Modern shelves built from real plywood, not particle board
Most modern bookshelves look clean in photos and fall apart within a year. The culprit is usually MDF or particle board with a printed wood-grain film on top. It sags under weight, swells if it gets wet, and can't be refinished. We build our shelves from 13-ply plywood because it holds real weight, stays flat over time, and shows the material honestly through its exposed edge layers.
The Modern Shelf is a freestanding bookshelf available in 2, 3, 4, and 5-tier configurations. The Modular Shelf expands with additional tiers as your collection grows. Wall Shelves mount to the wall or sit freestanding on any surface. Wavy Wall Shelves add a sculptural profile to the same construction. Every shelf ships flat, assembles without tools, and arrives unfinished so you stain, paint, or leave the birch grain as-is.
Every shelf clicks together by hand. No allen wrenches, no cam locks, no bag of mystery hardware.
In stock and ready to ship from San Diego. No eight-week backorder waits.
Start with what you need. Add tiers later as your book collection, plant family, or record library grows.
Raw premium-grade plywood is a blank canvas. Stain it dark walnut, paint it white, or let the natural plywood grain do the talking.
Modern Shelf as a coffee station
Wall Shelves mid-paint
Modern Shelving, Room by Room
Six ways to use modern shelves and bookshelves throughout your home.
A Modern Shelf in a 3 or 4-tier configuration replaces a traditional bookcase without the visual weight. The open-back design lets the wall show through, keeping the room feeling larger. Use it to display books, plants, ceramics, or a turntable setup. The Modular Shelf works the same way and lets you add tiers later if your collection grows.
A 2-tier Modern Shelf next to the bed works as a modern nightstand alternative with twice the surface area. The open shelves hold books, a lamp, and a water glass without feeling like a box. Or mount a pair of Wall Shelves above the Nightstand for vertical storage that doesn't take floor space.
Mount Wall Shelves above your Modern Desk for reference books, supplies, and the things that would otherwise clutter your work surface. A Modular Shelf beside the desk handles heavier items like binders, printers, or a full row of hardcovers. See our home office shelf guide for placement ideas.
Open shelving in the kitchen is a modern alternative to upper cabinets. Wall Shelves hold mugs, spice jars, cookbooks, and everyday dishes where you can see and reach them. The premium-grade plywood is moisture-resistant when sealed with a coat of polyurethane. Wavy Wall Shelves add a sculptural accent to a kitchen that feels too boxy. See our kitchen shelf guide.
Front-facing Wall Shelves at kid height make a Montessori-style book display. Kids can see covers, grab what they want, and put things back on their own. A Modern Shelf on the floor holds bins, toys, and art supplies without needing wall anchors. Read our kids' room shelving guide for setup ideas.
The Modular Shelf is wide enough to hold vinyl records upright and deep enough for oversized art books. Start with two tiers for a small collection and expand as you go. Use the lower tiers for record storage and the top for your turntable. The open design lets you flip through records without pulling them out of a cabinet.
Modern Shelf Questions, Answered
What makes a modern bookshelf different from a traditional one?
Traditional bookcases are enclosed boxes with a back panel, fixed shelves, and a heavy footprint. Modern bookshelves strip that down. Our Modern Shelf has no back panel, so the wall shows through and the piece feels lighter in the room. The open structure also means air circulates around your books and objects. The Modular Shelf takes it further with a design that expands with additional tiers as needed, so you're never locked into a fixed height. Both use interlocking plywood joinery instead of screws or cam locks.
How much weight can a modern plywood shelf hold?
Our shelves are made from 13-ply plywood, the same material used in high-end cabinetry and industrial applications. Each tier of the Modern Shelf holds 30+ pounds. That's a full row of hardcovers, a turntable, or a lineup of potted plants. Wall Shelves hold the same weight when mounted into studs with the included hardware. The Wavy Wall Shelves hold equal weight with a more sculptural profile.
Can you use modern shelves without mounting to the wall?
Yes. The Modern Shelf and Modular Shelf are both freestanding. They sit on the floor without wall anchoring. The Wall Shelves can also be used freestanding on a desk, counter, or console table. This makes them ideal for renters or anyone who doesn't want to drill into walls. If you do want to mount, the included hardware makes it straightforward. See our guide to customizing wall shelves for more setup options.
Let customers speak for us
This record holder is a great value. Some similar products are much more and then charge you $$$ for shipping on top of that, so no thanks. I will be buying more of this stuff!
Funny little table! But useful! I wanted a table for my small porch and this fit the bill. This was easy to put together. It screamed for a bright color so it's now bright red. Tucks into a corner and is easily pulled out when needed.
Quick delivery.
This was the perfect size for a small collection of pepper mills that I only have a small space to display. Perfect for the space and the wavy shelves are perfect for showing off the mills. I am staining the shelves to work with the teak mills. Thank you so much!
Absolutely love these shelves! They were so easy to build and hang!
Love it. Fast shipping. Cool design.
Nice shelf, seems like good quality. Fits our space well.
Second purchase! Love it!
The shelves are wonderful, quick to assemble, sturdy and attractive
i LOVE my unfinished shelf. nice to know i can one day paint it or finish it with another color without needing to strip it. right now, i'm keeping it simple since the rest of the decor in my home is so busy and it looks great holding all my coffee cart items and created so much more open space for me. my only complaint is that the horizontal shelves aren't sitting very flush with the wall, but it has not become an issue, and is better than the shelves being overcut and having them jut out into the wall. FIVE STARS!!!!
Easy peasy to put together. I was surprised at how well it stained. I used a quick dry oil based combination of 1 part light walnut and 2 parts dark walnut. Very happy with the table.
exactly as described, thank you!
AMAZING! Seller and product are both 5 stars!
Absolutely thrilled with this bookshelf. It’s an absolutely perfect addition to my photography studio. I love the simple Scandinavian design and ease of putting it together. Have already referred friends to this lovely company.
so easy to put together and it looks SO cute in my apartment! i will definitely be shopping here again!