• Modern shelves use a variety of materials including metal and stone.book image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Shelves primarily serve a functional purpose, but modern shelves can also add style and distinction to a wall or room. Modern shelving units combine function with contemporary design aesthetics to create storage that serves double duty as decor. Traditional shelving is often made of a series of wooden boxes or rectangles; modern shelves experiment with shape, color, and material and add contemporary flair to any space.
  
  

Modern Shapes

• Traditional bookshelves are comprised of rectangles and right angles. Modern bookshelves incorporate a wider range of shapes and angles into their designs. Circular bookshelves come in several designs. Some shelves include stacked circles of varying sizes to resemble a honeycomb pattern; these shelves can be placed directly on a floor or mounted onto a wall. Books are stacked vertically inside the circles or horizontally on plank placed across the diameter of each circle. Some shelves include a basic rectangular gram with a series of alternatively shaped shelves inside the frame; triangles, diamonds, and hexagons are popular shapes for such shelves. Shelves that are single sheets of bent or molded plastic or metal can form wave-like lines on a wall. When purchasing shelves with modern shapes, consider the functionality of the shape. For simple objects like books or movies, many shapes will be adequate, but for fragile items like vases or collectibles, circles or other angled surfaces may not be ideal.
  
  

Alternative Materials

• Modern shelving units utilize several building materials including stone, plastic, and metal. Most shelving units made from plastic or metal create nonlinear shelving units that attach directly to the wall; they can be bend into spirals or waves. Even wooden bookshelves can be updated by using alternative wooden materials such as bamboo. Built-in wall units can be framed with tile or thin sheets of bronze or copper. Simple metal sculptures in the shape of flowers, butterflies, or letters are understated bookshelves that also serve a design purpose.
  
  

Colors and Patterns

• Older bookshelves can be instantly updated with a coat of paint or even a modern wall paper. Modern bookshelves add color to a room with a simple color scheme. A white wooden bookshelf with a bright blue, green, or orange painted on the shelf edges or the inner backing of the shelves adds a modern twist to a traditional bookcase. Tall, free-standing bookshelves with large geometric or graffiti patterns can serve as a focal point of a room. Coordinate bookshelves to the other colors in the room; a blue room with an orange bookcase or a white room with a green bookcase makes for a bold, contemporary space.