I'm an interior designer. I love HomeGoods, but there are 7 things I never buy there.

The candle aisle at HomeGoods is probably my favorite in the whole store. But as fun as the section is to peruse, the wide variety of brands, shapes, and scents can be a mixed bag.

I've found that many of the candles I've bought at the chain either don't burn very well or lose their scent pretty quickly, even though they seemed amazing in the store.

These candles are good in a pinch — and you might get lucky with a great one — but I'd rather spend more money and buy something high quality from an actual candle store.

HomeGoods is the perfect place to buy a stool or martini table, but I wouldn't buy larger furniture pieces there.

Many of the sofas and big chairs I've seen in the store look amazing, but the quality hasn't impressed me much.

Plus, at HomeGoods, you're typically buying floor models. Your couch could be on the floor for weeks, being sat on by hundreds of strangers or getting bumped by carts at every turn.

A lot of the pots and pans at HomeGoods look amazing — and, again, brands and quality vary — but I buy mine somewhere else.

Although you might get lucky and find name-brand items in the aisles of the store, I've bought many random pots and pans here that haven't held up over time.

It's also tricky to get a full, matching set of cookware from HomeGoods since not all stores carry the same pieces or multiples of designs.

I'd rather invest in a matching set from a cookware brand I trust.

Choosing the perfect finishing touches for a space can be one of the trickiest tasks.

But I'll never waste money on hanging letters or signs with quotes. These are entirely overused and pay homage to farmhouse design in an untasteful way.

Quotes are meant for a journal, not a wall. Choose an elevated art piece or canvas instead.

In the age of the mirror selfie, I completely understand the desire to add the perfect floor-length mirror to a space. After all, they're essential for a good outfit-of-the-day post.

That said, I haven't been impressed with the quality of large mirrors I've seen at HomeGoods.

One way I like to test the quality of mirrors in the store is by standing far away from them to see if my reflection gets distorted or not. If I start to look funky, I'll pass.

Mirrors are massive statement pieces, so I suggest investing in high-quality options.

HomeGoods has an impressive array of holiday decor — oftentimes, it's on shelves long before the season it's celebrating begins.

But, as a frequent HomeGoods shopper, I've learned that if you wait one day after the holiday, you can get 50% off of some seasonal items.

By waiting, you risk your wish-list items going out of stock. But, as a planner, I like preparing for a holiday almost a year before it returns.

HomeGoods is generally a great place to find one-off special items, but not so much coordinated or matching sets.

I like matching sets too much to consider buying office supplies here. I'd shop elsewhere for finishing touches for my home office.