Home Goods Wall Art: Store Finds & Discount Deals

Okay so I literally just came back from three different HomeGoods locations this week because I’m working on a client’s living room and honestly their wall art situation is wild right now. Like you can find actual gems but you gotta know what you’re looking at because there’s also a lot of mass-produced stuff that looks cheap in person even if the price seems good.

What’s Actually Worth Buying at HomeGoods

The framed abstract pieces in the 24×36 size range are usually your best bet. I found this gorgeous neutral abstract last Tuesday that was originally marked at $79.99 but had a red tag for $49.99 and honestly it looks like something from West Elm. The frame quality is where you need to focus – pick it up and look at the corners. If they’re stapled weird or you can see gaps, pass on it. The ones with the wrapped corners that are clean and tight? Those are keepers.

Oh and another thing, their textured canvas pieces have gotten so much better in the last year. I remember when everything was that weird hotel art vibe but now they’re carrying stuff with actual dimension. There was this cream and gold piece with raised geometric patterns that my dog literally tried to eat because he thought it was food which… not the point but it shows how textured it was I guess.

The Pricing Code Thing Everyone Should Know

So the tags tell you everything if you know how to read them. Red tags mean it’s been there a while and they want it gone – that’s your discount indicator. Yellow tags are new arrivals and usually full price. Purple tags are the “final clearance” situation where it’s been moved to the back clearance section. I’ve found pieces for like 70% off original price with purple tags but you’re also competing with resellers at that point who grab stuff to flip on Facebook Marketplace.

The SKU numbers matter too – this is gonna sound weird but if the last digits are .00 or .99 it’s regular pricing, but .97 or .93 means it’s been marked down and probably won’t get cheaper. I learned this from a store manager when I was waiting in line for like twenty minutes because their system crashed.

Which Stores Actually Have Better Art Sections

Not all HomeGoods are created equal and this drives me crazy. The stores in wealthier areas tend to get better inventory – I know that sounds obvious but it’s TRUE. There’s one near this outdoor mall that always has higher end pieces, better frames, actual interesting subjects beyond generic beach scenes and floral prints.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are owned by the same parent company so their wall art overlaps a lot with HomeGoods. But here’s what I’ve noticed – Marshalls tends to have smaller pieces, like gallery wall sized stuff in the 8×10 to 16×20 range. TJ Maxx has more variety in styles, like I found modern line drawings there that I never see at HomeGoods. HomeGoods has the biggest pieces though, like oversized statement art.

Tuesday and Wednesday Mornings

The trucks usually come Monday nights or Tuesday mornings depending on the location. I accidentally figured this out when my client canceled last month so I spent an hour comparing their new shipment and the guy unpacking literally told me they’d just gotten everything in. If you can hit the store Tuesday or Wednesday morning you’re seeing fresh inventory before it gets picked over.

Wait I forgot to mention – bring measurements with you. Like actual measurements of your wall space. I use the notes app on my phone and keep a running list of all my spaces because I cannot tell you how many times I’ve bought something that looked perfect in the store and then got it home and it’s either too small or too big. They don’t do returns on clearance items usually so you’re stuck with it.

The Frame Quality Test

Okay so flip the piece over and look at the backing. If it’s that flimsy cardboard with the metal tabs, it’s gonna fall apart. You want the ones with the proper backing board that’s secured with those twist tabs or actual hardware. The hanging wire should be taut and attached with proper eye hooks, not just stapled into the frame.

I picked up this beautiful botanical print last week and didn’t check the frame carefully and the corner literally came apart when I was carrying it to my car. Had to go back in and exchange it which was annoying because the replacement didn’t have the same patina on the frame that I liked.

Glass vs Plexiglass

The cheaper pieces come with plexiglass and honestly for most rooms that’s fine. It’s lighter and won’t shatter if it falls. But if you’re putting something in a formal space or anywhere with lots of natural light, the plexiglass shows scratches and can look cloudy. Real glass has better clarity and just looks more expensive. You can tell by tapping on it lightly – glass sounds different than plastic.

What to Skip Entirely

Those “inspirational quote” pieces in basic fonts – just no. They look dated immediately and screamed 2015 Pinterest. The really thin canvas prints that are basically just printed fabric stretched over a frame also feel cheap. If you can see the canvas texture competing with the image texture it’s not gonna look good on your wall.

The faux vintage signs are hit or miss. Some are genuinely cool if they have good typography and real distressing, but most look like they came from a Spirit Halloween store for some reason. I don’t know who’s designing these but they need to stop.

My Actual Favorite Finds Recently

Found a set of three matching abstract prints in gold frames for $89.99 total at the HomeGoods in the shopping center near that Thai place I’m always talking about. They were originally $149.99 for the set. The frames alone would cost that much if you were buying them separately and taking art to a frame shop.

There was also this oversized black and white photograph of architectural details that was marked down to $39.97 from $99.99. It’s literally sitting in my living room right now because I couldn’t resist even though I bought it for a client project and then found something else that worked better. Oops.

The Gallery Wall Bins

They usually have these bins or sections with smaller unframed prints and you can build an entire gallery wall for under $100 if you’re strategic. I did this for my own hallway using their frames and prints separately. Bought eight matching black frames in the 11×14 size for $12.99 each, then grabbed various botanical prints from the print bins for $7.99 each. Total was like $170 for an eight-piece gallery wall that looks custom.

Oh and pro tip – their mattes are usually pre-cut for standard sizes so if you find a print you love but it needs a matte, check the frame section because they sell replacement mattes separately sometimes.

Seasonal Timing

January and July are when they clear out the most inventory to make room for new seasonal stuff. I’ve gotten insane deals during these months – like 60-70% off original prices. Right after Christmas is especially good because everyone returns stuff or they’re clearing holiday adjacent items.

The spring refresh usually happens late February into March and that’s when you see more coastal and bright colorful pieces. Fall stuff starts showing up in August which is when I stock up on moody landscapes and darker abstracts.

Brands Worth Grabbing

If you see anything by Uttermost grab it immediately. Their retail prices are stupid expensive but HomeGoods gets their overstock sometimes. Same with Stratton Home Décor pieces – these are actually well made and the frames are solid wood usually not that composite stuff.

There’s this brand that does the raised gold leaf details and I can never remember the name but their pieces are always good quality. I think it starts with an M? Anyway if you see real gold leaf or silver leaf detailing and it’s under $100, that’s a buy.

The Online Situation

HomeGoods launched online shopping but honestly the wall art selection is limited and you can’t inspect the frames in person which is the whole point. I only order online if I’ve seen the exact piece in store before and know what I’m getting. The shipping costs also eat into any discount you’re getting usually.

Their website does show what’s “trending” though which gives you an idea of what’s currently in stores. I use it for scouting before I make the trip because some locations are like 30 minutes from me and I don’t wanna waste the gas if they’re not getting good shipments.

Negotiating and Price Adjustments

If you find a piece with a damaged frame but you love the art itself, ask a manager if they’ll discount it further. I’ve gotten an additional 20% off clearance prices by pointing out issues. They’d rather sell it than damage it out completely. Just be nice about it – I always phrase it like “I absolutely love this but I noticed the frame has this scratch, is there any flexibility on the price?”

Also if you’re buying multiple pieces for the same room ask if they’ll do a bundle discount. Doesn’t always work but I’ve had managers take an extra 10% off when I’m buying three or more items. They want to move inventory and if you’re dropping $200+ they’re usually willing to work with you.

My cat knocked over my coffee while I was writing this so there’s probably typos but anyway – the main thing is just go often because inventory changes constantly. I probably go once a week which sounds excessive but it’s literally part of my job so. Once you train your eye to spot the good frames and interesting compositions you can get in and out in like fifteen minutes and score amazing pieces for a fraction of what you’d pay at an actual art gallery or even online retailers.