Choosing Contemporary Urns for Ashes: Benefits & Helpful Considerations

Losing a loved one is a time filled with important choices. Choosing an urn is one of those decisions and might be one you didn’t expect to feel as important as it does. Urns are specially designed containers used to hold cremation ashes. What you do with the urn is up to you, and potentially your departed loved one. Urns can be buried, used to scatter ashes, or displayed in your home or a columbarium. 

When choosing an urn to hold and display your loved one’s ashes, you have a lot of choices, perhaps more than you realized. You are no longer limited to clunky marble or the classic shape that screams “Urn”. Modern urns are beautiful and come in a variety that allows you to find one that will seamlessly fit into your home’s decor or stand out more subtly, depending on your desired level of discretion.

What are Contemporary Urns?

Respectfully handcrafted urns are now available in modern and contemporary designs. They still perform the essential functions of an urn, securely storing ashes, but their appearance is more akin to home decor. Some are even disguised as practical, everyday items, such as planters or decorative chests.

These urns can be crafted from traditional materials like marble or metal, but many also feature alternative media such as wood, ceramic, and glass. These materials are sturdy yet elegant and are often chosen for home decor items. Modern urns are designed to be uniquely beautiful and blend in tastefully with the background of your home. Or, if you want to highlight the display, these urns offer a touch of elegance to a home memorial.

Why Choose a Contemporary Urn for Ashes?

Choosing an urn is a deeply personal decision that often evokes a range of emotions. An urn is a vessel for the last physical remains of someone you loved very much. Choosing a well-crafted urn, whether traditional or contemporary, is essential. Let’s explore the reasons why some people choose contemporary urns; gathering information is a critical part of the decision-making process.

• Contemporary urns are beautiful and are an attractive addition to your home decor. Everyone has different preferences about their home, but for those who’ve cultivated a specific aesthetic, finding an urn that fits can be significant.
• Modern urns offer a variety of choices. Traditional urn shapes are fairly ubiquitous, but now you have the choice from planters, stylized hearts, graceful sculptures, and geometric, angled cubes. These urns aren’t just secure storage; they add visual appeal to your living space.
• There is more symbolism in modern urns. Not only can you pick an urn you think your loved one would like, but you can also choose meaningful shapes, such as hearts or a protective chest. Some urns are made from cremation glass, which is hand-blown glass mixed with cremation ashes, making the urn even more meaningful and symbolic. 

What to Consider When Selecting a Contemporary Urn

• What size do you want? Full-size urns are about the size of a bread box, but depending on whether you bury or scatter some of the ashes or share the ashes, you may need a miniature size urn.
• Where will you place the urn? This will help determine the kind of urn you want. For example, if you're going to keep it in a shady room, choose the candle holder urn over the planter urn. The chest would look at home on a kitchen shelf, or a sculpture is perfect for a living room side table or bookshelf.
• Do you want it to be functional? If so, consider a candle holder urn, our classic chest urn, or the Planter Urn™. Each of these urns holds ashes securely while also serving as a practical yet beautiful addition to your home.
• Consider your style; are you more modern or traditional? Retro? Masculine or feminine? You may want an urn that stands out by choosing a unique style, or you can opt for one that blends in perfectly with your current decor.
• What material do you want? A bamboo urn might look out of place in a home without much wood, so consider the elegant crystal or ceramic urns.

Discover Modern, Contemporary Urns from The Living Urn

We offer a full collection of contemporary urns to honor your loved one. Here are just a few of our contemporary urns:

• Our classic EcoHome™ urn is an elegant bamboo chest that will fit into any home’s decor, offering a secure and beautiful way to display your loved one’s ashes.
• The Living Urn Planter™ urn comes in three different sizes, including a full-size and miniature keepsake option. These beautifully crafted wooden planters are perfect for hosting a plant of your choice.
• The Icon urn is made from bamboo and features striking black paneling on an offset wooden cube. This tasteful, modern art piece bears no resemblance to a classic urn, yet it will honor your loved one’s memory.

There’s no need for a classically shaped urn to draw the eye. From chic to modern to elegant, one of our modern urns is sure to fit your home decor. Embrace the benefits and comfort of a modern urn to honor and remember your departed loved one.