Home Improvement and Furnishing Gift Cards

Which group of retailer fits the project

Cards here are listed by retailer, and the retailers fall into three groups. Building-materials and tool chains serve repairs, renovations and garden work. Furnishing and housewares names serve decorating and moving into a new home. Bath, candle and home-fragrance retailers serve the finishing touches and make easy gifts. Pick the group that matches the job, then the chain nearest the recipient, because a card is only useful where they can actually use it.

Because the area is organized by retailer, a card's title tells you little beyond the retailer and the face value. The description is where you find which banners honor the card and whether it is valid online, in locations or both. Many retailers accept one card in both places, but not all do. Where two names share a parent company, do not assume one card covers both.

Special orders, services and project-sized balances

Large balances raise questions a small one never does. Can the card be applied to special orders, appliances, flooring or installation services, or only to items the retailer already carries? Can it be split across several orders, and is there a limit on how many cards one order may use? The answers sit in the issuer's terms. For a renovation, check them before buying; for a housewarming gift, a mid-sized balance at a broad retailer is easier to spend.

Questions about Home Improvement and Furnishing Gift Cards

Can a home improvement card cover appliances or large orders?

Generally the card is a stored balance, so it can go toward big items if the balance is high enough and the retailer's terms allow it. Special orders, installation services and some regulated products may have separate rules, so read the terms first.

Is a furnishing retailer's card usable in locations as well as online?

It depends on the retailer. Some furnishing names trade mainly online and others have both locations and a website, and the listing's redemption notes should say which. Building-materials chains usually accept cards in locations and online, but confirm first.

What is the difference between a home-improvement chain card and a housewares card?

A home-improvement chain card suits tools, building materials, paint, plants and fixtures, while a housewares or furnishing card suits furniture, kitchenware, bedding and decor. The ranges overlap only partly, so choose by the type of project the recipient is planning.