SWEDEN – This February marks 40 years of the iconic BILLY bookcase. Functional, flexible and modest, BILLY is a bookcase made for anyone and everyone.

Gender, age, interests, beliefs – BILLY crosses boundaries and focuses on the importance of what is on the inside, not the designer label or fashion status.

Over the years, new colors and options have been introduced and regular refinements have been made, but the BILLY bookcase formula has generally remained the same, making it one of the most well-known pieces of Ikea furniture.

To celebrate 40 years, BILLY has a new yellow color choice and optional add-ons, such as display shelves.

The BILLY bookcase was designed by Gillis Lundgren, born in Sweden in 1929 and who passed away on 25 February 2016.

He studied at the Malmö Institute of Technology, and joined Swedish furniture company Ikea in 1953 as its fourth employee.