Y’all already know I love me some Goodwill (and yes, I started a post with almost that exact same sentence recently; it’s a dead horse I like to beat).

Without it, there’s no way I would have worn a J. Crew top and a pair of Anthropologie-brand jeans when I hosted Mandy’s baby shower (pics and details coming soon!). And for less than $10!!

Goodwill really can’t be beat for home decor either. Yes, garage sale prices are much cheaper, but the amount of time and gas spent, not to mention the prospect of hauling 5 kids around to house after house (and hearing, “Are they all yours? Bless your heart, honey” ad nauseum) is enough to keep me loyal to good ol’ GW.

However.

When I shop for house treasures at Goodwill, I pretty much know two things:

1) Almost everything I find will need at least a little TLC (sometimes a lot)

and

2) The chances of finding something current are just about nil

And that’s fine. I love the uniqueness of thrift store finds,  I don’t really follow trends, and I’m pretty handy with a can of spray paint.

Every now and then, though, it’s fun to bring something home that doesn’t need as much work and won’t have to have every single last knob replaced before it stops screaming, “I’m a 1970’s hippie cast-off!”

Enter Hobby Lobby. Or more specifically, Hobby Lobby’s clearance aisles.

Warning: If you don’t have a Hobby Lobby near you, you may want to stop reading now because what I’m going to tell you next may just make you sad.

Did you know that Hobby Lobby regularly has several aisles devoted to their clearance merchandise—usually at 80-90% off the original price?

I have found some of my favorite mirrors, art, and furniture there are super-steep discounts (not to mention decorative knobs).

Pieces like this bench, which I scored for about $70.

bench

and this wood frame (I added the fabric), which was originally something crazy like $120, but I only paid around $10.

frame

It had been a good long while since I’d stopped by (the tiny shopping carts and multitude of breakable objects keep me away when I have all five kids with me, which is pretty much all the time), but one Friday night when Shaun was out of town, I found myself with a couple of “free” hours and only the twins with me.

So to Hobby Lobby we went (that’s what everybody does with their Friday nights, right?).

I pretty much hit the mother lode while I was there, and I thought I’d show you 4 of my finds.

I’ve got a bare piece of wall that’s been stumping me. So when I saw this guy, I snapped him up for $10 (after an 80% reduction). Yes, it’s still a bit steep for a piece of painted wood (with a crack down the middle; it doesn’t bother me) with some knobs stuck in it. And I would have NEEEEEEEVER paid anywhere close to the ridiculously overpriced $50 original price tag. But when you consider that each of those knobs could easily ring up at $2-3 each, and I don’t have to do a single thing to it, it was worth it to me.

hobbylobby1

Next up was this sunburst mirror. Obviously, it needs some love (and a coat of gold spray paint, I do believe), but with a handy husband at home who could replace the missing shims, I was (barely) willing to pay $8. Why? Because I know I will never find a sunburst mirror at Goodwill (until they have been out of style for 30 years, anyway), and the thought of creating my own from paint stirrers is less than appealing at the moment. Do I think this mirror is worth it’s original $80 price tag (choke)? Not in a million. But less than $10 plus a little elbow grease? Definitely.

hobbylobby2

And then there was this awesome chunky basket, which I bought two of. I have a hard time spending $15 on a little piece of woven straw, but $6 for something truly unique? That I can handle.

hobbylobby3

And last, we have the piece de resistance—this gorgeous mirrored nightstand for only $75. hobbylobby4

I looooooove mirrored furniture. But it’s so expensive that I gasp every time I check the price tag on a piece I like, even at discount places like Ross.

I bought the two they had left to use in our bedroom makeover, and I plan to paint them (because I want my husband to be able to keep his man card), but a coat of paint seems totally worth it to have finally found something I’ve been searching for for under $100.

Bonus points if you can spot me in the mirror.

Clearly, I’m a fan of Hobby Lobby as long as I can subtract at least 80% of their original prices. Shhhh…don’t tell Goodwill.

Do you have a Hobby Lobby near you? What’s your favorite section? I can’t really decide since I buy everything from furniture to home decor to fabric to craft supplies and more. It’s a pretty magical place. But I do visit the knob aisle every single time I go there. It’s fantastic!

Where do you find your best deals on things for your home?

14 Comments

  1. We have a Hobby Lobby about 2 miles from my home & I am in there at least 2 -3 times a week with my wonderful 40% off coupons which you can print off of their site. They have a great fabric department & like you say they can’t be beat for home decorating. If I am looking for a craft item they are the first place I look. We also have Gordmans which has it’s headquarters in Omaha, NE. & is spreading throughout the country. They have clothing, shoes, jewelry & home decorating items. Their slogan is that everything is 1/2 off what you would pay at other stores. If you haven’t been to one, you need to find one on their map & get there as soon as possible. They have great 20% off coupons, too.

    1. You don’t even need to print the 40% off coupons, just bring up the coupon on a smartphone and they can scan it right from your device!! It’s so handy that they do that! I’m hardly ever willing to pay full price on something at hobby lobby unless it is something for a craft that I am making!! 🙂

  2. Love me some Hobby Lobby! The nearest one is an hour away (oh, wait, everything is an hour away from us!), but I make it there a few times a year and am always happy I went.

  3. I could spend hours sashaying all around hobby lobby! I always have a 40% coupon in my purse. My favorite things in hobby lobby are signs, crosses, or anything with words on it. My favorite hymn of all time is “it is well with my soul”. My favorite color is turquoise. Perfection happened at Hobby Lobby last month when I spotted a turquoise wooden cross with “it is well with my soul” written across it. I snatched it right up. After looking at it on my wall I decided my handy randy hubby could easily make one, I could paint it, and it would make awesome Christmas gifts!

  4. I love Hobby Lobby & have one in the town I work but it’s “across town” (5 minute drive tops…) so my laziness usually wins out over me stopping in. I had not realized that there were such amazing deals however! I apparently need to suck it up and make the 5 minute trek over there!!

  5. I love me some Hobby Lobby, too.

    But those little carts??? Sheesh, it’s like they don’t know their shoppers have kids and want to buy more than one thing!

    My hubby doesn’t share my love of Hobby Lobby, and once when we went they didn’t have power. This other husband and wife were in the parking lot the same time as us trying to see what was going on. When we found out it was closed, but husband had a little bonding moment with the other husband 🙂

  6. Oh I LOVE HobLob. And those nightstands are fabulous! Also, I’ve been looking for a unique woven basket so I’m going to have to stop by mine soon to see if they have anything like that. Can you believe our HobLob already has Christmas stuff out? I’m always surprised how early they do that.

  7. Ooh, I love me some Hobby Lobby! However, I have traditionally not had very good luck with their clearance section. Maybe I’m just not shopping when they’ve put new stuff out? I don’t know, but I guess now I’ll have to keep trying. Oh, and FYI: I have you to thank for my Goodwill obsession. I used to be far too lazy to take the time to shop at Goodwill. Then my oldest started morning preshcool around the same time I discovered your blog, and I had 3 hours to kill 3 times a week. So, the baby and I hit up the (multuple)Goodwills in “town” every single week. Once you’ve paid $3.50 for a nice Gap or J.Crew top, it’s hard to pay full retail again. In fact, most of my current wardrobe is thrifted. So, thanks for showing me what is possible when you shop the thrift stores!

  8. I was just in about 2 weeks ago and I bought a huge metal starburst mirror with little round mirrors at the end of each starburst for $20!! regular $100. I am still bragging about that purchase! I have been wanting a starburst mirror but I didn’t want to pay the price. I also bought a canvas crown picture for my nieces’ room ($5) that we blinged up with rhinestones. Love, love Hobby Lobby. I actually two within 10 minutes of my house…and I have been known to find a good deal at one and drive straight to the other one looking for duplicates! ha!

  9. I love love love Hobby Lobby! Most of the decor in my home is from there. I love your finds! I shop the clearance section often and lets just say I go there almost once as week. I know it sounds like a lot but my girls love to visit the holiday section, especially the Fall and Christmas:) Going to be headed there on Friday;)

  10. Oh, I’m a fortunate girl. My hubby loves Hob-Lob as much as I. The unfortunate part is that the nearest one is 3.5 hours away. Maybe twice a year? Maybe. *sigh*

    You found some great stuff tho – love those mirrored side tables!

I love hearing from you guys!