We are currently converting our guest room into an office and realised we needed some book shelves. Up until now, we have bought all our furniture second-hand to meet specific needs in our house- with most of it coming from op shops, garage sales or eBay . Deciding to purchase something new and with multiple options around how to go about it, we figured the more uses we can get out of it- the better!
We're looking at purchasing a pair of low BILLY bookcases from Ikea that we can use as bookcases to store all those textbooks while the spare room is being used as a study. Once the studying is over, it will be baby o'clock in our house! We are then planning on converting the bookcases into clothes/toy storage and with the addition of a changing mat, it will also become a change table. For the first time we're seeing the potential in different furniture and how it can serve us with multiple uses around the home. This new revelation for us is probably an old one for others- tell us, what's the best piece of multipurpose furniture you've ever purchased? Did it meet all your expectations and intentions?
(Image: Flickr member ˜dutch blue's photostream˜ licensed under Creative Commons)
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Comments (12)
Looks good. Very built-in and clean uncluttered lines in the room
put solid panelled doors on the bottom half- little ones and glass scare me. otherwise, great idea! i love repurposing or finding multiple unexpected uses for of furniture. i like to think of it as furniture instinct: you have to have it, you don't know why. then one day the sunshines on it, and its purpose is revealed. ha ha!
A changing table on top of Billy bookcases? Much as I love those bookcases, they are not that stable. If I were you I'd think about that one a little more.
I love the term "op shop".
A 3 drawer dresser... bought by my parents to use as a baby dresser/changing table, turned into a bedside table in high school, throughout college it has been a microwave stand, sofa side table, landing strip, and TV table. It is currently back in my kitchen providing additional storage. I hope to bring it full cycle back to a baby dresser/changing table someday soon...
I think you'll need one slimline baby to use a Billy bookcase as a changing table - they are less than 30cm deep. It might make more sense to get some kind of changing table unit and for the moment use it as bookshelves. In fact Ikea have a changing table that converts to a bookcase when the changing table part is no longer required (although it's significantly more expensive than a Billy) http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/S29828090
I use the 3 drawer Hemnes dresser as a changing table. It works out great. I'm 5'9 -on the taller side so if you are short... I dunno.
I like my Expedit shelving from IKEA. I got two of the 8 cubicle units, placed them on their sides, and got doors or drawers for most of the compartments. They store my craft supplies in my dining room (my only "studio" space), they form a buffet counter if needed, and they look nice.
These might work better for your needs than a Billy. I think htey are a bit deeper than Billy's, and they are for sure more stable. If the top isn't wide enough by itself for a changing table, you could probably make a tabletop that would fit over the shelves.
My units are about 31 inches tall. If you need more height, you could build a box like the kick plate on kitchen cabinets to lift them higher.
Until you live in the house you will live in forever or have your kids all grown and no changes in pets or living mates planned - all furniture is temporary in it's present location.
Buy things you like and can see a few uses for. If it's really just a stop-gap, go cheap. Be mindful not to buy anything very large, as they are harder to re-purpose.
Otherwise, buy things that have life and are sturdy and unfussy. You will go far. Don't be afraid of mistakes, we all have a bookcase or table in the basement that just does not fit anywhere at present. They will come back up in due time.
That said, a wall of shelving will be welcome in any room. Just be mindful that with kids you will need it bolted to the wall and any crib will need to be away from it's reach.
I like the theory behind this post, but I don't really see Billy bookcases as an investment piece.
I would also like to add myself to the list of commenters who think that those particular bookcases might be too precarious for a changing table.
Am I the only one who thinks the writer might be planning on modifying the unit/s to add a change table when the time comes and not just put the baby in a shelf?
I’m also a believer of buying furniture that you love especially when they are well designed, they usually are some of the best home furnishings to own because when you love the piece you will become that much more creative if and when it needs a new place or purpose in your home.