Funeral Arrangement: Four Tips for Designing a Beautiful Headstone

The right headstone will leave a lasting impression and honour the memory of a departed loved one. However, designing the perfect memorial can be difficult. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with the options or overwhelmed by the possibilities, consult a funeral home director for guidance. In addition to choosing professional help, consider these simple guidelines to develop headstone design ideas before making decisions.

Understand Size Selection

The size of a headstone will determine the general appearance of the memorial. Therefore, evaluate and compare the available sizes and inquire about customisation. Keep in mind that this factor will influence other design aspects. If you are choosing a headstone for a single person, look at smaller stones. Overly large stones are unnecessary because the inscription will be short. Companion memorials for couples or family memorials for groups can be larger to accommodate more information.

Look at Shape Variations

If you are focused on simplicity, choose a standard headstone shape like a square-top or arched stone. These designs are tested and tried. However, if you would like a more unique headstone, inquire about variations. Keep in mind that a standard shape can disappear among other memorials. Therefore, look into different options like peon-top, checked-top, raised-shoulder, serpentine-top and ogee-top headstones. If you intend to make a custom shape, inquire about the cemetery policy.

Consider the Colours

The colour of a memorial is important for visual appeal. Therefore, choose the most attractive colour for general aesthetics or the favourite colour of the departed. In most cases, the colour depends on the headstone material. If you are planning on using a basic stone like granite, the specific hue and pattern will depend on the available stones. However, you can still look for a suitable shade. If the chosen headstone material can be coloured, the choices will increase. Remember, restrictions on colour are imposed in certain cemeteries.

Customise an Inscription

The inscription on a headstone should bring comfort to the bereaved and honour the memory of the deceased. Unfortunately, in some cases, the chosen inscription ends up as a generic statement, or too many details are included, leading to a chaotic and unattractive memorial. Therefore, take your time and choose the right wording. Where possible, avoid overused statements that sound like clichés. Also, do not attempt to inscribe a complete list of tributes. Instead, aim to capture the essence of the deceased's life in a few concise words or sentences. Additionally, consider a pictorial memorial if you have a flexible budget.