A well-curated bookshelf is something of an art form. A visually compelling mix of books, photos, objets d'arts, small oil paintings, stones from the beach adds a bookish and bohemian vibe to any room. Some examples of shelves we admire.

Above: Shelving via photographer Vangelis Paterakis.

Above: An elegant and sparsely occupied shelving unit by San Francisco architects Aidlin Darling.

Above: A detail of a shelf from stylist Lili Diallo's portfolio (we like the Fornasetti plate peering out).

Above: London-based Danish designer Nina Tolstrup mixes books, crafts pottery pieces, even a teapot in her shelves (DIY instructions for creating a similar shelf can be found at StudioMama).

Above: One of our favorite stores, Ochre, offers a Modular Metal Shelving Unit in a vintage steel finish ($425 for each section). In this vignette, the books have been turned sideways and backwards; the pages create a soft, tonal tableau (we also like the ceramic pot holding paint brushes).