A couple of weeks ago I introduced you to the wonderful world of Homesense, and all the fabulous big brand homeware bargains you can hunt down in store, often at up to 60% off recommended retail prices!
Part of the TK MAXX family, you can find all kinds of homeware treasures at Homesense; from practical kitchen, dining, bathing and storage essentials to more decorative finishing touches and unique one-off pieces.
As I’ve been settling into my flat up in Manchester over the past six months, my two local Homesense stores in Barton Square and the Arndale Centre have became my port-of-call for inexpensive yet premium quality food preparation and dining essentials that have helped me get my new kitchen fully functional. In recent months though, I’ve found myself becoming seduced by the somewhat less practical —and more indulgent— items you can find in store as well.
There truly are some fantastic blink-and-you’ll-miss-them bargains to be found if you’re willing to venture down aisles you might otherwise have brushed past —blinkers on— towards your designated hunting ground. I’d not properly explored the bath and toiletries section on previous trips to store, but was delighted to discover the shelves crammed full of discounted designer scented candles, luxury beauty products, fragrant hand soaps and premium skincare accessories, including natural loofahs and spa-worthy body brushes.
There was also an entire aisle dedicated to baskets, which made my heart skip a beat the moment I turned down it! From natural jute weave to colourful eclectic patterns, there was a storage solution on offer for everyone, and I immediately honed in on a beautiful monochrome zig-zag weave basket that would be the perfect catch-all solution for organising the toiletries on my bathroom bench – and a snip at just £16.99 too!
I immediately set about adding some everyday luxury pieces to this newfound basket-of-dreams, popping in a selection of designer grey hand towels from £4.99, a divinely scented sea-salt spray for my hair to help hold on to the last vestiges of summer, a spa-quality natural sea sponge (£3.99), and beechwood dry skin brush with cactus fibre bristles for £6.99 (RRP £12.95).
Of course, once you turn your mind to pampering your body, it only seems right to pamper your soul as well, so I hotfooted it across to the gourmet food section to see what culinary delights I could add to my haul.
From luxury teas in elegant tins to popular patisserie brand jams and marmalades it would have been easy to overload my basket, but I contented myself with a beautiful tin of thé vert a la menthe for £5.99 (RRP £11.00), and a jar of delectable looking confiture de framboise for £2.49 (RRP £5.50), which would make for a most indulgent afternoon tea. I also picked up a contemporary Danish-designed tea strainer for £4.99 (RRP £15.00), a stylish yet practical purchase to ensure a perfect loose-leaf brew every time.
I then swung by the bookshelves to scout out a couple of new recipe books to inspire me, and happened upon Andrew Dargue’s Vanilla Black – promising fresh flavours for your vegetarian kitchen, and boasting a fab looking afternoon tea section – which at just £5.99 (RRP £25.00) seemed a total steal to me!
No post-pamper afternoon tea would be complete without a cosy little corner to snuggle up in to enjoy it and I’ve been able to ramp the cosiness in my living room tenfold with the addition of a pastel pink shaggy sheepskin I picked up in store for just £34.99.
Seriously, most good quality sheepskins such as this are pushing the hundred pound mark and I couldn’t quite believe it when I stumbled upon a stack of these oh-so-tantalisingly-soft rugs in cool grey, sumptuous chocolate and arctic white. Hidden at the bottom of the pile I unearthed the pale peachy pink number that was to be mine and immediately snaffled it out of the reach of the approaching women who had been drawn to the stack by my loud exclamation of delight. It was actually the very first item I found in store on my (very lengthy) visit, and remained under my arm as I traversed the entire store – no way was I going to risk letting that treasure slip from my grasp!
→Keen to discover your own hidden gems at Homesense? You can find your nearest store here.
This post is a Paid Partnership with Homesense but all thoughts and opinions are, as always, my own. All photography © Kate Baxter.
6 Responses
Oh I do love a good rummage around HomeSense – I can always find such great one-off pieces and they are such good value too! Love your selections but especially that gorgeous peachy pink goodness of a throw! Bargain! xxx
Good work on snagging the sheepie. And managing to keep it to yourself!! You can easily lose a couple of hours in there can’t you? I do enjoy a good Homesense sesh. Brilliant for styling bits at the end of projects, you’ve just gotta put the work in to find those gems!x
I don’t know if I’ve ever entered a homesense and left empty handed haha! You’ve really spotted some great stuff here lovey. The Barton square one is great!
I love a good nose around HomeSense, especially now both boys are at school and I can pop in without them dragging me off to the toy section. It’s the stationery I can’t resist but they have some amazing shampoo and conditioners too. I always find something that I desperately NEED.
Homesense is so damn dangerous!! So many things I want in one place!
I’ve never been to a Homesense but I’ve seen so much about it recently. I really must find out where the nearest one is. I feel like I’m missing out on so many bargains!