Home Decorating on a Budget takes both your wallet and creative eye into consideration. No matter how little, or much, money you have to spend on décor, this book provides a cost effective guide to getting things done the right way without overspending.  See chapter list below:    

• Introduction 
• Do’s and Don’ts 
• Getting Ideas 
• Elements of Design
• Organizing Your Ideas 
• Decorating on a Budget 
• Minimalist Style 
• Casual Style 
• Formal Style 
• Shabby Chic Style 
• Paris Apartment Style 
• French Country Style 
• Tuscan Style 
• Traditional Style 
• Tropical Chic Style 
• Lodge Style 
• Using What You’ve Got 
• Decorating in a Day 
• Choosing Art 
• Conclusion 

Alder Wood

Not super dense or hard, this relatively soft wood offers stability, strength and durability under the shifting conditions of a busy kitchen.   

Birch Wood

Very strong and durable, birch wood is perfect for general furniture building and shelving.  

Hickory Wood

Known for its durability and resilience, hickory has a reputation for being able to take anything you throw at it.  If you’re looking for a long-lasting high quality solution to your shelving needs, hickory wood is a great choice.  Ideal for challenging conditions such as cabins and busy kitchens.  

Oak Wood (Do or Die Recommended)

Oak wood is a common option for reasons such as strength and durability, as well as ease of use.  Perfect for any situation, not to mention great for staining.  For these reasons we recommend oak above all, as it simply works for any situation and is super easy to handle for you DIY’ers out there.    

Pine Wood

This very strong softwood is flexible and durable, able to take on a lot of pressure.  Perfect for shifting temperature conditions, as it can easily handle the resulting give and take.  Used for projects that require a sturdy wood such as roofing, window frames, bed frames, furniture skeletons and much more.  

Poplar Wood

Although not ranking high in overall quality, poplar wood is super flexible and looks great under a nice finish.  What you won’t get in quality you will get in looks and a super flexible and user-friendly product.  

Acrylic Shelves

This is the perfect option for a small kitchen shelf that houses smaller things such as seasoning and other grab and go items.  The best way to plan for acrylic shelving is to think “convenience”, as they are perfect for just that.  The ability to see directly through them makes it easy to find what you need when working in the kitchen.  

Corner Kitchen Shelves

This is another great choice when looking to create convenience in the kitchen and make maximum use of space.  Corner units are both stylish and useful, providing the perfect blend of utility and beauty.       

DIY Kitchen Shelves

Creating shelves at home is really a piece of cake, and often better from a quality standpoint, as the builder controls what goes into the product from start to finish.  I prefer to DIY my own shelves because I both enjoy and prefer cutting, sanding, treating and staining the final product.  If that sounds like something you would enjoy then perhaps DIY’ing your kitchen shelves is the best way.  Below is each step from start to finish!  

Step 1:  Cut wood to desired dimensions and shape

Step 2:  Sand to desired smoothness 

Step 3:  Wipe down with a damp rag (I recommend doing this 2 or 3 times to ensure board is cleared of debris from sanding) and allow to dry 

Step 4:  Add finish/stain of your choice 

Step 5:  Evenly apply polyurethane with brush or aerosol can. This will protect your shelves from scratches and stains as they undergo inevitable changes over the years

Metal/Stainless Steel Kitchen Shelves

Metal units are perfect for super busy kitchens.  They provide extreme durability and the ability to withstand constant abuse and heat for years and years.  This is why you find most commercial kitchens decked out with metal shelving.  If this is the look and feel you’re looking for in your kitchen, you won’t be disappointed by their overall quality and 

Rustic Kitchen Shelves

Both beautiful and durable, rustic shelves are rarely out of place in the kitchen.  Rustic units can be purchased, created or for a really nice touch you can locate some actual “rustic” wood from an old house or barn.  Finding such wood isn’t as hard as one might think.  A quick online search should turn up several people looking to rid themselves of old rustic wood.  

Wire Shelves

Wire Metal shelves are perfect for high placed racks in your kitchen for larger items. While you can use them however you choose, many people appreciate the ability to stow items overhead and still be able to see what’s there without obstruction.  

Wooden Shelves

The majority of home kitchen shelves are made of wood.  The type of wood best for your situation may vary (see best types of wood for kitchen shelves above), and this is something to consider according to the frequency in which your kitchen is used, home type and other factors applicable to your space.