New IKEA disassembly instructions mean you can take that Billy bookcase apart yourself

(Image credit: IKEA)

published 19 February 2021

Are you soon to be moving house or have an old Billy bookcase that you’re ready to replace? The new IKEA disassembly instructions will make taking it apart quick and easy. (Could this be the ultimate IKEA hack?)

The Swedish flat-pack giant has released the reverse of its assembly instructions for its most popular pieces. This will mean that you pack up your IKEA pieces with ease ready to transport or donate.

‘We hope the reverse manuals inspire people to re-think their consumption habits by extending the life cycle of our products’, says Hege Sæbjørnsen, Country Sustainability Manager at IKEA UK & Ireland.

See also: 9 times the IKEA MALM series was used to perfection

ikea billy bookcase disassembly instructions

The IKEA disassembly instructions have been designed to help IKEA furniture to be reused, as a disassembled old chair or desk can be neatly stored away while it waits to be taken to its new home. Packed away, an old item is also far less likely to get damaged. Remember to add a layer of newspaper in between panels to prevent scratches.

The instructions provide customers with clear and safe step-by-step guides on how to take apart their favorite products one Allen Key at a time.

Available to view and download online, IKEA has created the guides for the following some of their most iconic products including the BILLY Bookcase, BRIMNES Bed, LYCKSELE Sofa bed, MALM Desk, PAX Wardrobe, and POÄNG Chair.

As part of its efforts to make living sustainably more affordable, IKEA is also launching a ‘Buy Back’ scheme and selling replacement parts. The furniture retailer is working towards becoming a climate-positive business by 2030.

If you’re moving house in the coming months, it may be worth downloading the instructions so you can take down your desk or bed nearer the time. Come moving day, you’ll need all the extra space you need in the removals truck and you might be glad to have a couple of pieces flat packed.

For heavy items, always ask someone to help you and take care when dealing with half-assembled pieces. When not fully built, IKEA pieces may be less stable. Always take your time to avoid damaging smaller parts in the process, and give yourself plenty of space.

When it comes to reassembly, some IKEA pieces enable you to reverse the panels, so scuffs and marks on panels previously facing outwards are hidden. Clever, huh?

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.