Increasingly, components are more available in SMD form
than in leaded varieties.

Now, I have not tried the following, it is a suggestion as I'm
bogged down in other projects ...

With a single-sided PCB, used as the earth plane, glue
the SMD components down on the fibreglass side, allowing
at least 1/4" either side of each component. This is to ensure
that there is room for your soldering iron and allows for decreasing
eyesight and wobbly fingers.

When the glue is dried hard, then wire together using that pink
stuff that does not need the enamel to be stripped before
soldering.

And I mean HARD!

But be cautious over some glues that release when heated,
such as cyanoacrylate super glues and the Brit Araldite.