7 Items That Are Always Worth Buying At Hobby Lobby

Wandering through a Hobby Lobby store can be overwhelming, with its aisles and aisles full of arts and craft supplies, DIY materials, home decor, and seasonal items. As a shopper, it's hard to know what products to add to your cart. We're here to help narrow down the must-buys. In exclusive interviews, we reached out to design experts for their take on the items that are always worth buying at Hobby Lobby. Ahead are some Hobby Lobby products that consistently offer great value, quality, or distinctiveness, making them a smart purchase.

While some items are better shopped elsewhere, like the things you should be buying at Home Depot and thrift store finds you should always buy for a craft stash, Hobby Lobby is particularly known for affordable materials and fun seasonal items. This list spans the brand's best, ranging from an extensive range of craft supplies to budget-friendly wall art. Keep reading for the go-to picks our interviewed experts say you should grab on your next Hobby Lobby haul.

It's no surprise that Hobby Lobby is the go-to store for many crafters and DIYers, in part because of the variety and affordability of offerings. In an exclusive interview with Alice Moszczynski, interior designer at Planner 5D, she says, "Their aisles of paints, brushes, glues, beads, embroidery threads, and seasonal craft kits are usually a smart purchase. These are items that don't go out of style, because they're raw materials rather than finished trend pieces." Even better, Hobby Lobby often has competitive pricing, especially when you account for frequent sales. It's always worth perusing the weekly ad, which offers discounts on entire categories of products. If your purchase isn't time-sensitive, it's sometimes worth waiting, since it might eventually go on sale. Hobby Lobby also honors competitor' ads in-store. 

Moszczynski expands on this idea, saying, "A skein of embroidery floss, a set of acrylic paints, or a bag of wood beads will always have creative potential, whether you're making decor, gifts, or personal projects. They're also inexpensive, and when bought on sale, you get great value compared to boutique craft stores." If you have enough space for craft supply storage, it's worth stocking up on materials you might use in the future, since these items rarely expire. Even better if they're on steep sale, since Hobby Lobby sometimes has discounts up to 50% off. Not sure where to start? Consider these tools and supplies every DIYer needs. 

Despite its name, Hobby Lobby doesn't only sell hobby materials. The retailer also has a huge variety of wall art, suitable for all types of decor styles. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Brittney Luedecke, owner of Signature Styles, explains, "They often has really cute framed pictures, and if you shop the sales you can get them at a great price. I like them for filler pieces or just adding a little personality to a wall."

If you're looking for budget-friendly framed art, Hobby Lobby is a fabulous place to shop. Of course, it's not just good for filler pieces. With hundreds of wall art products sold on their website, the retailer has enough variety to decorate an entire home. Naming just a handful, you can shop traditional-style pieces like the Lake & Mountain Oval Wood Wall Decor for vintage and rustic homes, and minimalist pieces like the Modern Abstract Art Wall Decor for contemporary spaces.

On a tight budget? A set of art prints, like these Neutral Boho Art Prints, offer you a few frameable pieces for mere dollars. Hobby Lobby doesn't shy from quirky or kitschy pieces either, so if you want something guests can talk about, you can find something like this Farm Animals At Dinner Canvas Wall Decor. These are just a small example of the framed wall art options. Hobby Lobby also sells 3D wood and metal wall art — for example, this Succulent Metal Wall Art. With your new-found prints and decor, here's how to create the perfect gallery wall.

Hobby Lobby sells small furniture pieces, offering a decent variety for a so-called hobby store. The retailer sells indoor benches, shelves, bookcases, cabinets, chairs, side tables, and accent pieces. The style leans more farmhouse and rustic, with many pieces made from manufactured wood materials. This makes them excellent bases for DIY customizations. Luedecke agrees, saying, "Their small furniture pieces can be dressed up by simply changing out the hardware. It's an easy way to make something inexpensive look more custom and intentional."

Budget-conscious shoppers will be drawn to Hobby Lobby's price point for furniture. Products like the Brown & Black Industrial 4 Tier Shelf and the Rustic Wood Accent Table are both well under $100 — very affordable for new furniture. The most expensive item in their catalog right now is the Rustic Three Tier Wood Console Table at around $225. A lot of products in-between fall around the $100 price point, comparable in price and quality to a lot of similar IKEA pieces, but with more style variety, including traditional, farmhouse, and industrial pieces. The creative retailer offers some more eclectic pieces too, like this Child's Pencil Chair, for example, which looks like it's made of colorful pencils.

A charming lamp adds lighting and decoration, and Hobby Lobby sells a variety of stylish options. Luedecke says, "They do have some cute and inexpensive table lamps that can add charm without a big commitment." Not to be overlooked as a decor addition, lamps are just as suitable for renters as homeowners. Non-traditional placements are welcome too, for example, consider why you should add a table lamp in your kitchen for extra coziness.

Hobby Lobby sells table lamps, lamp shades, bulbs, night lights, and other decorative accent lights. Many are priced under $50, making the store an affordable source for small lighting needs. Expect farmhouse, rustic, and traditional styles, with a handful of minimalist options. The White Vintage Farmhouse Finial Table Lamp and Antique Industrial Lantern Lamp With Burlap Shade are two highly-rated lamps that are typical of Hobby Lobby's style. Many shoppers might not know how fabulous Hobby Lobby is for shopping eclectic and distinctive pieces. Creative lamps like the charming Lazy Bears Lamp and Cow Wearing Glasses Table Lamp both have adorable animals on the lamp base, and you'd be hard-pressed to find such a unique pieces from most popular retailers. Hobby Lobby also has excellent affordable neon lights: The Smiley Face LED Neon Table Sign is one example, but they come in quite a few fun shapes. In short, don't overlook Hobby Lobby for distinctive lights!

Another affordable furniture find from Hobby Lobby is the brand's decorative shelving. The retailer stocks wall-mounted display, storage, and floating shelves, many with a price tag under $30. None of them break the $100 mark, so they're excellent for shoppers on a budget. They look nice too, as Luedecke explains, "They carry some really cute wall shelves. These are great for creating a little vignette or [providing] a place to layer in décor without needing to buy heavy furniture."

Unsurprisingly, at this price point, most of the shelves are made from MDF — don't expect any solid wood here — and sometimes metal. They're on the small side too, which is why Luedecke recommends them for vignettes or displaying a few pieces of decor. The materials and the designs lend to farmhouse, rustic, industrial, and some modern-style shelving. Some are small and plain, like the Brown Distressed Wood Floating Shelf, while others a bit more spacious like the Four-Tiered Metal Wall Shelf. The Black Three Tier Wire Basket Wall Shelf is storage-focused, with basket-style shelving. For a touch of whimsy, the retailer does stock some more colorful and creative picks, like the Western & Scalloped Wood Wall Shelf.

Besides craft materials, Hobby Lobby is widely known for its huge array of seasonal items, celebrating all types of holidays. If you're a seasonal decorator, and you might want to be in order to reduce clutter, Hobby Lobby offers affordable themed products. Luedecke notes, "Hobby Lobby really shines here. They make it fun to refresh a dining table or entryway seasonally."

You'll find products for the heavy-hitters like Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as for less-popular events like the start of the spring season and the Super Bowl. Product types are wide-ranging, including themed wall art and decor, of course, but also items like kitchenware, candles, apparel, and party supplies. Unlike furniture and home decor retailers, Hobby Lobby also sells some seasonal-themed craft supplies, so you can also shop for DIY materials before holidays. Of course, seasonal products isn't all the brand does, and Luedecke reminds us, "They also have pieces that work year-round if you want to create a warm, inviting feel without overspending."

Hobby Lobby might not be the first store that comes to mind when you think about mirror shopping, but it is a worthwhile option to consider. Luedecke says, "Hobby Lobby carries some surprisingly stylish wall mirrors that I think are worth the buy." The retailer sells wall, mantel, and the occasional floor mirror, mostly small to medium in size. Despite their economical price tag, they don't look cheap and come in trendy designs that span across a range of tastes — some vintage-inspired and others very contemporary. As Luedecke notes, "Their frames often work across multiple styles, so you can find something that blends beautifully in both traditional and modern interiors without stretching the budget."

With mirrors as cheap as $5.49, it's hard to beat Hobby Lobby's pricing. The Gold Octagon Wall Mirror is one of these cheap picks, but it still looks on-trend. The Gold Sunburst Metal Wall Mirror is a distinctive mid-century pick that we also had to call out for its $10.99 price tag, which is impressive for this style. Larger mirrors are more expensive, but are very competitive with similar retailers, and they come in a variety of designs. Two examples are the vintage-inspired Gold Bordeaux Wide Arch Metal Wall Mirror for more traditional spaces and the Matte Black Arched Metal Wall Mirror for an ultra-modern look. Lastly, Hobby Lobby also sells very affordable neon wall mirrors. The Drip Heart LED Neon Wall Mirror is a creative and fun choice for eclectic spaces or a teenager's room.