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.
Price: $399
She's playful, she's modern, she's unlike most other bookshelves on the market, WITH a cord cutout in the back panel to make living room integration a breeze.
Price: $148.99
This geometric silhouette features engineered wood that wraps, bends, and twists in a way that will leave guests' heads scratching. The small shelf in the center is a particularly whimsical place for a plant or trinket, and it's a surprisingly affordable bookshelf.
Price: $1099
Shelves of engineered wood with oak veneer shift left and right in this mid-century modern bookcase from Castlery that's both sleek and functional.
Price: $1999
The sophisticated Beekman Bookcase would work perfectly as an elegant room divider, seeing as the back three panels are translucent. A bit of privacy done minimally and sleekly.
Price: $760
A geometric bookcase is always an easy and reliable way to drum up a modern vibe. From Wayfair offshoot AllModern, this baby is Scandi-inspired and can work horizontally or vertically, depending on your space.
Price: $855
Light, versatile, and translucent, this cabinet from Kartell could also work as an elegant solution to a room in need of division. The five shelves can be easily moved and stacked, and this gorgeous orange color adds that extra modern touch.
Price: $999
Eccentric and playful, this abstract bookshelf looks less like a bookcase and more like the set of a whimsical play. Hide your ceramics and tchotchke among the amorphous compartments.
Price: $2165
The rounded lines of this solid teak bookcase soften a room's hard edges, and add a much-needed refresh to the bookcase silhouette we're used to.
Price: $229.99
The airy, open shelving design on this set of two-toned full-length shelves is both contemporary and understated. It's not necessarily one of the best bookshelves for small spaces, but it's worth the room it takes up.
Price: $649
The Spyglass Shelf from Nestig, perfect for a child's room or nursery, is a design play in and of itself. With its modern rounded corners and unconventional silhouette, it's a shelf both adults and kids can admire.
Price: $1697
Iron materials will always evoke somewhat of a modern, industrial vibe. Complete with staggered double vertical lines, this minimalist bookshelf from West Elm is the pinnacle of artful modern decor.
Price: $1048.60
One curling line wraps back and forth across this hardwood and metal bookcase, creating five shelves with one gorgeous rounded corner. A modern, show-stopping bookshelf that will make your living room look more expensive.
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.
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