Things You Should Never Buy At Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby has become a go-to destination for artisans, DIY enthusiasts, and decorators alike. Known for its constantly rotating stock and frequent sales, the store has built a loyal following. Whether you're stocking up on crafting supplies, searching for fabric, or shopping for seasonal decor, it offers a wide variety of goods at affordable prices. With aisles brimming with everything from floral arrangements to art supplies, it's easy to see why so many shoppers feel inspired when they walk in.

However, not everything at Hobby Lobby is a good find. While the retailer boasts great merchandise, it carries certain items that fall short in terms of quality, value, and practicality. Some products are overpriced for what they offer, while others may not hold up well over time. Despite the store feeling like a treasure trove of possibilities, there are things you should simply never buy at Hobby Lobby. To help you make better decisions and prevent regret during your next visit, here are purchases to avoid, plus better alternatives and ways to shop smarter.

It's everywhere at Hobby Lobby, but word sign decor is a once-popular trend you should keep far away from your home. While it may have been in fashion years ago, interior designers now caution against using it. Quote artwork and word art shapes can make your home feel uninspired and generic. This decor lacks taste and originality, as well as fails to bring much to your overall aesthetic. Instead of adding character to your home, these signs and pieces can make your space feel impersonal and forced.

Avoid a cliché look by decorating with intention. Opt for artwork that is visually stimulating or evokes a sense of warmth and emotion. Incorporate paintings, photography, and pieces that reflect your personality, hold sentimentality, set a mood, or have deeper meaning. For a budget-friendly, elegant look, try DIY textured wall art, which can add individuality to a thoughtfully designed environment. Whether it's through abstract designs, nature-inspired art, thrifted pieces, or something entirely custom, carefully curated decor can elevate your home's atmosphere and make it feel more distinctive and meaningful.

Hobby Lobby sells decor that culturally appropriates Indigenous culture. Such items include dreamcatchers, wall art, figures, rugs, and frames. Even though these pieces can mimic traditional designs, they're mass-produced and not made by Native American artists. This is not only disrespectful of Indigenous culture, but it also robs Native American creators who rely on their craft for their livelihood of opportunities. 

If you want to incorporate Native American pieces into a space, it's crucial that you learn the fine line between appreciation and appropriation. Appropriation demeans, commodifies, steals, and misunderstands. On the other hand, appreciation involves learning, respectful engagement, and admiration. Instead of purchasing mass-produced decor, directly support Indigenous craftspeople. Authentic pieces often come with background information about the artist, tribe, or region, allowing you to connect with the culture in a meaningful way. 

Hobby Lobby can be a great place for craft supplies and seasonal decor, but when it comes to small home appliances, it falls short. The store isn't known for electronics or kitchen tech because its selection in this category is extremely limited. On top of that, most of the small appliances and kitchen gadgets it does offer come with little to no customer reviews, making it hard to gauge their quality and reliability. Combine that with their strict return policy, which doesn't allow for open or used merchandise to be returned, and you're taking a big gamble.

Whether shopping for a blender, rice cooker, or hand mixer, you'll obtain better selection, value, and buyer protection by shopping at retailers known for their home and kitchen appliances. Find what you're looking for at places like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Costco, Walmart, and Macy's. Not only do these stores typically have plenty of customer feedback, but they also come with better return policies and warranties, giving you more confidence in your purchase.

Hobby Lobby's selection of storage containers, organizers, bins, and baskets leaves a lot to be desired. Many of the options they offer are priced higher than similar products elsewhere. The store's selection is limited, making it more challenging to find storage solutions that truly fit your space and needs. Additionally, some of these items focus more on looks than practicality. While some decorative crates and baskets might serve their purpose, they tend to be more for aesthetic than functionality and everyday organization.

If you're serious about getting organized, you'll find better prices and more practical options at places like IKEA, Target, Walmart, and Amazon. The beauty of these retailers is that they offer a wide range of products designed for real functionality, from stackable bins to modular drawer organizers. These are your best bet for keeping your home neat and efficient, especially when looking for small space storage solutions, like over-the-door organizers, and under-bed bins. You can also come across great finds at dollar stores. In fact, many Dollar Tree essentials work to keep your kitchen organized and tidy while sticking to a budget. The retailer also offers an impressive variety of cleverly designed solutions for closets, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

When it comes to kitchen essentials, Hobby Lobby isn't the place to shop. Although the store carries some kitchenware, the selection and quality are disappointing. Some products, like wood cutting boards, have concerning reviews mentioning splinters and a lack of durability. Their aluminum sheet pans would also be a poor investment, as some customers have reported warping, poor quality, and the inability to withstand higher temperatures. Other kitchen tools, like silverware, aren't cost-effective at Hobby Lobby when compared to other retailers. Furthermore, most kitchen items have very few, if any, customer reviews, making it hard to know what you're getting. With the store's aforementioned return policy on open and used items, the risks likely outweigh the rewards.

It's smarter to shop at trusted retailers known for their quality and reliability. Stick to places that not only offer better value and variety, but also provide more customer feedback and more flexible return policies. A House Digest survey about top spots to buy kitchenware found that Amazon and department stores were favorites. Amazon has a seemingly endless selection of kitchen tools and cookware, many of which come with exhaustive reviews on the site. Other promising options include places like Walmart, Kohl's, T.J. Maxx, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Whether you just bought a house or moved into an apartment, don't count on Hobby Lobby to furnish your space. At first glance, their furniture pieces may look stylish, but their prices can be misleading. The store advertises furniture as "always 30% off." However, it has faced legal action for marking up its "regular" prices, creating the illusion of a bargain. Moreover, their furniture items can be more expensive than comparable options from other retailers like Amazon. The store sometimes carries items like desks, desk chairs, patio seating, rocking chairs, stools, tables, and sofas. You should avoid these types of items that need to withstand regular wear and tear, especially with Hobby Lobby's short warranty terms.

If you do decide to buy furniture at Hobby Lobby, stick to clearance items to maximize savings and snag a discount that truly is a deal. Focus exclusively on smaller accent pieces, which can be items that are worth buying at Hobby Lobby. Furnishings like side tables, bookcases, and decorative shelves tend to hold up better over time. For essential furniture, it's smarter to shop at trusted retailers with more transparent pricing, well-known quality, and stronger warranties. Some good places to look include IKEA, Wayfair, and Costco. You can also explore high-quality secondhand finds for both affordability and durability.

While browsing for candles at Hobby Lobby, the Darcee & David's Wood Wick candle may seem like an elegant and cozy addition to your home. However, some have found it to be more trouble than it's worth. Customers have reported that the wick produces too large of a flame. As a result, it leaves behind a strong, smoky scent which overpowers rather than enhances your space. One reviewer on the site claims that the flame can reach up to three inches in height — a definite mood killer and potential fire hazard when you're aiming for a relaxing atmosphere. They noted that even after the wick was trimmed, the issue persisted, so it's best to avoid this product altogether.

For a safer bet on consistent burn quality and fragrance, look to fan favorites, like the most popular candles at Bath and Body Works. The store offers a plethora of scents for every mood and season, and their beloved 3-wick candles rarely disappoint. They're on sale several times throughout the year, but for the best deal, stock up during their Annual Candle Day sale, which typically falls on the first Saturday of December. Other tried-and-true products are available at T.J. Maxx, particularly from brands like Sand + Fog and Scentsational. Target also carries a variety of candle brands known for their quality, such as Yankee Candle and Mrs. Meyer's.

It might be convenient to grab a pack of Energizer batteries during a Hobby Lobby run, but it's not a smart way to shop. The store only offers batteries in small packs, typically four or fewer per pack, and you would be paying significantly more per battery than you would elsewhere. At $4.99 for a 4-pack of AA batteries, you're looking at more than a dollar per battery, which can add up quickly when powering multiple devices. Considering that batteries are a household essential, purchasing them in such small quantities is simply not cost-effective.

To save money in the long run, it's best to buy batteries in bulk. Plus, they're always worth keeping on hand. Amazon offers affordable and reliable options, such as a 20-pack of Amazon Basics AA batteries for about $10, cutting your cost per battery in over half compared to Hobby Lobby. Competitive prices are also available at big-box stores like Costco, Sam's, and Walmart. By planning ahead and avoiding impulse battery purchases, you can stretch your dollar much further without sacrificing quality.

If you're planning to whip up delicate meringues or fluffy frosting, skip Cake Craft's meringue powder at Hobby Lobby. Despite being a convenient option online and on the shelf, the product has racked up some harsh reviews from bakers on the site. Customers have described the product as "absolute trash" and "garbage," citing major issues with consistency, taste, and overall performance. Common complaints include the product not setting, difficulty forming peaks, and that it makes royal icing appear transparent and flimsy. Others note that it makes decorating cookies far more challenging than it should be.

For better results, bakers recommend steering toward more trusted brands. Genie's Dream, Chefmaster, and Wilton are popular for offering high-quality meringue powders that deliver on consistency, quality, texture, and flavor. Their products can be found on their respective websites. Amazon carries Genie's Dream Premium Meringue Powder and Chefmaster Deluxe Meringue Powder, while Wilton's products are sold at grocery stores. While these brands may cost slightly more, they are well worth the investment, especially for a professional baker who needs a good product for detailed baked goods. 

While you're at Hobby Lobby stocking up on art supplies, it might feel tempting to toss a paint palette (or a few) into your shopping cart along with your acrylics and canvases. However, these simple plastic trays are marked well beyond what they're worth at the retailer. The paint palettes are basic in design and don't offer any special features to justify their about $5 price. They're truly no different from what you'd find elsewhere. For a tool that's essentially a surface to hold and mix paint, it's an easy place to cut costs.

A smarter option would be to check your local dollar store to see what they carry. Dollar Tree, in particular, often carries the same style of plastic paint palettes for just a dollar or so, translating to a huge fraction of the cost. Better yet, you can get creative and make your own without spending a dime. Repurpose old items like plastic lids, muffin tins, clear plastic packaging from baked goods, ice cube trays, egg packages, plates, and plastic cups. For disposable palettes, try a sheet of wax paper or freezer paper taped to a cutting board, cardboard, or to the back of an old notebook. These DIY options are not only budget friendly, but entirely customizable, letting you work with the size and shape that best suits your project.

Hobby Lobby's in-house brand, Master's Touch, may seem like a budget-friendly option for artists, but some of its products don't succeed in meeting expectations. For instance, users have reported that the alcohol markers have a tendency to bleed and stain adjacent pages. Other complaints involve their poor blending capabilities and the markers drying out quickly. Some have even had issues with the ink clumping or solidifying on the nib. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. On the website, the brand's acrylic gesso is rated poorly in quality and value, criticized mainly for its consistency. The paint brushes seem to have durability issues, bristles that shed or splay, and ferrules that loosen easily.

For better results with your artwork, it's worth investing in trusted alternatives, even if they come at a somewhat higher cost. Copic and Prismacolor are top-tier options for alcohol markers, offering superior blendability and ink quality. If you're working with a tighter budget, Ohuhu markers are great alternatives that match Copic in quality at a fraction of the price. When buying acrylic gesso, turn to reputable art supply brands like Liquitex, Windsor & Newton, and Golden. For detailed artwork, invest in higher-quality brushes from professional brands, such as Winsor & Newton Monarch and Princeton Aspen. If you're looking for budget-friendly brushes, Amazon has plenty of well-reviewed and affordable options, like Aritify's Professional Paint Brush Set and Soucolor Acrylic Paint Brushes, that can appeal to the hobbyist and artist alike.

Hobby Lobby is a popular stop for jewelry makers, offering a wide range of supplies from tools and string to charms and pendants. The store also offers a vast selection of beads, but not every product is worth your money. In a TikTok video, jewelry maker Allison White, owner of Vacey-Vee Handmade Bracelets, shared a number of beads to avoid at Hobby Lobby. She explains that certain products like Bead Treasures Metal Seed Beads, Metal Gallery Bead Strands, and metallic products from Bead Design Co. can turn brown quickly. Hobby Lobby's Glass Seed Bead Mix products also fade in color to clear. Others advise staying away from dyed plastic faux pearls, coated glass, and plated acrylic beads, which can chip over time. 

So, it might be safer to shop for beads somewhere else, especially if you're a professional jewelry maker or want to create something special. It's best not to risk buying something that can dull or tarnish once fully incorporated into a finished piece, giving it a cheap appearance. Try other retailers, like Michaels, or independent sellers. CraftedbyFairy, who specializes in handmade bead jewelry, advises searching Etsy for glass beads, iridescent beads, and lampwork beads for unique handmade products. The TikTok user also notes that PandaHall and Fire Mountain Gems are reputable wholesale and bulk jewelry sites. And Amanda Harper, founder of Ear Kit, recommends TimeAndMaterialsEtc, covetablecuriosities, and Goldjewelrysupplier shops on Etsy for charms and beads.