We love the treasure hunt that is TJ Maxx, and it turns out, interior designers do, too. We asked three of them to tell us what they shop for at the beloved discount retailer. The consensus: accessories. “TJ Maxx is the styling go-to,” says interior designer Anita Yakota. “You’re not going to get foundational stuff like swivel chairs or barstools like you would at HomeGoods, but you are going to find what I call ‘light decor.'”
The other consensus: Have a plan. Know what you’re looking for, what color you’re after, and the ideal size of the item. Wandering the aisles aimlessly can be fun, but also overwhelming. “You kind of have to dig a little bit, but that’s part of the thrill, the hunt, and looking for things that go well together,” says interior designer Jen Stagg. “Going in there with a little bit of direction is going to help you drown out the noise and come out victorious.”
Here are the categories of home accessories our pros always shop for for at TJ Maxx, and the specifics of what they look for.
Related: 5 Things Designers Always Buy at HomeGoods When They Spot Them
Meet Our Expert
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Anita Yakota is an interior designer, therapist, and author in Southern California.
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Jennifer Stagg is an interior designer and serial remodeler in Salt Lake City, UT.
1. Throw Pillows
Interior designer Jennifer O’Brien’s first stop is always the throw pillow aisle, where she looks for pillows with nubby textures, linen, or velvet. “I love all the textures,” she says. “I can get great linen pillows with a down insert. Some of them are washable. That’s a big thing because the price of a grouping of two compared to someplace else is always lower, especially if it’s something generic like a beige linen or a stripe. The throws there are unbelievable, too.”
2. Kitchenware
Yakota always makes a beeline for the kitchen area to source functional kitchen tools and vessels that are handsome enough to display in the open. “They really have excellent wooden cutting boards, and they’re all fancy brands,” Yakota says. Stagg likes the kitchen section, too. She looks for utensil crocks, utensils, and Dutch ovens, even the coveted Staub and Le Creuset ones. She also finds designer dishes such as the high-end brand Portmeirion. “If I’m looking for just a few things to look beautiful on a shelf, that’s a great place to go,” she says
3. Bath Towels & Accessories
Stagg also shops the bath section for towels and finishing touches such as jars for Q-tips or a brass soap dispenser. “I’m looking for those items that really feel luxurious,” she says. “A high thread count in something or a really plush rug or a really plush towel, because you can always find those gems at a TJ Maxx and that’s going to make your space feel a little more expensive, a little more elevated.”
For bath accessories, Stagg looks for certain finishes and materials. “Anything clear, anything gold or brass, even if that’s not the main metal in your bathroom, it just elevates it a little bit,” she says. “Mixing those metals can be a way to create something that feels a little bit more sophisticated and like a designer put it together instead of just one-note.”
4. Knickknacks for Shelves
If she has built-in shelves to fill, O’Brien always heads to TJ’s. She looks for unique vases, bowls, boxes, and sculptural items in varying textures and materials to give the shelves visual interest. “It’s about knowing the textures that fit your style and then being able to pull the trigger when you see it,” she says. “That’s really what you need to be able to do because if you go back the next day, it might not be there anymore. If you’re pretty sure you want it, grab it.”
Stagg says she often finds picture frames, scented candles, and hardcover books for styling shelves. In fact, she recently styled her husband’s office in a single TJ Maxx run. “I stuck with a pretty masculine color palette of black and white and a wood tone. I found everything I needed right away—I found picture frames, vases, and a cool candy dish.” If you stick to an established color palette when you shop at TJ Maxx, Stagg says you can, “gather a little bit of this, a little bit of this, a little bit of this, and suddenly you have this cohesive moment in your space.”
5. Baskets and Bins
Yakota considers TJ Maxx her go-to source for baskets, both woven ones worthy of display and more utilitarian ones for behind-closed-doors organizing. But be sure you go in knowing what size you’re looking for. “How many times do we see a pretty basket and we kind of just eyeball it and we come home and it doesn’t fit. That’s just the most frustrating,” she says. So measure before you shop—Yakota prefers baskets no taller than 12 inches and no longer than 20 for easiest access—and know what you are looking for. “Otherwise you’re looking at a wall of so many baskets and you get overwhelmed.”
Pro Tip: Don’t Miss the Checkout Line
“When you’re walking through the checkout line, always take your time, because that’s where some of the styling gems are,” Stagg says. “Don’t be afraid to let people go ahead of you so you can check every row. You’ll find beautiful things for bookshelves, coffee tables, nightstands—just those little finishing touches.”
Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
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