Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts Mom Will Seriously Love

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updated May 5, 2020

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Just because Mother’s Day is only a day away (May 8th!) doesn’t mean that all of the best gifts have already been snatched up. Some of the most memorable presents don’t necessarily come in a box, making them ideal for those moments when procrastination leaves you with no time to run to the store, let alone commission a personalized Etsy find.

A Day Off

After all the years Mom spent picking up after you, why not repay her with a visit (or two, or three) from a local home cleaning service. Make sure the day is truly chore-free: Book enough time to cover Mom’s entire house (ask the service for an hourly estimate per room) and check whether gratuity is included in their rates.

A Space to Get Inspired

If there’s a local botanical garden or design museum Mom loves, make her a card-carrying member. Once the entrance is pre-paid, she can stop by anytime she wants to see the blooming daffodils or the latest exhibition.

Some Serious Skills

Whether your mom has always wanted to learn calligraphy, glassblowing, or graphic design—sign her up for a class. Find a local artist, studio, or school that offers lessons, or search for one online at Skillshare or Creativebug. The beauty of pre-recorded video courses is that Mom can press “play” whenever it fits her schedule.

A Subscription that Really Delivers

Okay, so this one technically does come in a box . . . but the true “gift” of a worth-your-wait subscription service is the suspense it creates. Design-loving moms will look forward to the arrival of NorseBox, a quarterly Nordic design subscription packed with Scandi-style goodies, like a copper wire candleholder or brass salad servers (from $54 per package). Minimalism & Co., another quarterly sending stylish essentials, curates each parcel around a theme, including home goods and travel basics ($95 per delivery with membership).

Photos She’ll Keep Forever

As much as Mom would love another mug embellished with photos of her children, there are some other picture-printing options worth exploring. Free the photos trapped on Mom’s phone by giving a subscription to Recently ($8.99 per month), an app that prints a monthly magazine of images from her camera roll. If she’s a social media snapper, try Piccolo, which will send prints of photos posted on her Facebook and Instagram accounts (from $10 per month).

An Experience She’ll Never Forget

If “experience” gifts are the best gifts, then the one-of-a-kind options offered by IfOnly—including meet-ups with celebrities and private lessons with a stylist, designer, or chef—are the ultimate presents. Prices vary depending upon the activity, and each sale benefits a charitable cause. I recommend this splurge for Mom: A closet decluttering session with Hollywood stylist Karen Caldwell. This takes KonMari wisdom to a whole new level of glam. Joy sparked? Check!

Better-Than-Store-Bought Gift Wrap

(Image credit: Say Yes)

If you’ve procrastinated so well that you don’t even have time to buy wrapping paper, print this floral gift wrap from Say Yes, along with her class voucher or subscription notice. Not only is it beautiful (and free!), but Mom can color it in after opening her present, turning the gift wrap itself into an experience. Tuck tickets or a membership card into this printable tulip card from Coloring Bliss.

What’s the best non-stuff Mother’s Day gift you ever gave or got?

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