Design Your Own Urn: How to Make It Personal

Designing an urn yourself means giving a farewell a very personal touch. At Farvel, you can customize your urn. With an engraving on the wooden lid, your choice of material, and small touches like a custom-designed ash pouch. This transforms a simple container into a keepsake that carries on a person’s story.

In good hands.
An urn to cherish—simple and designed by you.

Why design your own urn?

Every person is unique. An off-the-shelf urn rarely does them justice. When you design an urn yourself, you create an object that perfectly reflects the person you want to remember—with their name or a nickname, their initials, a date, a symbol, or a phrase that means something to you.

For many people, the creative process is also part of the grieving process. Engaging with the design, the words, and the colors provides the space and time needed to say goodbye. Especially when the whole family is involved, that final moment becomes something very personal.

Your Opportunities at Farvel

Engraving on the lid

A name, dates of birth and death, a symbol, or a short quote can be laser-engraved onto the wooden lid of your Farvel urn. The engraving is subtle and timeless. It highlights the natural grain of the wood rather than covering it up.

Choosing the Lid

You can choose from oak and walnut, as well as light and dark marble. Each of these natural materials has its own grain and coloration, making every lid unique. The choice of material alone makes your urn one-of-a-kind.

The wooden lids, made of oak and walnut, are crafted by the St. Jakob Foundation in Zurich, which provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It is important to us that the craftsmanship behind the urn also serves a meaningful purpose.

The Ash Bag You Can Customize

Every Farvel urn comes with an ash pouch, which is made at the Heimstätten Wil Foundation. You can design this pouch together. When children, family, or friends paint or write on it, it becomes more than just a container. It becomes a personal memento full of color and meaning.

Flowers and the Vase Insert

With the glass vase insert, your Farvel urn becomes a flower vase. The waterproof insert fits perfectly into the urn’s opening, allowing you to arrange fresh flowers directly inside the urn. This transforms the urn into a living memento that can find a permanent place in your home, whether during the wake or after the ashes have been scattered. The insert is easy to remove and clean.

Here's how the design process works

Designing the urn online is easy:

1. Choose a model and options. In the store, select your model and specify your desired personalization options, such as engraving and lid choice.

2. Draft for approval. Before we engrave and produce the item, we'll send you a draft. This way, you can make sure everything is exactly the way you want it.

3. Production and Delivery. Once you’ve approved the design, we’ll custom-make the urn. The turnaround time for personalized urns is typically one to two business days.

Let's create it together.
You can paint and write on the ash bag together.

Words that last.
A name, a date, or a quote, delicately engraved on the lid.

Space for fresh flowers.
With the glass vase insert, the urn becomes a vase.

Decorating inspiration.
A floral creation by Im Garten Markthalle.

Messages between the slats.
Paper flowers and butterflies from Herz zu Papier.

Inspiration for the Design

Here are a few ideas that are easy to put into practice:

• The first name or common name of the deceased person

• Biographical details or a special date

• A symbol that represents a hobby, a faith, or a passion

• A short quote or a favorite phrase

• The coordinates of a place that once meant something

In this context, less is often more. A calm, clean design usually looks the most dignified.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have my urn engraved with a text of my own choosing?

Yes. Names, dates, symbols, or a short quote can be laser-engraved on the lid.

Can I see what the engraving will look like beforehand?

Yes. Before production begins, you'll receive a draft for approval.

Can I paint the urn myself?

The urn itself can be painted. However, water-soluble paints do not adhere well to the outside, and the urn’s slats do not provide an ideal surface for painting. Also keep in mind what kind of paint you use if the urn is to be buried. The ash bag is a good option for painting and decorating, and you can personalize it together.

How long does it take to personalize the lid?

Usually one to two business days.

Your Urn, Your Design

Discover the Farvel collection and find the model that fits your vision. If you have a specific idea that goes beyond our standard options, please feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to advise you personally by email at hallo@farvel.ch or by phone at +41 79 700 05 45.