17 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you need help picking out the perfect gift, this Mother’s Day gift guide is filled with thoughtful gift ideas for mom. 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

First, let’s reframe gift giving. I believe it becomes stressful because of one or more of these situations:

1. Our budget is tight.
2. We wait ’til the last-minute to shop.
3. We put pressure ourselves to find the perfect gift.

Think of yourself as the recipient. Would you want someone getting that stressed out over buying you a gift? I wouldn’t. I much prefer the gift be given with intention and joy. Not for my benefit, but for the gift giver’s. 

Fortunately, there’s something we can do about that: simplify our approach to gift giving.

• If your budget is tight, opt for time together instead. I’ve chosen to spend time with my parents in lieu of a buying a gift many times over the years, and it always turned out to be so enjoyable. Now that I have a grown daughter, I know how special it is to spend time together. 
• Add gift shopping to your calendar. Fit it into your existing schedule so that it doesn’t become an extra chore or out-of-the-way to-do. You can also save time with online shopping. 
• Let your relationship guide your gift ideas. What do you like to do together? How does your mom like to spend her time? What are some of her favorite things? 

Sometimes it helps to get inspiration from others. So, I’ve curated a list of the gift ideas from gifts either I’ve given my Mom or I’ve received, and a few ideas I’d love. 

17 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Mom 

Affiliate links are included for items that have become my favorite sources and items over the years. I may earn from qualifying purchases, but you are in no way obligated to shop through the affiliate links. 

Host a Casual Mother’s Day Lunch

No need to break out the china for this casual affair.

• Decorative ball jar glasses will do just fine.
• Colored straws add an extra decorative touch to these already whimsical glasses.
• DIY food labels made with clothespins add an extra touch to the casual buffet setting.
• Make mom feel special with a personalized message written on a chalkboard. If you don’t have a chalkboard, you can get some chalkboard paint and apply it to a piece of cardboard from inside an inexpensive frame. Once the paint is dry, write your message and frame it.
• Watch this video for tutorials on creating a simple, yet pretty tablescape, complete with your very own Southern Living style glasses.

Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts

• Create a memory jar filled with slips of paper sharing special memories. This is a great idea if you’re on a budget. My sisters and I did this for our mom one year and she loved it. She still has the jar!
• Doesn’t this Rosemary Scented Goat’s Milk Soap sound divine? 
• Any one of these 5 DIY projects for the gardening Mom would make a really creative gift.   
• A hand written letter makes a heartfelt gift. You could even take it a step further and turn the letter into a blanket.
• If you don’t want to make a gift yourself, Etsy is a great place to get handmade gifts for mom.

Themed Gift Ideas

I love to give themed gifts. A few of my favorites are:

DIY spa gift basket filled with:

• bath salts
• a lovely scented candle (My daughter gave me this rose scented candle for Mother’s Day last year and it smells divine. I love lighting it while I soak in the tub.)
• essential oils
• body scrub
• a loofah
• and maybe even a soft bath robe. Add a monogram for a personal touch. 

Beach themed gifts – If you’re mom is a beach lover like me, you could fill a beach bag with:

• a big beach towel
• some fun (maybe even vintage) sunglasses,
• and a good book

My daughter did this for me one year and it’s one of my favorite gifts ever.

Travel themed gift – If your mom loves to travel, get her a weekender bag along with:

• a nice pair of pajamas
• and a toiletry case
• a gift card to a hotel or Airbnb

Fashion-Lover themed gift – Get her a gift certificate to Get Your Pretty On and maybe include a gift card to her favorite clothing store. Add a sweet, delicate necklace to accessorize her outfits.

Experience Gift Ideas for Mom

For the last several years, we’ve spent Mother’s Day at the beach. I look forward to that day far more than any fancy lunch, breakfast in bed or even a pedicure. It’s one of the most relaxing days of the year for me. 

Other experience gift ideas include:

• going on a wine tasting tour for the wine loving mom
• touring through model homes – this is perfect for the mom who loves interior design and decorating
• taking your mom sightseeing in a nearby town 
• shopping in boutiques or specialty stores she’d never go to for herself – My mom and I share a love of all things vintage and antique, so we use to make a day of antique shopping and lunch. If mom happened to find something she loved that I could afford, I’d treat her to it, but it wasn’t expected.
• online classes – Get your mom a subscription to Skillshare where she can explore her creative side. There are classes for just about everything you can think of from photography to writing to minimalism to business, just to name a few. I’ve got my eye on Emily Henderson’s decorating class and this flower arranging class by Spencer Falls. I recommend signing up for the free 7 day trial to browse the classes and use the site. If you find something your mom would like, you can take advantage of the 30% discount on a twelve month subscription.

No matter the gift, she’s going to love it.

Happy Mothers’ Day,