IKEA Takes The Popular Billy Bookcase To Another Level With A New, Versatile Design

Maximizing space in tiny apartments has become a priority for consumers as homes get smaller and smaller, and furnishing retailers like IKEA have strived to meet the demand. Solutions like retractable tables are especially popular, and the Swedish giant has featured many an example in its catalog over the years. However, its new BILLY bookcase with foldable table design is shaping up to be its most successful space-saving innovation yet. 

Unlike the previous BILLY bookcase with desk, which had a tabletop that slid in and out but never fully tucked away, this new iteration folds in on itself, gliding down a groove on each side of the structure and neatly nesting behind the bookcase's two bottom shelves. In fact, it's that same lower part of the structure that functions as the support for the front half of the table when it's open. The shelves move forward with the table top on two wheels, fixing a whole other plethora of issues found in former models. It can be used as a work desk, a crafts station, or even as a dining table in a pinch. 

IKEA devotees love the new BILLY bookcase-desk hybrid. Ever since it hit stores in early summer 2025, shoppers have been testing its potential and the majority have not been disappointed. With the piece only available for a few months at the time of writing, just 11 reviews are available to help paint a picture of its success. Nevertheless, it's sporting a positive 4.2-star rating. 

Reviewers appreciate that this design fixes problems found in other models, even if some complain about the wheels' inefficiency on carpets and rugs. Although it's a valid grievance that could potentially render this furniture useless for a portion of consumers, IKEA does warn about the limitation in the safety and compliance section of its product page. Other buyers are turned off by the lack of color options. With all-white home decor going out of style, people increasingly prefer wood finishes, even if fake. 

With that said, the consensus is that this is a clever space-saving pull-out table that doubles as storage. The foldable mechanism is an upgrade from models like the IVAR folding table and the NORDEN gateleg table, which, albeit folding flush against the rest of the unit, relied on a diagonal gateleg that seriously impacted legroom. What's more, by allowing the shelves to move with the table, it becomes easier to access them. This was a problem with the former BILLY bookcase-desk option, which forced you to duck under the table top and between the front legs to reach anything stored in the bottom shelves.

The BILLY bookcase with foldable table is a relatively recent release, so the feedback isn't as extensive as other IKEA furniture. Even so, the model's rating on the retailer's website, as well as the eleven written reviews (seven from the United States, plus four others from global shoppers), helped establish a positive consensus. Online communities of IKEA customers, such as IKEA Hackers, shed extra light on what loyal customers found valuable about the new design in comparison to previous versions.