Where to Place a Cremation Urn in Your Home
Finding the right room comes down to whether you want your tribute to be a focal point for visitors or a private space for personal reflection.
1. The Living Room Mantel or Console Table
The living room is the heart of the home. Placing a bespoke photo-wrapped urn on a fireplace mantel or console table transforms a traditional ashes vessel into a piece of custom memorial art. Because bespoke photo urns feature vibrant photos and personal stories, they serve as welcoming conversation starters rather than cold or solemn urns.
2. Bedside Table or Quiet Bedroom Corner
If you prefer private reflection, a bedside table or quiet bedroom dresser is ideal. A smaller Keepsake Urn (holding ~0.549 Litres) or a Small Cremation Urn fits comfortably in compact spaces, allowing you to keep your loved one close every day.
3. A Dedicated Memorial Shelf or Cabinet
A floating shelf or glass display cabinet allows you to curate a complete tribute scene. You can feature the main urn at the center, flanked by framed memories, special awards, and a Personalised Photo Memorial Candle.
How to Style a Memorial Display Tastefully
To create a balanced and inviting tribute area, follow these three simple styling principles:
1. Create Depth with the Rule of Three: Arrange items in odd numbers. For example, place the photo urn in the center, a personalized candle on the left, and a small vase of dried flowers or an heirloom on the right.
2. Incorporate Warm Lighting: Lighting plays a huge role in softening a room. Placing a bespoke soy wax memorial candle beside the urn creates a comforting glow during anniversaries, birthdays, or quiet evenings.
3. Add Personal Heirlooms: Include physical tokens that represent their hobbies and passions—such as a favourite pocket watch, garden shears, a camera lens, or sea shells from their favourite beach.
Shared Memorials: Dividing Ashes Among Family
It is increasingly common for families to divide cremated remains so multiple children, siblings, or family members living in different locations can keep a physical piece of their loved one close.
Keepsake Urns: Thoughtfully sized at 0.549 Litres, keepsake urns hold roughly one-quarter of an adult’s ashes. They are designed for family sharing, offering a dignified, full-wrapped photo tribute in a compact footprint.
Safe Transfer: High-quality keepsake urns come with secure inner clip-seal bags and soft satin memento bags so ashes can be divided gently and safely at home.
Infant Tributes: Compact keepsake sizes are also appropriately proportioned for honoring a full-term infant or child, offering a tender and respectful resting place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you put ashes inside a personalized memorial candle?
No. Personalised photo candles (such as the Rapt In Light collection) are poured as solid soy wax candles designed strictly for burning and visual display. They do not hold ashes. To store ashes, you will need a photo-wrapped cremation urn or a small keepsake urn.
How do you clean and care for a photo-wrapped urn at home?
Dust the urn gently with a dry, soft microfiber cloth. Avoid using harsh chemical spray cleaners, abrasive pads, or submerging the urn in water. Keeping the urn away from direct, unfiltered sunlight will ensure the photo wrap remains vibrant for decades.
What size keepsake urn do I need to share ashes with family?
A keepsake urn with a capacity of approximately 0.549 Litres holds roughly one-quarter of an adult's ashes. This capacity makes it easy to split remains equally among four family members or keep a smaller portion while scattering the remainder.
Is it safe to keep a cremation urn in a house with pets or young children?
Yes, provided the urn is displayed on an elevated, secure, and stable surface—such as a high shelf, weighted mantel, or locked glass cabinet—where it cannot be accidentally knocked over by pets or small children.
Do I need to handle loose ashes when setting up a photo urn at home?
No. Quality photo urns from Rapt In Memories feature an easy-access base designed to hold the standard sealed PVC container provided directly by Australian crematoriums. You simply place the entire sealed container inside without opening the ash bag.
