Photo courtesy Shutterstock Images

Green wood furniture can be dauntingly expensive, whether it's certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as a product of well-managed forests, shaped from reclaimed materials or made with least-toxic finishes and glues. Fortunately, it is getting easier to find green tables, chairs and beds that meet at least one of these standards and are comparable in price to conventional furniture.

To get you started:

• Begin with a small piece, like a nightstand.
• Buy an item with one sustainable component like reclaimed wood but treated with a conventional stain and finish. These can be less expensive (and easier to find).
• Choose unfinished wood and finish it yourself.
• Before buying uncertified recycled wood, always ask for assurances as to sources.

Foyer

VivaTerra's Wine Barrel Stave Bench (made from an old oak wine barrel) is the perfect place to sit while you pull on your shoes ($219; www.vivaterra.com).

Living Room

The well-designed Eli Sofa by Greener Lifestyles has an FSC-certified pine frame, a natural rubber latex seat and down-filled back cushions ($1,950). The clean lined Dora Chair has an FSC-certified pine frame with a natural rubber latex seat ($512). Both pieces can be upholstered in an organic cotton/hemp blend, wool, recycled polyester or conventional fibers (www.greenerlifestyles.com).

Ikea's JÄRBO Corner Sofa ($99.99) can be used as an individual chair or several can be connected to form a larger seating surface. It's fabricated from woven banana fibers using a clear formaldehyde-free nitrocellulose lacquer with reduced off-gassing on a steel frame. The Ellan rocking chair ($39.99) is a composite of recycled plastic and recycled wood fiber (www.ikea.com).

Material Furniture's Little Sister End Table ($300) provides a small, sleek perch for magazines and a lamp. Three pieces of FSC-certified maple plywood slide together to form the hourglass-shaped stand and the top (www.vivavi.com).

The Arts and Crafts-style Tall Bookcase by The Wooden Duck is handmade in Java, Indonesia, from teak reclaimed from demolished buildings. It's available unfinished and is constructed using a water-based, non-toxic glue ($785; www.thewoodenduck.com).