Tips for shopping at Homesense

It’s a poorly kept secret - that Homesense is a treasure trove of trendy, well-priced home decor items and furniture pieces. Full transparency: it’s been my #1 go-to store when it came to decorating (and furnishing) not only the home we’re in now, but our previous one also. Even back in my condo living days I loved shopping Homesense for cute items to really personalize my space.

Much like it’s clothing counter part Winners, Homesense can sometimes be an overwhelming (even daunting) shopping experience. But don’t be discouraged, there are deals to be had that make it worth it. That’s why I’m sharing my top tips for how to shop smarter and score the best finds Homesense has to offer.

1. Go often

I can’t stress this enough. To score big you have to be committed to visiting regularly. At the risk of being pressured into a 12-step program, I’ll admit I go on average 2-3 times per week. The merchandise turns over so quickly that this is really the best way to get your hands on the most desirable items.

2. Learn the shipment dates

As you commit to regular visits, it’s a good idea to align them with when your location receives its new stock. Ask a store associate which days of the week they receive shipments. In my experience they’re more than happy to spill the tea! Then make it your business to be there on those days.

3. Shop “off-season”

Much like with clothing, home decor has an element of seasonality. There are two ways to use this to your advantage. If you’re shopping for something specific and you know the style you want, start actively looking to find it before the season you’ll use it in arrives. A good example is planters and pots. These are spring/summer items so you’ll always find the best selection starting in March/April. By early June, you’re likely to be left scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as colour/styles and the amount you have to choose from.

On the other hand, if you’re not on the hunt for something specific, you can typically luck out with some really great deals at the end of the season when these items get marked down (more on this below).

4. Rotate locations

For some reason I swear merchandise gets divvied up in completely random quantities between store locations. So when it comes to buying items that you need multiples of or purchasing things in sets, you’ll often have to rely on stock from more than one location. For example, when I was hunting for the perfect matte white stoneware dinnerware, I had to buy from three different stores to get 10 of each sized plate and each bowl. All this to say, don’t discount items if you can’t find the exact quantity you want/need at one store - grab what you can and try to complete the set by shopping other locations.

5. Buy to try, then return

A rule so true they based an entire marketing campaign around it. If you find something you love - always buy it! I haven’t done the math, but I’d venture to say you run an 80% chance of it not being there when you make the mad scramble back two days later when you inevitably suffer regret. The return policy is so great that you never have to worry about taking something home and trying it out in your space or just sleeping on it while you decide if it truly works.

Bonus tip: how to win markdown roulette

Despite the already below retail prices, sometimes you’ll come across an item that’ll have you second guessing whether it’s worth the money. If you’re even doubting the value (not the affordability - that’s different), then it probably means you’re not in love. So if it would take knocking 25% off the price to make you swoon, then rest assured it’s okay to leave the item behind and proceed to stalk it in hopes it gets marked down.

This strategy has paid off big time for me, specifically when it comes to furniture pieces and rugs - more of the bigger ticket items. As a general rule this won’t work with smaller decor things like bath accessories, towels/linens, pillows and blankets. Keep in mind that seasonal items (outdoor furniture, holiday decor, etc.) will tend to go on sale quicker because the window to sell them is shorter, so the store actively looks to offload these things more quickly.

There you have it - my best tips for how to score big at Homesense. Happy shopping!

xo