I have an obsession with bookshelves, and not just because I also happen to have an obsession with books! The right shelf can completely transform and change the feel of an entire room. Light and airy open shelves say, “we love to laugh and have fun in this room” while thick and heavy towers quietly admonish, “it’s time to get down to work.”

I’m planning to embark on a massive decluttering project this spring and finally get my house somewhat more organized. I’m not a fan of the “ditch it if it doesn’t bring you joy” mentality (I’m too poor to throw out perfectly useful albeit boring things), but some of this stuff hasn’t been touched since my son was a toddler, and he’s in high school now.

When I’m done, I plan to move some of our ancient-and-ugly-but-still-sturdy shelves down into the garage and lighten up our living space with a few shelves that weren’t built circa 1980. Below are just a few that I’m madly in love with. I hope you find one you adore, too!

Unique & Beautiful Bookshelves

I’m using my AAWP plugin to pop a box with the extended description beneath each item. I don’t usually use that feature because I find the box kind of clunky, but in this case I figure you could use the extra details. Plus, if I’m being honest, I’m pinched for time today, so I’m taking the lazier approach rather than paraphrasing every description. 😀

In case it’s not obvious, this post does use affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra charge to you if you shop through them.

1. Nathan James Echo Modern 4-Shelf Bookcase

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The Echo is a neat geometric bookshelf that’s great for narrow rooms. I love that they give you 100 days to decide whether you love it enough to keep it forever. If you don’t, they’ll take it back.

The metal frame is great, too, especially in my cat-centric house. Zoe and Alex can’t scratch it up!

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2. Asymmetrical Snaking Bookcase Black and Clear

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Okay, so this one isn’t exactly made with high-quality materials (it’s particle board versus real wood or metal), but it sure is pretty, right? Plus, it has pretty good reviews and ratings overall, even if it is MDF.

Just make sure you take note of the weight limit on each shelf (11 lbs). It’s more of a knick knack display than a great holder of heavy tomes.

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3. Brightech Maxwell Drawer Edition

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I actually have this one in my bedroom. Brightech sent it to me to check out  last year along with some of their other beautiful lamps. It’s really pretty and holds more stuff than I thought it would. I lined the bottom three shelves with books, then put some of my treasures (things my son made me, my bridesmaid gift from my sister-in-law, etc) on the upper shelf.

The light is very soft. Bright enough so that I can see into my closet right next to it, but not blinding first thing in the morning. It’s not made of real wood, but again, at least my cats can’t destroy it.

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4.Tribesigns 7-Tier Open Bookshelf,

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I’m not usually a fan of gold, but I have to admit that this shelf lends a bit of elegance to any room. I love the way they combine large and small sections with a geometric slant. It definitely looks more open and airy than my current standard shelf.

Plus, like the first one, it’s made from metal materials (eco-friendly ones this time), so it’ll hold up better against crazy cat claws.

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5. Sauder 423672 Barrister Lane Bookcase

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Let’s switch gears from modern to antique and check out this adorable Sauder shelf! It looks like something you’d find in a barrister’s office in a Jane Austen novel, doesn’t it?

Sauder makes great stuff, so while it’s pricey, it’ll also last you a good long time.

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6. Handmade Spiral Bookshelf

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This one is way out of my price range, but I’m sharing it because it’s absolutely gorgeous. More like art than a shelf! Plus, maybe some of you do have the budget for it.

I love that it’s handmade from durable grinded aluminum. Plus, that kind of takes the sting out of the price. You’re supporting a real person who used her actual hands to create a thing of beauty and art.

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7. Industrial Retro Wall Mount Iron Pipe Shelf

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Industrial shelves are super trendy right now (I guess they’re farmhouse chic?). I don’t buy things just because they’re trendy, though. I buy them because I think they’re neat, and these shelves are definitely pretty darn nifty!

They’re strong enough that can load them up with your reference book collection without worrying that it’ll fall right off your wall (and take half the drywall with it). If you opt for a different model, just read the description closely. The first one I picked out for you just came with the pipes, not the actual shelves. Oops!

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8. Round Metal Floating Shelves 

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You have to look through the pictures on the listing to really see the beauty in this one, otherwise it just looks like a weird wagon wheel. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s also made with real wrought iron. In other words, it’s not some cheap-o shelf that’ll fall apart in a year.

It comes in two sizes, so make sure you pay attention to which one you’re getting should you decide it’s the right bookshelf for you.

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9. Retro Industrial Wind Wall Racks

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Another neat floating shelf option, this one isn’t quite so “wagon wheel” as the last one. It has a neat yin-yang design to it. In fact, you could fill one half with black-spined books and the other with white for a yin-yang library!

Like the one above, it’s made with iron and real wood. The only major drawback is that it takes 2-3 weeks to get, so if you need something right away, it’s not a good pick.

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10. Tribesigns 8-Shelves Staggered Bookshelf

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This last one is another one by Tribedesigns. As you can tell, I really like the staggered style. It’s just more versatile overall. If your click through the pictures, you can see how two of them fit perfectly together. If I ever get my big house with a library room, I’d definitely line the walls with this one!

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Out of all of these, my favorite has to be the handmade spiral one. Sadly, it’s not something I’ll ever be able to afford, so my next pick is the industrial wall shelf. How about you? Which do you like best?