Wooden furniture is undeniably more aesthetically pleasing than modern alternatives like plastic or raw metal, but there is a world of difference between a cheap chipboard and a strong, durable plank of solid wood. The former won’t last long or be very strong even when new. It will be vulnerable to knocks, scratches, and chips, and if the damp gets into the wood itself it’s all over. The latter can be made into quality shelves that will look beautiful, support heavy weights, and last for a lifetime.
Avoid buying painted or plastic-coated bookcases. Covering up the timber is often the easiest way of concealing poor quality wood, planks with serious flaws, or something worse like weak plywood or chipboard made from sawmill scraps and scrapings rather than proper solid timber. The natural look of wood can be very attractive, especially when varnished or properly oiled, and finishing shelves in that way also seals the wood and prevents damp getting in just effectively as a coat of opaque paint.
If you do really want something painted (say you’d like something bright to go in a child’s room for example) there is nothing at all stopping you from painting your own timber furniture. In fact, letting the kids help can be a fun and very educational family activity. Just remember that a good set of solid wood bookcases will last for decades, and your baby daughter might not like her neon-pink bedroom shelves quite so much when she’s 17.
Pine is by far the most common wood used in construction and in home furnishings. It is eminently suitable for sustainable plantation growth and unlike mahogany and oak, a pine tree doesn’t take decades to reach a good size. Where possible, choose pine grown in colder climates where the rate of growth is a little slower. This produces a stronger, closer grained wood.