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Finding a gift for your mother-in-law shouldn’t send you into a tizzy. A foolproof plan is just to give her something she’ll actually use and doesn’t already have — you might even impress her along the way. But to make your gift-giving go as smooth as possible, I’ve rounded up a number of the best gifts for mothers-in-law, for any occasion, be it a birthday or the holidays. To make this list, I searched through our archives for surefire “won’t-returnables” to suit every type of MIL, whether she’s a world traveler, an adventurous home cook, a wine snob, or a neat freak. You’ll find everything from a clothes steamer used by Uma Thurman’s stylist to a pair of delightful deco bookends I’ve been eyeing for myself. I also did my due diligence to unearth some Amazon gems, including a sculptural Scandinavian bread basket. And speaking of Amazon: Every item here is available there for your convenience and sorted by price to make your gift-buying as budget conscious as possible.
Under $25
For the mother-in-law who’s a card sharp
If she’s tired of Uno, try this game, which is ”a mix of probability, luck, and being able to read your opponents.”
For the mother-in-law who never lets her hair down
For the mother-in-law who leaves her nails au naturel
This nail strengthener — a dupe of Dior’s for half the price — will keep her tips in top shape. Plus, it comes in the sheerest colors (like strawberry rhubarb and orange marmalade) for a hint of a manicure.
For the mother-in-law who wakes up tangled
This frizz-taming silk pillowcase has been a longtime best seller with Strategist readers, and beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton says it makes her feel as if she’s “sleeping in a luxurious hotel.”
For the mother-in-law who lives for sweater season
These sweet-smelling lavender sachets — which also come in scents like honeysuckle and lemon verbena — will help keep her cashmere fresh and moth-free.
For the mother-in-law who can never find her readers
This nifty organizer holds six pairs of frames and folds up nice and compact.
For the mother-in-law who’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking
A minimalist cookbook stand to keep her place while she makes coq au vin — or for the New York Times Cooking recipe she has saved on an iPad.
For the mother-in-law who packs a mean picnic
So she can have somewhere to sit on her next outing, with no risk of a soggy bottom.
For the mother-in-law who’s a magazine hoarder
She can organize her back issues of Vogue between these Deco-inspired bookends.
For the mother-in-law who’s a plant parent
This fancy-looking philodendron, which is named after the famous Hermès handbag, will give her houseplant jungle some flair.
For the mother-in-law who likes it kitschy
This sunny knickknack can serve as a pencil cup or bud vase.
For the mother-in-law who runs ten degrees hotter than everyone else
“On full blast, it stops a stream of face sweat in its tracks before it even has a chance to get into my eyes,” says Strategist writer Dominique Pariso of this powerful portable fan.
Under $50
For the mother-in-law who runs ten degrees colder than everyone else
For the mother-in-law who’s a porch sitter
These faux-paper lanterns look like delicate lace but feature a stainless-steel frame and waterproof and UV-resistant fabric, so she won’t have to worry about them during a drizzle.
For the mother-in-law who’s knotty
This curvy, knobby massage tool — a favorite of director Daniel Kwan and author Ottessa Moshfegh — will help release tension in hard-to-reach spots.
For the mother-in-law who takes her whiskey neat
These Glencairn glasses are as classic as they come, with an elegant tulip shape for sipping a single malt.
For the mother-in-law who doesn’t believe in store-bought
The milk-glass cake stand, a work of art in itself, will let her put her baked goods on a pedestal.
Under $100
For the mother-in-law who’s disgusted by grocery-store basil
The Sprout can grow three plants at a time — and it’s much more low-maintenance than starting an herb garden from scratch.
For the mother-in-law who’s incapable of traveling light
For the mother-in-law who’s too wired
For the mother-in-law who even presses her sheets
It’s the same steamer that Uma Thurman’s stylist uses, and I’m a total convert — it makes clothes look like they just came back from the dry cleaners.
For the mother-in-law who keeps her counters pristine
These coasters are rather eye-catching, in a Surrealist sort of way.
For the mother-in-law who’s into Nordic architecture
From Danish design house Georg Jensen, this sculptural bowl will make her fruit look like a still life.
For the mother-in-law who doesn’t have time for a spa day
This mud mask feels like a sheet mask, overnight mask, and firming mask all in one. My own mom has loved it since the ’80s, and now I use it too.
Under $200
For the mother-in-law who insists on family photos
Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio loves Aura’s digital picture frames because she and her family members — including her mother-in-law — can all remotely add photos to one another’s frames, creating “a private mini-social network that is blissfully Zuckerberg-free.”
For the mother-in-law who just got back from Barcelona
This paella pan will help her get those crispy edges just right.
For the mother-in-law who buys peppercorns in bulk
It’s the status pepper mill right now, as seen on chef Molly Baz’s Instagram.
For the mother-in-law who’s into moody music
The mesmerizing lava lamp of a speaker syncs its patterns to the music that’s playing, explains Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon, to add some ambience to her Spotify shuffle.
For the mother-in-law who runs her own wine club
These colorful wineglasses — which come in shades of pink and purple — will be the talk of her next tasting.
For the mother-in-law who always brings a hot dish
This attractive and table-ready Le Creuset is the perfect vessel for serving everything from lasagna to green-bean casserole.
Over $200
For the mother-in-law who’s always multitasking
The Airstrait is one of Dyson’s latest innovations — it will simultaneously blow-dry and straighten her hair.
For the mother-in-law who hosts movie night
For being a mini-projector that’s small enough to fit into your hand, the P7 has an impressive resolution so she can re-create the theater experience at home.
For the mother-in-law who’s the first to take a shot
Update her stovetop maker to a proper espresso machine — this one is a dependable entry-level model.You can’t go wrong with dependable Breville, and Kyle Ramage, co-owner of Black & White Coffee Roasters, praises this espresso machine as “a great entry model.”
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