We shopped at Walmart and Pier 1 Imports to see which store is better for home-goods shopping

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

The pillow display at Pier 1 Imports was stocked to the brim.

• Pier 1 Imports, once a leading home-decor retailer, has hit turbulent waters. The company announced it would close 57 stores by 2020, after a period of poor sales.
• Walmart, meanwhile, is making gains in the home-goods sector online.
• We visited both stores to see which is better for shopping for home goods. Though the prices at Walmart were tough to beat, Pier 1 Imports won us over with its charming layout and merchandise display.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

Walmart has its hands in practically every retail sector, from grocery to sporting goods.

When it comes to home goods and furniture, Walmart is making strides online. Last year, the company added innovative and user-friendly features to its website to help customers shop for home goods online. It reported a 35% increase in visits to the home-goods section online since then, Digiday reported in May.

Read more: We shopped at Target and the struggling Pier 1 Imports to see which store is better at selling home goods - and there was a clear winner

Pier 1 Imports, on the other hand, has struggled as of late. The company reported a 13.5% drop in comparable sales in the first quarter of the year, following a general pattern of decline for the company that has plans to close 57 stores by its 2020 fiscal year.

We went to both stores to see for ourselves which retailer is better for home-goods shopping. Despite the struggles of Pier 1 Imports, we enjoyed the shopping experience there, from the overall store design to the merchandise.

Our verdict? Walmart might be best for stocking a house, but Pier 1 Imports is where to go to make a home and is therefore our winner this time.

Here's what else we saw: