COLUMBIA, MD — Homesense, a furniture and home decor store operating under the umbrella of TJX Companies, opened its first Columbia location recently. The store, which one publication called "HomeGoods on steroids," is located in Columbia Crossing.

It is the second TJX Companies store in the plaza, which also houses a T.J. Maxx.

Homesense is a Canadian-based store that recently launched in the United States.

So far, there are just a handful of locations in a few states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland. Columbia is home to the first Homesense in Maryland, since opening at the end of June. An Annapolis store is slated to have a grand opening in September.

So what makes Homesense different from HomeGoods? Cosmopolitan magazine, in a 2017 article, explored that very question. The conclusion: Homesense is basically HomeGoods on steroids.

Cosmopolitan reports the store has a huge furniture section, as well as an area called "the general store," which offers everything from bath tubs to wallpaper, doorknobs and fabrics. The lighting section is larger, and there is a full section dedicated to books, the publication reported.

Homesense is at 6225 Columbia Crossing Circle, Columbia, MD 21045. Hours are 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday; 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday; and 9:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. — By Patch editors Kara Seymour and Elizabeth Janney