HomeGoods Interior Designer’s 7 Must-Avoid Items

Rhed, a big fan of HomeGoods, notes that while the chain can be a great place to find trendy decor, small furniture pieces, and a range of other household items, there are things they do not buy there.

Quality Concerns

Paynter Rhed’s aversion to large furniture at HomeGoods stems from quality concerns. “Many of the sofas and big chairs I’ve seen in the store look amazing from afar, but the quality hasn’t impressed me much,” Rhed stated. Rhed also noted that at HomeGoods, you typically buy floor models, meaning a couch could be on the sales floor for weeks with strangers sitting on it or carts bumping into it.

Candle Sales

“The candle aisle at HomeGoods is my favorite part of the whole store,” Rhed said, “but as fun as the section is to peruse, the wide variety of brands, shapes, and scents can be a mixed bag.” Rhed found that many candles bought at the chain either don’t burn very well or lose their scent quickly.

Supply Chain Risks in Cookware and Mirrors

Rhed’s preference for buying cookware elsewhere is due to the fact that it can be hard to find a solid set of pots and pans at HomeGoods. Rhed noted that while items may look nice, they haven’t held up well, and getting a full, matching set is tricky since not all stores carry the same pieces or multiples of a design. Regarding mirrors, Rhed stated, “the large mirrors I’ve seen at HomeGoods haven’t impressed me yet.” Rhed tests mirror quality by standing far away to see if the reflection gets distorted.

Holiday Decor Strategies

Rhed noted that HomeGoods has an impressive array of decor for every holiday and season, often on shelves long before the holiday begins. Rhed learned that if you wait until one day after the holiday, you can sometimes get up to 50% off on some seasonal items. Rhed noted this can be risky since items may go out of stock, and sales aren’t guaranteed.

Office Supplies

Rhed skips the desk organization section at HomeGoods because the store is not great for coordinated or matching sets. Rhed likes matching sets too much to buy desk decor or office supplies there, preferring to shop elsewhere for finishing touches for a home office.

Future Outlook

Rhed also suggests skipping kitschy letters and signs with quotes and phrases, preferring text-free art pieces and decor items instead for a classier look. This story was originally published on December 21, 2023, and most recently updated on July 7, 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider.