Before & After: This IKEA BILLY is a stylish storage solution in a minimalist mudroom

The IKEA BILLY is no stranger to a makeover – but this transformation is one of the most unrecognizable to date. 

This IKEA hack comes courtesy of Stephanie Lidin (@henrikjunehome (opens in new tab)), a British Columbia-based designer who turned the icon into a sleek storage system that is perfect for her mudroom. The result? A bespoke built-in with a Scandi-minimalist aesthetic – that pays homage to the unit's heritage. 

But what did the process behind this stylish storage idea involve? Here, the designer reveals the secret behind the fashionable flatpack. 

IKEA BILLY hack – Before

'We needed to introduce better functionality in our garage as it is the main way our family enters our home,' Stephanie says. The designer used her existing BILLY units (opens in new tab), as pictured above. 

'I'm still a beginner when it comes to woodworking. Did I make mistakes...oh...so... many. But, discovering the ways to overcome that hesitation, the doubt, and the endless mistakes may have been my favorite part,' she adds. 

The designer had additional shoe storage at the top of her agenda, so she decided to bump out her units to increase the depth. She then filled in the space above the BILLY's – to make them look custom-made for the room. 

The majority of other wood came from scrap – meaning this IKEA BILLY bookcase hack is as sustainable as it is Scandi-cool. 

'Building in the Billy bookcases to better fit this awkward space turned out to be a much more functional and aesthetically pleasing view than before... wouldn't you agree?' Stephanie says. We certainly do.

IKEA BILLY hack – After 

After painting the new units, Stephanie completed the mudroom makeover with another IKEA storage staple – these white VARIERA (opens in new tab) boxes complement the painted units perfectly. She also added rattan baskets and gathered eucalyptus in a base to add a pocket of color to the space. 

'It went from being a view I loathed, to a view I love,' the designer shares. 'This garage mudroom now is not only a more efficient drop zone, but it's [also] a much better view point from my workbench. (A space where I try to be my most creative)'. 

'We all need more closed shoe storage in life,' the designer adds. We, for one, can't argue with that – especially when it looks this good.