Visitors are often surprised to find cemeteries as a calming, comforting space. It offers them serenity and makes them feel closer to the earth. The quiet, peaceful atmosphere makes people wonder, “Why are cemeteries so comforting?”
Cemeteries evoke positive emotions by executing good design choices. Good cemetery design generates calmness, makes room for personal reflection, and creates private spaces for lamenting and grieving. Cemeteries also have well-designed spaces where communities can come together and grieve or commemorate their loved ones together.
Visitors rarely notice the psychological benefits of cemetery design but are influenced heavily by it. In this article, we’ll expose these benefits so that you know what you should watch out for when you need to choose a cemetery.
5 Psychological Benefits Of Good Cemetery Design
Research into the psychological impact of spaces associated with death reveals that even people in mourning or states of extreme distress can have their emotions regulated by the space they are in. A cemetery can be designed to evoke a sense of acceptance by the designer, and it can effectively help to walk people through the 5 stages of grief. Here are the 5 psychological benefits that result from good cemetery design and planning:
- Creates a Calming Environment: Well-designed cemeteries contain design elements that exude a sense of calmness and peace. Spaces frequented by grieving visitors typically don’t give a sense of largeness so they don’t feel alone or abandoned. Yet, they are not so congested that they feel they don’t have privacy or they are caved in. Thoughtful landscaping, gentle water features, and clear pathways foster a serene space that calms the mind and soothes the soul during times of loss.
- Encourages Personal Reflection: Proper management of walkways, and good use of natural areas can allow people room to recall memories of their loved one positively, and help them feel safe enough to mourn as they wish. Intimate seating areas and reflective surfaces invite visitors to pause, remember, and process their emotions in a private, contemplative space.
- Supports Rituals and Memorialization: Design elements that accommodate placing flowers, mementos, or stones help families engage in meaningful rituals, reinforcing the connection to the departed. Encouraging religious practices, or traditional customs associated with visiting the dead can help visitor to come to terms with their loss quicker.
- Enhances Multisensory Experiences: Incorporating tactile materials, ambient sounds, and natural aromas enriches the sensory environment and allows grief to be processed through multiple senses. It’s a careful balance where the visitors should not be overloaded with sensory inputs, but not feel they are stuck in a void.
- Strengthens Community Bonds: A well-planned cemetery serves as a communal gathering space where family and friends can share memories and support each other through collective mourning. This helps the visitors find common ground with others who are grieving and heal better from association and sympathy.
Cemetery design can also focus on an individual’s life or principles to adjust the aesthetic of their burial plots and niches. Visitors and family members may find personalization more comforting. It also helps in honouring their loved ones appropriately. It creates a familiar space for visitors where they feel their loved one’s presence. At Bakerview, this is the difference we offer.
Bakerview Memorial Cemetery. We Help You Heal.
At Bakerview, we focus on you and your loved ones. Our family estates and columbarium niches can be personalized to reflect your loved one or your family’s legacy. Our experienced staff go to great lengths to ensure that your loved one’s life, principles, and story are combined with your culture and religion to create the perfect funeral.
With ample, intelligently designed space, Bakerview Memorial Cemetery is prepared to host families for generations to come. With burial options starting at $300 a month, you won’t find a better cemetery in Greater Vancouver. And with our Spring Promotion, you can get up to 25% off. So, don’t wait and come see us today, or contact us at (604) 856-0330.
Conclusion
Cemetery design isn’t only for aesthetics. Mourning the loss of a loved one can be a prolonged, painful experience. And a good cemetery design makes a silent but significant contribution to the healing process. So, when you’re looking for a cemetery, try to find one that has excellent design choices.
Published: February 12, 2025
