Using Cheap Shelving for Home Storage and Display
When times are hard economically, there are millions more people searching for cheaper alternatives to household items they would normally buy. An economy in recession hits wallets hard, so we need to look for economic solutions to keep our home budget reined in. That applies to storage units, of every type, around the home. The emphasis switches more from appearance to cost. We want everything cheap.
Buying shelves is no exception. Cheap shelving is in increasing demand as solid wood becomes more of a luxury in our homes. As with buying anything cheap, though, there may be some disadvantages to look out for. There is always a risk of false economy, such as caused by a much reduced life span of something made from cheaper materials. It is wise to balance advantages and disadvantages of buying cheap versions of every day storage items, whether in the form of open shelving or enclosed inside a kitchen or bathroom cabinet of some type.
When it comes to shelving, what are the cheaper options that you can consider? First of all you do need to shop around and compare prices. Flat packed self assembly units can save money, rather than buying ready assembled furniture. That may not always be the case, though, as high quality self assembly furniture may be priced higher than ready made furniture using cheap material.
For cheap shelving, a material most likely to appeal to you is particleboard. When first developed, this was more expensive than solid wood, but more than half a century later particleboard is strongly associated with cheaper ranges of furniture and shelving. It may not look so pretty as solid wood, but even so can be made to look more appealing with the use of paint and varnishes.
Particleboard can be used in most types of furniture, but you do need to take care with how and where you install it. Moisture is its enemy, and can destroy it early on in its life if you are not careful. That is not to say you cannot use it in bathroom shelving, or even out in the storage shed. You just need to be aware of its weakness and prepare for them. Painting or use of melamine to cover the particleboard can help prevent moisture penetration.
Particleboard can also be used in conjunction with other materials, such as polypropylene or metals, which is an advantage. However, when opting for particleboard as the main material for cheap shelves, you do need to think carefully about the brackets you use. Ask at the DIY what fittings it is best to use to hold up the shelves, if wall mounted. Some self assembly kits will come with everything you need though.
Another key consideration is the weight you expect the shelving to bear. Cheap particleboard with poor choice of brackets could soon be a disaster zone if heavily laden. Get the brackets right, and the correct strength of particleboard, and you should be okay.