The 12 Best Modern Bookshelves our Editors Love Most Right Now - Shop Their Favorite Finds

This collection of modern bookshelves has it all — minimalist designs, clean lines, and some of the coolest and trendiest pieces we've seen in a while

a collage of modern bookcases
(Image credit: Illustrated | Modloft, Anthropologie, Nestig,, Lumens, Urban Outfitters)

The best modern bookshelves are what turn a home into a space that feels truly ordered and curated. Because they're not just a place to cram books but a home for your most treasured objects, displayed in a way that feels artful and wonderful and personal to you.

So our editors have been trawling through all the best bookshelves to give you this edit of the ones that have more than a touch of contemporary flair to them. 

These are the 12 best modern bookshelves on the market right now, from the best home decor stores like Anthropologie, Castlery, and more. If you're still a fan of minimalism but prefer an additional focus on clean lines, geometric shapes, and natural materials, this edit is for you.

The Livingetc edit of modern bookshelves

Livingetc knows design. We spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, bringing only our edit of the very best to you. Find out more about how we review.

How should I style a modern bookshelf?

The best way to style a modern bookshelf is to think of them as an evolving art display of your favorite things. "Set up bookshelves to be a mix of personal items as well as pops of interest," said Erin Coren, a designer at Curated Nest. "Never underestimate what proper bookshelf styling can add to a room." 

For something different, Erin went on to suggest "decor that's large instead of lots of little items." It's a "simple way to refresh a living room," she says.

Brigid Kennedy
Style Editor

Brigid Kennedy is a Style Editor at Livingetc.com, where she scours the internet for the best and most stylish deals on home decor and more. After earning a degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, she spent the first 2.5 years of her journalism career covering U.S. politics and culture at TheWeek.com. She describes her design style as colorful and clean, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies, and curating impossibly niche playlists on Spotify. She recently relocated from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she's decorating and DIYing a new home downtown.