It’s only a few weeks away until Mother's Day. If you are struggling for inspiration on what to buy, then this blog post may well be of benefit. This day is a chance to show just how much your mother means to you and how grateful you are for everything that she does.
Now, let’s be clear. Flowers? Lovely. Chocolates? Absolutely fine. A meal out? She’s unlikely to say no. But if you are anything like me, there is always that little voice saying, “Surely I can do better than petrol station tulips the night before…”
This is where a more thoughtful, picture-based gift really comes into its own. And no, I don’t just mean sticking a photo in a standard frame and calling it a day. I am talking about choosing something that feels considered. Something that says, “I didn’t panic-buy this on Saturday afternoon.”
Turn Her Favourite Memory into Wall Art
If your mum is sentimental (most are, even if they pretend not to be), think about a single moment that really sums her up.
Maybe it’s a family holiday photo. Maybe it’s her wedding picture. Maybe it’s a black-and-white photo of her with her own mum. Instead of a basic frame, you could opt for a bespoke cut mount frame, with a slightly deeper mount and a subtle colour that complements the image.
You could even include a small engraved plaque inside the frame with a simple message:
“Everything I am, you helped me to be.”
It’s understated. It’s classy. And it’s something she’ll keep on the wall for years rather than packing away after a fortnight.
A Gallery Wall Starter Kit (Yes, Really)
Here’s something a bit different. If your mum loves interiors (or watches far too many home makeover programmes), why not gift her the start of a gallery wall?
Choose three or five coordinating frames from the same range – perhaps slim black, soft white, or natural oak finishes – and add a mix of family photos and meaningful prints.
You are not just giving her a frame. You’re giving her a project. Something she can enjoy arranging and rearranging until it’s just right. And every time someone compliments it, she’ll get to say, “Oh, my son/daughter bought me those for Mother’s Day.”
That’s points on the board for years to come.
Floating Frames for Something a Bit Special
If she already has a canvas tucked away – maybe a painting she bought on holiday or artwork from one of the grandchildren – a floating canvas frame can completely transform it.
Floating frames add that subtle gap around the edge of the canvas, giving it a far more finished, gallery-style appearance. It turns something that might have felt a little “craft fair” into something that looks properly display-worthy.
It’s a small upgrade that makes a big visual difference. And it shows you have noticed what she already owns and thought about how to enhance it. That extra layer of consideration? That’s what counts.
Multi-Aperture Frames – Tell a Story Properly
If one photo isn’t enough (and let’s face it, when is it ever?), a multi-aperture frame is a brilliant option.
Instead of random snaps, think in terms of a theme:
• Mum through the years
• Four generations of women in the family
• Her and the grandchildren at different ages
• Family holidays over the last decade
When arranged properly within a single mount, it tells a story rather than just displaying pictures.
And here’s the key – take your time choosing the images. Don’t just scroll your camera roll and pick the first five that look half decent. Pick ones that genuinely mean something. That’s the difference between “nice gift” and “wow, you really thought about this.”
At the end of the day, Mother’s Day isn’t about how much you spend. It’s about showing appreciation in a way that feels personal.
So yes, buy the flowers if you want to. Add the chocolates. But maybe, just maybe, include something she can hang on the wall and look at long after the roses have wilted.
Because the best gifts aren’t the most expensive ones.
They are the ones that make her pause for a second… and smile.