Make the Plywood Look Like Solid Wood With Some Edging
If you are looking to make furniture or other decorative items, plywood is a much cheaper alternative to solid wood. However, if you want to hide the fact that it is plywood, you can apply edging to the sides to hide the visible layers.
In this video, Bob Cladgett on Make YouTube explains some of the basics of plywood. He also demonstrates an easy way to simulate solid wood with plywood: edgebanding. These strips have an adhesive backing that can be used to make the sides look like solid wood, and all you have to do is cut and sand it. Keep in mind that furniture usually requires higher quality plywood that is clad on the outside with hardwoods such as oak, birch, or walnut. It can be a little more expensive than building wood, but still cheaper than using solid wood (not to mention that it is much better than oriented strand board ).
Tips: Working With Plywood | Youtube