We Visited the First Homesense Store in the US & We’re Taking You On a Tour

If you’ve been anxiously awaiting the opening of Homesense, the new HomeGoods spinoff, we’re right there with you. The first location in Framingham, Massachusetts opens Thursday, but we visited and got a sneak peek inside. We’re taking you on a tour below.

Though Homesense is already a popular home store for TJX—HomeGoods’ parent company—overseas, this is the first time the brand is coming to the US. The concept is similar to the HomeGoods you know and love, but on steroids. There are more large furniture pieces, an expansive lighting section, and importantly, more of each item (no more finding just one bar stool/end table/throw pillow and wondering how you’ll get one or three more).

Spoiler: It’s heaven and I never wanted to leave. It was torture that I couldn’t yet shop (though my wallet was relieved).

Here’s what it’s like to walk through the new store:

Walking in the door, you’re first greeted by “curated corner,” a themed section that will change every six weeks or so. During my tour, it was celebrating indigenous design and craft from around the world.

To the right of the door is the lighting section, which could basically be its own store. The pendants and fixtures hanging from the ceiling can be lowered down so you can buy them on the spot, without waiting for shipping or delivery.

Next to the lighting is large furniture with an impressive selection of seating in varying styles, from traditional to mid-century to more modern. I had never seen a sleeper or a sectional in a HomeGoods before, and Homesense has several of each. The wall behind the furniture housed smaller accent pieces, like side tables, nightstands, and stools.

In the middle, opposite the aisle from furniture are the shelves devoted to coffee table books and design accents.

There’s even a section with game tables and bar furniture.

In the back right corner are the rugs. This is about half of the section, which feels larger than most of the ones I’ve seen at Boston locations of West Elm, Crate & Barrel, and similar retailers. There are three more of these vertical racks with additional area rugs, with brands like NuLoom and Safavieh, and in varying sizes, styles, and piles.

In the back left is the wall decor, with varying sizes and types of art, mirrors, objects, prints, and frames. There are more large scale options than your average HomeGoods, as well as more pieces (framed and unframed) by local artists. The wooden piece is made from those little ridged dowels you use when putting together furniture—fun!

The decor studio section had two full aisles of color coordinated throw pillows, in addition to poufs, vases, and other accessories. Bedding was next, with pillows, comforters, sheets, duvet covers, and the like.

In the center of the store are the sections for party supplies, kitchen tools and accessories, tabletop, and food. Yep, there’s even a Smeg fridge and a table shaped like a giant Champagne cork.

In the front left is a new addition exclusive to Homesense, the General Store. This section houses hardware, mailboxes, storage cubbies, cleaning supplies, and other home improvement essentials. Here, I spotted stick on tiles, and an aisle of trash cans, and a full freestanding tub.

There is a lot to look at in the new store, so I picked some of my favorite finds. Check them out in the gallery below:

Homesense opens in Framingham, Massachusetts on Thursday, August 17, with additional locations slated to open in 2017 in East Hanover and Ocean Township, New Jersey, and Westwood, Massachusetts.