I compared shopping for seasonal fall decor at Hobby Lobby and Michaels

I found that Michaels (left) and Hobby Lobby (right) had solid offerings for fall decor. Savannah Born I went shopping for fall decorations at Michaels and Hobby Lobby to see which had better options. Michaels blew me away with its Halloween decorations, elevated crafts, and spooky themes. Hobby Lobby had no Halloween decor, but its Thanksgiving and general autumnal fare was hard to beat. The instant I sense a new season approaching, or even prematurely "smell it in the air," I'm already excited to decorate. This is especially true for fall, since it includes warm colors, cozy smells, nostalgic accents, and pumpkin-themed everything. Unpacking my bins this year, however, my lineup felt stale. I decorate for fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving individually, and all three collections needed some (pumpkin) spice. So, I visited my nearest Michaels and Hobby Lobby for some inspiration. To my surprise, the nearest locations of each craft store were next door to each other — in the same building. Both had festive vibes, seasonal sales, and complete fall collections, even in mid-August when I shopped, but that's where the similarities ended. Here's how the stores compared. I started at Michaels, which felt like a Halloween wonderland. Savannah Born The first thing I saw was when I entered a rack of Halloween doormats, so I knew I was in for a spooky experience. Passing through what seemed like way too many faux pumpkins led me to the Halloween section, which took up the entire front half of the store. With skull-covered wreaths, creepy garlands, life-size dolls, and hanging ghosts, Michaels felt haunted from the get-go. Hobby Lobby didn't sell Halloween decor, but its fall collection seemed promising. Savannah Born Hobby Lobby's focus was on general fall vibes and Thanksgiving, with no Halloween decor in sight. This could be because Hobby Lobby's CEO and founder, David Green, is a devout Christian and has publicly committed the chain to "honoring the Lord." Some Christians view Halloween as a pagan holiday and do not celebrate it. Call me a spooky Scrooge, but the lack of Halloween decorations didn't bother me. I'm not a fan of the holiday's scary side anyway. Walking into Hobby Lobby, I was greeted by harvest figures, garlands, and tabletop "thankful" signs before I even got through the door. Michaels' Halloween decorations looked top-notch. Savannah Born Michaels is the place to go for chilling Halloween decor. I encountered blackened trees, eerie paintings, frightening skull candles, and sets of haunted houses that reminded me of Christmas villages, but with a Halloween twist. I prefer the cute stuff, so the cowboy-themed ghost garlands and sparkly candy-corn accents caught my attention. Most items were too scary for my preferences, but I found a few gems. Hobby Lobby's fall decor was basic in the best way. Savannah Born Some may call it cheesy, but I say "kitschy." Everywhere I turned were signs that read "Hello, Pumpkin," "Happy Fall, Y'all," and my personal favorite, "Family is Everything." Not creative, per se, but classic. These blissfully hokey sayings covered mugs, dish towels, tabletop displays, and even yard signs. Additionally, the store seemed to embrace pumpkins in every aisle. I'd grab candles at Michaels or Hobby Lobby any day this season. I found a lot of candles at Michael's (left) and Hobby Lobby (right). Savannah Born Michaels had fall candles right when I walked in — and I found decadent scents like brown-butter pumpkin and apple-streusel coffee cake. Turns out, the party was just starting. An entire collection awaited me further into the store. The dreamy assortment included autumn fog, forest hearth, pumpkin bread, and sweet cider, among other sweater-weather sniffs. Hobby Lobby also carried fall candles, and in my opinion, the jars were even prettier than the ones at Michaels. After smelling all of them, the maple and cream latte and vanilla and berry amber won me over. As an avid Michigan football fan, I got excited for game day at Hobby Lobby. Savannah Born Both stores offered tailgate items, but Hobby Lobby had a much larger spread. In addition to football-shaped bowls and kickoff-ready serving platters, I discovered pajama pants, doormats, tabletop decorations, and blankets. Honestly, I'm glad neither store had Wolverines-specific gear. If they did, I'd walk out with a full cart. For anything related to astrology, crystal balls, or Shakespeare, Michaels delivered. Savannah Born I'm not tuned in to what it means to be a Leo, but I appreciated the astrology-inspired collection. Magic and mystic, it made me want to get a palm reading. I thought the astrology section was unique, but then I stumbled upon a Shakespeare-inspired selection, complete with "Romeo and Juliet," "Hamlet," and "Macbeth"-themed items. It ended up being my favorite aisle. Hobby Lobby was a utopia for Thanksgiving pieces. Savannah Born As someone who helps with Thanksgiving cooking