Clock buyer’s guide

It’s amazing how many places can provide ideas and inspiration for interior design ideas. Stately homes, museums, shops, offices, industrial units and even train stations can all provide visual ideas that can be easily transferred to your home.

Image of Loughborough Station Clock courtesy of freefoto.com.

Just because it’s ‘just a clock’ doesn’t make it any less important in the grand scheme of things. In fact, clocks can often form the central focal point of a room, especially when the design is eye-catching or ostentatious, or when the room lacks any other major features such as a fireplace or home entertainment centre.

Typically clocks can be used as a focal point in smaller rooms such as halls, lobbies and bedrooms, but can also work well in kitchens where a retro or designer style can complement the style of the kitchen.

If you do not have a good sense of scale, check the dimensions of the clock and then cut out some paper or card to the same size and shape and see how it looks on the wall you have in mind as a backdrop.

Although smaller, mantel clocks and alarm clocks also have their place in the interior designer’s toolkit, and are essential ingredients in the overall scheme of interior accessories. Digital clocks are especially eye-catching if they feature brightly coloured LED displays.

Look at the intended location that your clock will occupy and try to imagine how it will appear.

It goes without saying that the colour and finish of your clock can make a dramatic difference, especially if you are looking for something to accessorise with your decor.

Colours don’t always have to blend, sometimes a bright, unusual colour can work well, especially for a retro colour scheme. Using a feature wall can also be a good way of showing off a really nicely designed clock, and you could even consider painting or decorating a wall of your room in order to make a feature of a large painted station clock or sunburst style clock.

The most common colours we see in retro clocks are red, cream and black, although lately there has been resurgence in clock styles from the 1950s and 60s which feature wood and gold more prominently.

Metallic and transparent finishes and materials such as acrylic are also interesting as they will often pick up and reflect colours that are used in the local environment.

Also pay close attention to details such as numeral colours and hand colours, as on small web images these can be easily overlooked. Retrofever.com trys to show large images for each clock where possible in order to provide our visitors with as much detail as possible.

Retro and designer digital clocks with LED displays often have red or ice blue illuminated digits - don’t underestimate how visible these can be, especially in low-light conditions.

You’d be amazed just how many different types of retro clock there are - from starburst and radial clocks to large LED displays to station clocks and flip clocks, the world of the retro clock is rather diverse and choosing is not always straightforward!

One way to go about selecting a clock - if you are looking for an authentic retro feel - is to choose a style that exactly fits with the period of your decor. This is relatively simple - provided you do your research first - and can work to good effect.

Alternatively many people opt for a style which creates an interesting juxtaposition in design terms - a sleek 70s or 80s style can work well in an ultra-minimalist apartment, or a quirky 50s style wall clock could create an unexpected contrast in a modern kitchen.

Analogue clocks are by far the most common type of wall clock, and are available in a huge range of different colours, finishes and styles. For a retro look, consider a radial arm clock or sunburst design. Smaller analogue mantel clocks are also popular.

Flip clocks, which are most commonly associated with industrial and commercial settings, can be used to great effect in a modern interior as they can help create an air of functional simplicity. These are sometimes available in much larger sizes than many domestic clocks too, so may be suitable for urban lofts or warehouse living.

Digital clocks, which started to appear in the mainstream in the 1970s, are not for everyone, and are most popular as bedside alarm clocks where their visual impact is less obtrusive than a wall-mounted counterpart.

However, certain models can undoubtedly make a bold artistic statement in the right environment - check out our gallery for user-submitted examples.

Other more unusual clock types include projector clocks where the numerals are projected onto a nearby wall or ceiling, atomic clocks which are generally considered the most accurate and radio-controlled clocks which periodically receive a radio signal to ensure they maintain accurate time.

Retrofever.com trys to avoid featuring low quality or gimmicky products - and equally we avoid highly priced luxury items - focusing instead on clocks which we believe offer a good balance of price and quality construction which will last well at a realistic cost. Our most popular ranges are by Karlsson and Newgate, companies which have a long history of clock making.