18 Bookshelves That Look More Expensive Than They Are

If you’re looking to compete with some of the best bookshelves on your Instagram feed, you’re in luck. We consider ourselves experts when it comes to an aesthetically pleasing shelf—after all, pictures of bookshelves on the Clever Instagram account always get more likes, from bright and cheerful to serious and scholarly. Perhaps you were tuning in during the internet’s fascination with color-coded bookshelves, or maybe you’ve run the (sometimes astronomical) cost of custom open shelves or have attempted DIY bookshelf projects for years. Whatever the case, there’s something that can’t be denied: Seeing all of your favorite books neatly arranged among carefully curated trinkets and treasured collectibles just makes you feel good. It reminds you that there’s some sort of order in the world.

The good news is that order doesn’t necessarily have to come with an outrageous price tag. We’ve been gathering inspo from Clever homeowners for years—Billys reimagined! Stylishly upgraded garage storage! Mid-century modern influences!—and have quite a few tricks up our sleeves when it comes to finding relatively cheap bookshelves that will spare your credit card, make your home look great, and (hopefully) give you a little satisfaction.