How I Joined IKEA BILLY Bookcases Together

We recently picked up three IKEA BILLY bookcases for an amazing price on Facebook Marketplace. They were exactly what we needed for a temporary setup, but once we got them lined up next to each other, there was one problem. They looked great together at the bottom, but the tops wanted to separate. Since this is a temporary setup, I really did not want to drill holes into the wall just to keep the bookcases together. So I went looking for another solution and came across the idea of using barrel fasteners to actually connect the BILLY bookcases to each other. We found the 35 mm barrel fasteners I used in the video on Amazon, but there is nothing particularly special about getting them there. You may be able to find the same style of fastener at your local hardware store. One thing I definitely recommend before buying anything is measuring your own bookcases. The combined thickness of the two BILLY sides on mine was right around 1 1/2 inches, which is why the 35 mm fasteners worked so well. IKEA could change the dimensions or construction of the BILLY at some point, or your version could be slightly different, so measure yours first instead of just assuming 35 mm will work. For the holes, I used a 5/16-inch drill bit for the pilot hole. I clamped the three bookcases tightly together first so everything stayed lined up while I drilled through both sides and installed the fastener. Because I already knew these were only going to be a short-term solution, I was not quite as careful drilling as I probably would have been on a permanent piece of furniture, and I chipped a little bit of the laminate around the holes. A furniture touch-up marker took care of it well enough that you really cannot notice it unless you are looking closely. If the finish matters to you, take your time drilling and use whatever method you normally prefer to help prevent chipping. It turned out to be a really simple little project, and I am pretty happy with the result. The three bookcases now stay lined up like one larger unit, and I did not have to put any holes in the wall (other than one anchor at the top). If we decide to move them, rearrange them, or replace them later, I can just remove the fasteners. Hopefully this helps somebody else who has a few BILLY bookcases that refuse to play nicely with each other. As always, measure everything yourself before drilling into your furniture and make sure the fasteners you choose are the right length for your particular bookcases. #IKEA #IKEABILLY #BILLYBookcase #IKEAHack #DIY #HomeImprovement #FurnitureHack #FacebookMarketplace #DIYProjects