subject: Choosing The Best Kitchen Decorating Accessories [print this page] When it comes to getting kitchen decorating accessories, "the best" is a good goal. It's nice to have things that are high quality - which usually means high price tag....Or is it?
Is these days of economic stress, it is important to take a look at the things we are spending our money on, and carefully consider alternatives to our instinctive behavior. As this applies to the best kitchen decorating accessories, we should think about the levels of investment, and determine which is right for us, at this point in our lives.
Choices....
There are many choices when it comes to where to buy kitchen decorative accessories and products. There are the high-end stores in the mall (like William-Sonoma), and there are free-standing specialty stores (like Bed, Bath, and Beyond). These tend to cater to the upper-end customers, those who have the money to spend without needing or wanting to look for bargains on basic things like kitchen decorating accessories. It's best to look at these, but if you want a bargain there, watch for sales or be sure to take in a coupon to lower the cost on your purchase.
The bottom-end stores that carry kitchen decorating accessories, best or less-so, are the dollar stores. These often have all types of kitchen products - like measuring cups and spoons, vases, knives, and towels. Usually they are priced at 99 cents or a bit more - and you should be careful about the quality of the item, as they are sometimes familiar brands that have been discounted, but often they are made specifically for the dollar store from inferior or less-quality materials or designs.
What about a middle-ground for buying kitchen decorating accessories? The best would be to go to a lower-priced retailer and be able to buy quality products. Take a look at the "Better Homes & Gardens" line of products at Wal-Mart. It's a good example of that niche.
When does it Matter?
For many products, like measuring spoons or cups, and vases, the quality isn't that critical. You can tell from looking at a product before buying whether it is sturdy enough for the type of use it will be getting so that you get your money's worth. For these types of kitchen decorating accessories, "the best" is simply a way to spend your money frivolously. For these products, usually buying less than the best will work fine.
But there are other products where buying a bit higher quality is more important. In this category are things like a vegetable peeler, a can opener, pizza slicer, a knife block with knives, and other specialty products.
For these, often the extra cost of a higher quality is well worth the greater enjoyment in using them. Whether you decide to buy the best in kitchen decorating accessories or products or not, choose wisely and you'll be happier in the long run.
