Where to Place a Cremation Urn

Keeping the urn at home

Many families keep the ashes in a decorative urn at home, often beside a photo to create a small memorial. It keeps your loved one close and gives you a place to remember them. Ceramic, metal, wood and crystal urns all suit indoor display.

In your garden

An urn can also sit in the garden, perhaps in a spot where your loved one used to sit. Our outdoor urns are crafted to withstand the elements, with ceramic and stainless steel both holding up well outside.

Buried in the ground

A biodegradable land urn is buried in the soil and slowly merges with the earth. Some families plant a tree above or beside it, so the ashes feed the growth and the tree becomes a living memorial.

In water

A water burial urn is placed on the surface of the water, then gently submerges and disperses back into the environment over a short time. Some families add memorial petals to scatter alongside it.

In an urn garden or columbarium

Many cemeteries and crematoria have an urn garden, a dedicated area where urns can rest together in a peaceful setting close to home, which makes visiting easier. A columbarium is a stone wall with individual recesses that each hold an urn.

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep a cremation urn at home?

Yes. Keeping the urn at home is the most common choice. Ceramic, metal, wood and crystal urns are all suited to indoor display, often placed on a shelf or mantel beside a photo.

Can a cremation urn be placed in the garden?

Yes. Ceramic and stainless steel urns are made to withstand the weather, so they can sit outdoors in a garden. Choose an outdoor urn and keep any glued seams away from standing moisture.

What is an urn garden?

An urn garden is a dedicated area at a cemetery or crematorium where urns rest together in a peaceful setting. It gives families a fixed place to visit, often close to home.

What is a columbarium?

A columbarium is a stone wall built with individual recesses, each sized to hold a single urn. It is usually found within a cemetery and offers a permanent resting place above ground.

Can ashes be buried or released in water?

Yes. A biodegradable land urn can be buried to break down in the soil, and a water burial urn can be placed on water, where it submerges and disperses naturally over a short time.