Etching is probably the cleanest solution you’ll be able to achieve at home unless you have a small CNC router available to cut out traces and drill holes for you. Dead bug (a.k.a Manhattan style) circuits, perf board, or proto board can be just as sturdy as a PCB, if perhaps a bit bulkier. With enough solder and epoxy they can actually be even more rugged. Designing your own PCBs can be quite rewarding and is a useful skill to have, though the learning curve with various CAD software can vary. KiCAD is free, open source, reasonably well supported and will provide you with a complete toolchain. Other people will have different preferences and, based on the complexity of your circuit, there may be simpler solutions.
You may find it prudent to get an ‘ugly’ version of your circuit working first to refine the schematic before ordering boards from a fabrication house. There’s also LTSpice, which is a software circuit simulation tool and is quite handy for sorting out bugs before putting solder to iron.
Good luck and don’t forget to have fun!