Are you looking for extra storage space in your kitchen but don't have much room to work with? Look no further than the budget-friendly Ikea Billy bookcase! In this article, I'll show you how to transform this versatile bookcase into a functional and stylish pantry storage solution for your small kitchen.
Introduction: The Perfect Ikea Pantry Hack
When I needed a pantry cabinet for my kitchen, the options at Ikea and other stores were either too expensive or didn't meet my requirements. So, I decided to turn a simple bookcase into a customized pantry cabinet. In this post, I'll share some clever tips on how to make the Billy bookcase look and function like a pantry cabinet.
Before we dive into the details, let's take a moment to understand what a pantry is and what you can store in it.
The Ikea Billy Bookcase as a Pantry
The Billy bookcase is a popular choice in the Ikea lineup, thanks to its variety of sizes and colors. I opted for the tall and slim version in white, as it perfectly suits my small kitchen. The range of color options makes it easy to match the bookcase to any kitchen decor.
To give the bookcase a pantry cabinet look, you can attach a door to it. The door completely transforms the bookshelf into a freestanding DIY pantry. And the best part? The price of the Billy bookcase, including the door, is currently only $100, making it an affordable pantry solution.
The Billy bookcase also features a groove at the bottom, allowing it to sit flush against the wall like a built-in kitchen cupboard. It's a small detail, but it adds to the overall sleek and seamless look of the pantry.
Let's explore some additional configurations and customization options available for the Billy bookcase.
Customizing Your Billy Bookcase
- The bookcase comes with five adjustable shelves, but if you need more storage, you can purchase extra shelves.
- Ikea offers different styles of doors for the Billy bookcase, including full glass, half glass half panel, and full panel doors. Choose the style that best suits your kitchen.
- If you're aiming for a built-in pantry look, you can extend the bookcase all the way up to the ceiling with additional extensions. This is particularly useful if you have taller ceilings in your kitchen area.
- For those who need a wider pantry, you can mix and match sizes of Billy bookcases and install them side by side to create a larger pantry space.
Now that we've explored the options, let's talk about the essentials of a kitchen pantry.
Kitchen Pantry 101
A pantry is a dedicated space or cabinet in the kitchen where you can store extra kitchen supplies and food items. If your kitchen cupboards are running out of storage space, a freestanding pantry cabinet can be a lifesaver. Here are some common items that can be stored in a kitchen pantry:
- Beverages
- Canned goods, pasta sauce, spices, baking supplies, and pasta
- Dishes (cups, plates, bowls, glasses)
- Household cleaners
- Linens
- Other kitchen items
Now that you know the basics, let's move on to organizing your Ikea pantry and discover some helpful organization ideas.
Our Pantry Organization
In my project, I created two Ikea freestanding kitchen pantries. In the first pantry, I store a variety of food items such as cans, bottles, soups, snacks for the kids, rice, and pasta. To keep everything organized, I use baskets. These baskets not only add a decorative touch to the pantry shelves but also function like popular pull-out pantry shelves. The gliding baskets make it easy to access items and keep the pantry neat. Unfortunately, the exact baskets I used are no longer available at Walmart, but you can find similar wire-lined pantry baskets on Amazon.
In the second corner pantry cabinet, I store spare glass food containers, small appliances, and cleaning supplies. These additional pantry storage shelves have transformed our kitchen, providing us with extra room and storage space.
Now that you have all the necessary information, it's time to create your own Ikea pantry hack.
Ikea Billy Hack: Bookcase As A Storage Pantry
Materials Needed
- Billy Bookcase with Door
- Optional: Food Organization Baskets
- Optional: Pull handle bars (Home Depot)
DIY Pantry Instructions
- Plan out where you want your pantry to be located in your kitchen. In my kitchen, I decided to have corner pantry cabinets on both ends of our eating area.
- Assemble the Billy Bookcase according to the Ikea instructions. It's a straightforward process. Once completed, the shelf will resemble a regular bookcase without the door.
- Position the bookshelf pantry against the wall and anchor it securely using the safety kit included with the Billy Bookcase. As this shelf is tall and narrow, anchoring it is crucial to prevent tipping.
- Install the Ikea Billy door onto the shelf following the provided instructions.
- For added convenience, consider attaching pull handles to the Billy door. You can find affordable handle options at Home Depot or other hardware stores. Use a drill to screw them in securely.
- As an optional step, organize your pantry shelves with baskets. These will help you easily slide out and access items. Plus, they add an aesthetic appeal to your pantry.
- If you like to label your pantry items, check out this tutorial on how to make clear pantry labels with packing tape.
Congratulations! You now have your very own Ikea Billy hack pantry. This cost-effective and stylish solution will provide you with much-needed kitchen storage space. Take a look at some images of our finished Ikea freestanding pantry cabinets to get inspired.
I hope you found this Ikea Billy hack helpful and inspiring. If you're interested in more Ikea hacks, such as the banquette bench featured in the pictures above, check out these related posts:
- DIY Pantry Labels Made with Packing Tape
- 31+ Ikea Kallax Hacks
- Turn a Bookshelf into a Kitchen Banquette (Ikea Hack)
- DIY Family Command Center - Ikea Hack
- Ikea Hack Lego Table
- Storage Bench for a Small Space (Ikea Hack)
- Craft Table with Storage (Ikea Hack)
- 20+ Ikea Desk Hacks
- Ikea Craft Room Pegboard Organization
If you enjoyed this Ikea Billy hack, please don't forget to pin it! Stay nifty and happy hacking!
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