A DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO SHOPPING AT HOMEGOODS

If you know me, you know I’ve been a HomeGoods girl for a very long time. I first discovered HomeGoods in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2006, when I was a pre-med student shopping for little treasures to make my dorm room feel like my own. This was long before I knew that my eye, or my love of the hunt, would eventually become such a defining part of my career. From there, I pivoted to design school in Los Angeles, built a career in fashion in New York City, and eventually found my way into interiors. Through every chapter, my appreciation for treasure hunting has only grown. The more I’ve learned about design, craftsmanship, materials, and how a room comes together, the more I’ve come to appreciate the thrill of finding something truly special in an everyday place. Nearly twenty years later, I still find myself wandering the aisles, whether I’m shopping for my own home or sourcing for one of my clients, always convinced there is something incredible waiting to be found. I’ve always been a high-low girl at heart, and I don’t believe every piece in a home needs to come from a showroom for it to be special. Some of my favorite finds have come from HomeGoods and it continues to surprise me year after year. While you’ll certainly find plenty of trend-driven décor, tucked between the shelves are real gems made from natural stone, solid wood, brass, ceramic, and other timeless materials that can rival pieces selling for several times the price elsewhere. Many are imported from artisans and manufacturers around the world, giving them a handmade quality and character that can be difficult to find when shopping exclusively online. And that has always been the magic of HomeGoods for me. Every shipment is different, every store is different, and you never quite know what you’re going to find. Once something is gone, it’s usually gone for good, which makes every great find feel that much more special. After nearly two decades of treasure hunting, I’ve learned what is worth stopping for, what is worth leaving behind, and which pieces have the power to make a home feel truly collected.

Rather than filling your cart with impulse purchases, I recommend shopping with intention. These are the categories I always make a point to browse whenever I’m sourcing for clients or styling my own home:

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Designer Tip: Look for pieces with substantial weight and nicely finished edges. Natural imperfections are part of a stone’s beauty, but avoid pieces with visible repairs, large chips, or uneven polishing unless that’s the look you’re after.

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3. Cutting Boards

This may sound like an unusual category, but I genuinely think HomeGoods sells some of the best cutting boards for the price. Mine have lasted longer than several I’ve purchased from much more expensive retailers. Whether you actually use them for cooking or simply lean them against your backsplash as part of your kitchen styling, a beautiful wood cutting board instantly adds warmth and texture to a space. Over time, they develop a patina that only makes them more beautiful.

Designer Tip: Look for end-grain or solid hardwood boards with consistent construction. Skip boards that already show splitting, excessive warping, or uneven glue joints.

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Furniture is probably the category that surprises me the most. I’ve stumbled upon beautifully designed accent chairs, sculptural occasional seating, and incredibly comfortable nursery recliners that easily compete with pieces from much more expensive retailers. One of my favorite HomeGoods discoveries of all time was a brown shagreen Fendi Casa accent chair pictured above that originally retailed for around $22k (on sale at HG for $2k). Finding a piece like that in the middle of HomeGoods is exactly why I always take the time to walk through their furniture section. Of course, finds like that are rare, but that’s part of the fun. Even without a luxury label attached, I’ve found chairs with exceptional silhouettes, solid construction, and upholstery that looks far more expensive than their price tag suggests.

Since seating is something you’ll physically interact with every day, buying in person also allows you to test comfort, inspect craftsmanship, and evaluate proportions before making a decision.

Lighting is one category where patience truly pays off. Most visits you’ll find fairly standard lamps, but every now and then you’ll come across something extraordinary. Think oversized brass table lamps, sculptural ceramic bases, natural stone details, hand-textured finishes, or beautiful marble combinations that would likely cost several hundred dollars more elsewhere. A great lamp doesn’t just provide light. It acts as sculpture, adds height to a vignette, introduces another material into the room, and creates warmth throughout the space. Because lighting can dramatically change how a room feels, I never overlook this aisle.

Designer Tip: Focus on timeless shapes over trendy ones. Check that the lamp feels substantial, inspect the finish for scratches, and don’t be afraid to replace the lampshade if the base is beautiful but the shade isn’t.

A great pillow does far more than add color or texture to a room. It completely changes how a space looks and feels. Feather-filled pillows instantly create that relaxed, lived-in look you often see in beautifully designed homes. They compress naturally when someone sits against them, fluff back up with ease, and maintain their shape far better than inexpensive polyester inserts. Not only do they look better, they’re noticeably more comfortable for everyday use. Purchasing quality feather or feather-and-down inserts on their own can become surprisingly expensive, which is exactly why I always browse the pillow section at HomeGoods. Even if I don’t love the fabric cover, I’ll sometimes buy the pillow anyway if it's in a standard size. This makes it easy to swap in a new cover later while holding onto the insert for years to come. It’s one of the simplest ways to make a sofa, bed, or reading chair feel significantly more luxurious without spending a fortune.

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7. Decorative Boxes

Decorative boxes are one of those pieces that instantly add another layer of texture and personality to a space while helping keep everyday clutter out of sight. They’re perfect for storing the little things you reach for often but don’t necessarily want sitting out in the open, like remote controls, matchsticks, lip gloss, charging cables, coasters, or other everyday essentials. I love using decorative boxes throughout the home. On a coffee table, they keep surfaces feeling intentional without sacrificing convenience. On bookshelves, they break up rows of books while adding another material to the mix. In a home office or bathroom, they’re an easy way to keep smaller necessities tucked away without reaching for plastic organizers or storage bins. HomeGoods is one of my favorite places to shop for decorative boxes because the inventory is constantly changing. I’ve found everything from faux shagreen and lacquered finishes to stone, woven, and wood boxes that look far more expensive than they actually are.

Designer Tip: Open every box before purchasing. Make sure the lid functions properly, sits flush when closed, the hinges feel sturdy, and the interior is well finished. I personally gravitate toward boxes with hinged lids for everyday storage since they’re easy to open with one hand. Lift off lids certainly have their place, but I typically reserve those for items I don’t need to access as often.

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8. Picture Frames

Frames are one of the easiest ways to make a home feel personal, and HomeGoods consistently has one of the most interesting selections. Rather than buying an entire matching set, I like mixing materials, finishes, and proportions to create something that feels collected over time. Stone, brass, wood, leather, acrylic, and textured frames all bring something different to a space. Because the inventory is constantly changing, you’ll often stumble upon frames with details and craftsmanship that simply aren’t easy to find online. Whether you’re creating a gallery wall or styling a bedside table, finding the right frame in person often makes all the difference.

Designer Tip: Don’t go to HomeGoods expecting to find the perfect frame. Instead, make it a stop whenever you’re already shopping. The best frames are usually the ones you discover unexpectedly. If one catches your eye and you can immediately picture where it belongs, don’t overthink it cause there’s a good chance you won’t see it again.

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