I'm an interior designer. I love HomeGoods, but there are 7 things I never buy there. --[Reported by Umva mag]

The candle aisle at HomeGoods is my favorite in the whole store. But as fun as the section is to peruse, the wide variety of brands, shapes, and scents can be a mixed bag.

I've found that many candles I've bought at the chain either don't burn very well or lose their scent pretty quickly despite seeming amazing in the store.

These candles are good in a pinch — and you might get lucky with a great one — but I'd rather spend more money and buy something high quality from an actual candle store.

HomeGoods is the perfect place to buy a stool or a martini table, but I wouldn't buy larger furniture there.

Many of the sofas and big chairs I've seen in the store look amazing, but the quality hasn't impressed me much.

Plus, at HomeGoods, you typically buy floor models. Your couch could be on the floor for weeks, with hundreds of strangers sitting on it or carts bumping into it at every turn.

Many of HomeGoods' pots and pans look amazing — again, brands and quality vary — but I buy mine elsewhere.

Though you might get lucky and find name-brand items in the store's aisles, I've bought many random pots and pans that haven't held up here.

Getting a full, matching set of cookware from HomeGoods is also tricky since not all stores carry the same pieces or multiples of designs.

I'd rather invest in a matching set from a trustworthy cookware brand.

Choosing the perfect finishing touches for a space can be one of the trickiest tasks.

But I'll never waste money on hanging letters or signs with quotes. Quotes are meant for journals, not walls.

Many signs I've found at HomeGoods felt entirely overused or like they untastefully pay homage to farmhouse design.

Choose an elevated art piece or canvas instead.

In the age of the mirror selfie, I completely understand the desire to add the perfect floor-length mirror to a space. After all, they're essential for good outfit-of-the-day posts.

That said, the quality of large mirrors I've seen at HomeGoods hasn't impressed me.

One way I like to test the quality of mirrors in the store is by standing far away from them to see whether my reflection gets distorted. If I start to look funky, I'll pass on the mirror.

Mirrors are massive statement pieces, so I suggest investing in high-quality options.

HomeGoods has an impressive array of holiday decor — and it's often on shelves long before the season or holiday it's celebrating begins.

But, as a frequent HomeGoods shopper, I've learned that if you wait until one day after the holiday, you can get up to 50% off on some seasonal items.

You risk items on your wish list going out of stock by waiting. But, as a planner, I like preparing for a holiday almost a year before it returns.

HomeGoods is generally a great place to find one-off special items, but not so much coordinated or matching sets.

I like matching sets too much to consider buying office supplies here. I'd shop elsewhere for finishing touches for my home office.

This story was originally published on December 21, 2023, and most recently updated on October 15, 2024.