It’s October, and in the home decor and DIY world that means Christmas has officially hit the shelves. If you’re not ready for it yet, you’re in good company. I’m still fully in my fall era! But if there’s one thing we’ve all learned, it’s this: if you see something you love and don’t grab it, it won’t be there when you’re ready.
I spent a few days running around to my favorite stores so you don’t have to. Here’s everything worth knowing about, store by store.
Walmart: The Surprise Winner This Year
Walmart had their holiday shop open, and it did not disappoint.
Start in the garden center. This is my number one Walmart tip. Trees and lights usually live out here, and depending on your store’s layout, you might find the entire Christmas assortment. The back corner of the garden section is also where overflow Christmas tends to land when it first comes out, so check back there too.
Lights and timers. The battery-operated fairy lights with built-in timers get the Whiskey stamp of approval every year. I use them in crafts and garlands constantly. This year they come in 25 and 50 count, not just 100, which is perfect for smaller projects. They also had new bow lights in red and pink that will carry right into Valentine’s Day.
The wireless remote outlet system is one of my favorite purchases ever. I use it for trees and lit garlands at Christmas, and on my lamps all year round.
Ornaments that beat Dollar Tree. This is the big one. Walmart’s ceramic ornaments are $1.97. Dollar Tree could never! If you’re spending $1.25 per ornament anyway, a few more cents gets you far more variety and noticeably better quality. They also carry licensed ornaments (Disney, Peanuts, Grinch, Christmas movies, even Roblox) that I’ve found run cheaper than you’ll pay at a specialty store, and they make adorable gift toppers.
Greenery picks. Crafters, this is your moment. The 97-cent picks can be pulled apart or combined, and there are versions with berries and pine cones. Larger picks run $4.88. These will likely sell out by early November.
Vintage Christmas. Look for the green Mr. Christmas boxes. I found a pop-out metal vintage girl that came straight home with me, plus jukeboxes, little Santas, and a photo frame piece that was so cute.
Other standouts: adjustable wreath hangers under $5 (I’m testing them on my problem front door), Christmas trains in Grinch, Peanuts, Disney, and Pixar versions, a huge Christmas village selection, and a whole character aisle for Grinch, Bluey, Elf on the Shelf, and Nightmare Before Christmas fans. Pink Grinch is everywhere this year!
Hobby Lobby: Go for the Sales
Hobby Lobby’s ornaments tend to go on sale almost immediately, and plenty was already 50% off when I visited. They’ve expanded their dog ornament section (I grabbed a Black Lab for our pup), and I picked up a few vintage metal ornaments that might become a garland.
The gingerbread aisle is always worth a look. Small pieces started at $5, and I found a vintage piece marked down to $3.49. Their in-store selection is huge, but their website has even more, so browse online if you’re hunting for something specific.
Dollar Tree: Drive a Little Farther
Here’s something I want every Dollar Tree shopper to hear: your closest store might not be your best store. The two I visited are less than a mile apart, and one was half-stocked and messy while the other had everything. If your first Dollar Tree is a letdown, try the next one.
At the good store, I found new bow ornaments in light blue, champagne, burgundy, and green, $5 flicker hanging candles in the Plus section, 30-count packs of large Christmas cards for $5, and a tartan plaid fabric I was thrilled about. A third store had a pom pom garland, stackable trees and snowmen, and greenery stems at $1.75. Honestly, at that price, the Walmart picks are the better buy.
One de-influence: the gems everyone’s raving about online were scratched at my store, and I didn’t see the hype.
Michaels: Wait for the Coupon
Nothing was on sale at Michaels on my first visit, and their full prices keep creeping up. Their unique ornaments are beautiful and great for personalized gifts, but please wait for a coupon or a reward.
I also want to be transparent about something. Some of the canvas painting kits on the shelves look AI-generated to me. As someone who makes a living in the creative space, AI-generated artwork, especially when it borrows from real makers’ work, doesn’t sit right with me. It left me with mixed feelings about their holiday assortment this year.
On a later trip, I did find some fun craft goodies: die-cut stickers, ephemera packs (perfect as gift tags!), and UV DTF transfers at 12 for $4.99, which I stacked with a 30% off coupon. They were flying off the shelf.
World Market: Unique Finds
World Market is my go-to for something different. Beyond seasonal decor, they have food and goods from all over the world, plus what their signage calls the largest Christmas cracker selection in the US. Some pieces are pricey, but others are very fair.
Hallmark: The Grand Finale
Hallmark’s October ornament premiere is my favorite day of the season, and this year the Christmas Vacation pieces stole the show. Their Griswold ornament lets you move Clark, Ellen, Audrey, and Rusty into place and hear dialogue from the movie. I also grabbed Clark wrapping paper for this year’s gifts!
What’s Next
My Christmas sewing video goes live Sunday, October 18, and my mystery box swap goes up October 25. I’m also planning some vintage Christmas DIYs this year. Would you like to see those? Let me know in the comments!
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