Can't afford the built-ins you've been dreaming of? One clever blogger used a little imagination and some IKEA bookshelves to get the look.

Occasionally, we'll come across a storage solution that makes us think, "That's so smart!" The latest wish-we-thought-of-that solution on our radar comes from blogger Rebecca Orlov of the blog loving. living. small., which is devoted to spaces under 1,000 square feet. (Rebecca also writes for Apartment Therapy.) Rebecca, a small-space dweller herself, recently moved to sunny Los Angeles and she's been chronicling her move in a series of posts on the blog. We were floored when we spotted her innovative use of IKEA's classic Billy bookcases in her living room.

"I knew that I wanted to create built-in units, or the appearance of them, to hold most of my accents, books and decor," says Rebecca. As luck would have it, the Billy bookcase is almost exactly the same height as the windows in the room. "This really allows the space to appear bigger by creating balance with the molding and the curtains on the opposite wall." To create the look, Rebecca bought and assembled four of IKEA's ever-affordable Billy bookcases.

After assembling the bookcases according to the directions, Rebecca decided to go her own route and removed their backs to reveal the wall behind, giving the shelves a lighter, airier look. Of her mini IKEA hack, Rebecca says, "I am all for editing actual furniture to make it work for your own small space."

Because the room is small at 13' by 16', Rebecca has treated her "built-ins" like a wall, pushing the couch snug up against the shelves and even hanging a framed picture or two from the shelves. The end result is a tidy, polished wall of shelving that looks like it costs much more than the $240 price tag of four Billy bookcases. Says Rebecca, "I don't think the pictures really show how much bigger the room actually feels!"


Want more clever organizing and storage ideas? Check out these posts:
- Find More Room In Your Home Office
- New Uses for an Old Ladder