Searching wood shelves services, Today, almost all wood shelves on the market aren't made from real wood. Currently, plywood or pressed cheaper wood (often referred to as "engineered" wood) provide the solid core of most wood shelves, which are then finished with a veneer, paint, or other covering. These shelves are substantially less expensive than real wood, and frequently they are also lighter and tougher. The nicest of these shelves have a veneer on them, which is a thin actual wood coating.