Nathan James Theo 5-Shelf Modern Bookcase

Very solid and attractive bookcase. Easy to put together. Couldn’t be happier with it

This is the best thing I have ever purchased on Amazon! Very easy to assemble and mount. Looks great in my bathroom and holds a lot of stuff!

These are some of the most durable, high quality wall bookshelves. I bought one of these bookshelves 7 years ago, and then another 5 years ago, and just recently bought an additional 2 to fit my new space (so currently using all 4 bookshelves). First of all, the original bookshelves I bought 5 and 7 years ago are still in perfect condition. I tightened the screws for some of the shelves right after I moved, but otherwise they are just as good as the day I got them. Admittedly, these were not as expensive as when I first bought them so I was a little worried that the product had changed when I purchased the new ones. I can definitively say that the quality is just as good, if not better now, while still looking identical. The new bookshelves are slightly heavier than the older ones but not super noticeably so. TBD on whether they last as long as the originals, but they’ve been great so far!

We originally purchased 4 sets of the Nathan James Theo 5-Shelf Bookcases in white and gold to frame our fireplace in the living room. We stacked the units vertically (two per side) to create the look of tall, built-in shelving—and the final result is stunning! The design is clean, modern, and elegant, and it instantly elevated the entire room. Because we stacked them, we made sure to anchor them securely to the wall using heavier-duty wall anchors than those provided. These shelves can become top-heavy when stacked, especially on carpet or uneven surfaces, so safety is key. We chose to use lightweight decorative items—like candles, plants, and small decor pieces—for a modern, airy look rather than loading them down with heavy books. We loved the look and quality so much that we also bought another set for our home office this time in the black metal and natural wood finish. We did not stack these because the way they are assembled was different than the gold metal, so had to return the extras and stick with the original design. The darker tone works perfectly in a more professional space, and we styled them with a mix of books, plants, and personal items. These were just as beautiful used as is. The shelves are easy to assemble, have a clean-lined industrial design, and offer lots of styling options depending on the space. Whether you’re going for decorative or functional, they’re a fantastic and affordable way to upgrade your space. Highly recommend—but don’t skip the wall anchors, especially if you have kids or pets!

Simply put, I love this unit and feel that I got more than I paid for. Assembly is super simple. If you are a veteran at IKEA assembly... then these units would take you 20 minutes. If you are assembling the piece with the drawers... it takes perhaps twice as long. Drawers can be a pain to assemble. If you are planning to create a full wall of shelving using a combination of the 5 shelf units and the drawer units like I did... be aware that the shelf depth on both units are different. For some odd reason the shelves on the 5 shelf units are about 1/2" deeper than the shelves provided with the drawer unit. You can see the offset from the photo I posted. If you have the right number of units, you may be able to shuffle around shelves to have them all line up. Product of course isn't solid wood but it looks very nice. The veneer looks wonderful but is rather soft so you have to be a little careful about assembly and about usage. It scratches easily. It's perfectly fine as a display shelf though. While the product is packaged well, the weight can pose a situation where shipping damage is a real possibility. I had 3 of my 5 units come damaged through shipping. That said, contacting the company to resolve the issue couldn't have been a better experience. Claire made sure to ship out replacements for the damaged and missing parts quickly. No questions asked. I got what I paid for and then some.

Bought three of the Theo bookshelves (white with gold hardware and the brown with white hardware) way back in May of 2020 and I still admire these pieces of furniture when it catches my eyes. If you find the bookshelf available for purchase either on Amazon or on their own website Nathan James, be quick to get it as it always sells out. This company got many modern pieces of furniture at great prices and the quality is very nice. Check out their website if you are into stylish modern contemporary furniture. Customer service is one of a kind and has strong commitment to product integrity. So no worries if needing to contact them for any reason. The self is tall and narrow so it is a great solution for smaller spaces -or if you have space the shelves look even more stylish if put next to one another. You still would want to measure the space it is intended for -unlike me who loved the look of the shelves and clicked purchase without checking the measurements. Ouch - when I realized there was problem -solely on my end for not grabbing a measuring tape - the company Nathan James still went to great lengths to assist making it work - and I did not even purchase the product from them. They stand by their products no matter where you make the purchase. Remember the delay in receiving shipments mid-Corona? While doing me a great favor, the company shipped me a whole new shelving system (free of charge)(yes, really) - not because the ones I had were defect, but as a pure gesture of kindness AND when there was a little time in getting this unit, the company rep. shipped out a surprise follow up note with a box of Godiva chocolate !! (how do they even know I have a preference for this fancy European chocolate?!) I wish I had more room for additional furniture purchases as I truly enjoyed the process and would like to shine five bright stars on them.

I’m so happy I decided to purchase this shelf. It was super easy to install by myself and it looks great. Including unpacking it, it took me roughly 20 mins to install each shelf. I also purchased the Nathan James desk to go alongside it. The shelves are not real wood but a laminated MDF which I don’t mind cause there still really sturdy. If you mount the shelf in a stud you will be fine but if not I don’t recommend using the screws and plugs they provide as there small and crappy. I personally used metal plugs and the shelf isn’t going anywhere. The price is pretty high for this product not to have real wood shelves but I totally recommend this product.

The bookcases were easy to build and actually look very nice and modern. The only problem is, one of the bookcases wasn't as well put together as the other three (I ordered four) and was damaged (metal scratched/grooved at the side of one of the shelves), which was such a shame, as they were not cheap.

I recently purchased their 5-shelf Theo Bookcase from Amazon.ca (sold from UrbanInspirations - a 3rd party company) only to have the bookcase arrive with shelves dinged and with scrapes over them. I called the Nathan James customer service directly, spoke with a super helpful, friendly rep named Leyla. She immediately took action, found a replacement bookshelf from Wayfair and help ship it to me free of cost. AND I didn't need to pay to return the damaged bookcase. She then followed up multiple times via email to ensure everything was ok, and that I received the replacement bookcase. Could not have been happier with their customer service. Re the bookcase, its GORGEOUS. Crazy easy to build (built it by myself in under 30 mins). Does not require to be nailed into the wall studs, it comes with drywall screws. Its modern and super sturdy. I ended up buying a second I liked it so much.

Was very easy to assemble (took 30 min and that's including looking for my tool kit). Was expecting something bulky but turns out that it is very discreet and fits perfectly with the rest of my furniture. The size is perfect...not too high, just enough shelves...looks delicate but is strongly built. I am simply in love with it. Can be placed in a bedroom,living room, kitchen...it doesn't matter. I would recommend this product without a doubt. I might even purchase 3 more to replace my old bookcases. Thank you Nathan James for such a beautiful product.

Overall I am super happy with the final look. It's the closest thing I could find to what I wanted, at a reasonable price. I was eyeing the CB2, but at mode than triple the price of the size I needed, it wasn't an option for me. The installation was pretty simple and took no more than 30min. The issue we had was the screws seeming not sturrdy enough, so we used a more sturdy anchor that we had on hand. The look is sleek, simple, a classy. I cannot wait to decorate it with items. I have to say there are a few strange marks that almost each of the shelves had which I am unable to remove.... It's not a deal breaker but you should be aware if you're a perfectionist this may irritate you (see photos attached). Overall, I am satisfied with the purchase and overall look of the product. As you can see I installed two side by side and really like the look.