Best Wall Clocks
Buy the best best wall clocks selected and recommended by interior designers. By Caroline Patterson.
It has become almost mandatory for all traditional and modern homes to have wall clocks on the living room or entryway walls. If you are in the market for a high quality and attractive wall clock with all the aesthetic and functional features, then you are in the right place. There are different types of wall clocks to match the style and decor of every home. Some of the clocks come equipped with additional features such as built-in thermometers and hygrometers to keep track of time as well as changing weather and tides. Check out the huge collection of wall clocks to find one that suits your needs and home décor.
Best Wall Clocks
Buying Guide
Caroline Patterson
Interior Design Expert
Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.
In an age of phones, smart-watches and a growing variety of time-telling devices, a wall clock has become more than a purely functional piece: it's an accent element, a conscious décor choice, a focal point that can immediately catch the attention of anyone walking into the room.
However, it still needs to be practical and easy to read, of course. Let's waste no time and find out how to choose a wall clock that is both functional and decorative.
First things first! You should decide between the two main types of wall clocks:
- Analog: these are the most traditional, decorative and aesthetically-pleasing wall clocks! They can become a bold statement, and some of them can be very big. However, while some are quieter than others, any analog clock will make some kind of noise, so it could be distracting if you're planning on having it right above your working desk or in the bedroom;
- Digital: these clocks value functionality over charm, but they can still be a conscious décor choice depending on the style of your room; they're as quiet as a mouse, immediate to read when they're fairly close to you, and can even give you additional information such as date and temperature; backlit options will make it easier to tell the time when it gets dark.
"The most expensive clocks in the world are analog ones, partly because people prefer their design, although the world's most accurate atomic clocks display time with digital displays."
Looking for something old-style and quirky? If noise is not one of your concerns, you could even consider cuckoos or pendulums!
One of the best things about clocks is that they come in all shapes and sizes, especially if they're analog. While the average wall clock is around 12 inches in diameter, you'll find all kinds of smaller and larger models.
As for the right sizefor you, it mainly depends on the rest of the wall:
- If your new clock is going to be the main decorative element on a bare wall, you can easily go over 20 inches: nothing's stopping you!
- If you already have a big painting, picture or some other type of large focal element on it, think of your new clock in relation to it: it's probably best to keep it small;
- Where will you need to read it from? If the clock is right above your desk, you can easily go for smaller analog or digital clocks, but, if you'll be mainly looking at it from the couch on the other side of the room, you should go for a large analog clock (over 20 inches) that is easy to read.
You know you want a wall clock but you are unsure of where to hang it? Don't worry, you have plenty of options out there. While traditionally you would expect to see a wall clock in a dining room, living roomor a kitchen, what's stopping you from putting it in your bedroom or bathroom?
A very common practice is to hang it above your fireplace but you can also place it above your sofa or even your bed if the headboard is not too high. Entryways have become a very popular option, too:
"With a console or sofa style table, an oversized clock can be a great way to add style to an entryway"
Wherever you decide to hang it, just bear in mind to match it with the style of your interior.
Imagine ending up with a clock that has a background that almost blends in with the wall! Or a super-modern metal frame in a pastel-toned shabby chic room. Not the best idea, right?
When it comes to colors and design, take the time to identify these three things before browsing away:
- Color of the wall: to make it easier to tell the time and for your clock to stand out, try and look for one that creates a light and dark contrast against its designated wall;
"Clocks were often treated like an old fashioned or boring object, but if you choose a bright colour, it can be quite contrary. Especially if you have neutral coloured rooms, using the bright coloured wall clocks can set the theme of your room and also add accents of colour to your scheme!"
- Room palette: what are the three main colors in the room? Is there a brighter accent color that you can choose, instead of adding a new shade?
- Décor: for the best result, you want a wall clock that looks cohesive with its style.
Here are our recommendations when it comes to décor:
- For a modern look, you could choose between a digital clock and a plastic or metal analog model. For the latter, choose Arabic numerals or lines… or you could even forget about the case and face altogether and have numbers and hands installed on the wall!
- What's more minimalist than a clock with lines instead of numbers or, even better, just the hands? As for the clock's face, go monochrome or choose a two-color design;
- For a Scandinavian feel, add wood and natural colors (such as white, cream, grey, dark blue and forest green) to minimalist elements;
- If you want a clock that screams 'industrial décor', look for black iron, roman numerals… and no face! Also, don't be afraid to go as big as you can;
- Combining vintage and more contemporary elements can help you achieve a mid-Century modern look: if you already have lots of modern elements, your clock could be more traditional, or vice versa. Alternatively, you can look for a clock that combines these two styles in itself, for example by having roman numerals and a starburst shape;
- Experimenting with wood, bright colors and patterns that mimic specific textures can result in a cheerful bohemian effect;
- It's imperative to stick to roman numerals when it comes to shabby chic rooms! While white and pastel colors with a discolored effect are the most popular, flowery decorations will also fit very well with this style;
- For a vintage or rustic look, you can either go for quirky options such as cuckoos and pendulums or traditional, round analog clocks with a white or light-yellow face in a monochrome case.
- Another idea is to identify a specific decorative element that dominates the room and choose a clock in that shape. For example, if you have lots of owls among your souvenirs or cushions, why not look for an owl-shaped clock?
- If you're a frequent traveler, you could flaunt your cosmopolitan approach to life by having different clocks that show the time in different cities and countries.
Too much to take in? Let's go over the most important parts!
- Choose an analog clock if you want it to be a decorative piece and don't mind it making a little noise, or go for a digital model if you value practicality and quietness above everything else
- In order to find the right size, consider the other elements on that wall and how far you'll be when reading the time
- Look for a color that creates a light and dark contrast against the wall, matches the room's palette, and keeps the décor style cohesive
- Other quirky ideas are to choose a clock in a specific shape or have multiple ones that show the time in different countries.