or even decorative overlays to the front panels if you’re feeling extra.
Then style it like you’re in a magazine. Add some plants, a few of your fave books, baskets for clutter, and boom – you’ve just completed a total IKEA hack.
Extra Tips for a Pro-Level Finish
- Test your paint and primer combo on the back or underside first. Make sure it doesn’t peel or bubble.
- Don’t paint on a super humid day. The paint won’t dry right and it’ll feel sticky forever.
- Use painter’s tape if you want crisp lines or want to avoid painting the inside edges.
- Be patient. Rushing = regrets.
Upcycling IKEA Billy bookcases is honestly one of the easiest and most satisfying IKEA furniture makeovers out there. It doesn’t take a ton of tools or skill – just a little prep, some patience, and the willingness to get your hands dirty. If I can do it without making a total mess, you definitely can too.
Now go turn that basic Billy into something way more you.