Home décor: wall clocks and designer items

Our home decor section highlights the wall clock, made by Karlsson, the Dutch brand that specializes in them: wood, glass, iron or steel, reinvented cuckoo clocks, large sizes, and flip clocks. A useful item that dresses up a wall on its own.

The clock, a decoration in its own right

A wall clock tells the time, but it also structures a wall. Above a sofa, in a kitchen or an entrance, it catches the eye and replaces a painting.

It's one of the simplest objects to transform a room without any renovation: a nail, a battery, and the wall comes to life.

Karlsson, the Dutch specialist

Karlsson is a Dutch brand based in Almere that has made clocks its business. It designs them in all shapes: wall clocks, table clocks, alarm clocks, and flip clocks.

Its signature comes from graphic lines and varied materials, from wood to metal to glass.

Choosing according to the material

Wood and veneer

A veneer wood clock, like the Fiore, warms up a Scandinavian or bohemian interior. It goes well with oak furniture, linen, and plants.

Glass

A glass clock, like the Vintage, adds a retro and bright touch. It pairs nicely with a classic interior or a kitchen in light tones.

Iron and steel

The iron of the Lofty evokes an industrial style, perfect with exposed brick or metal furniture. The steel and golden rods of the Charm play the elegance card.

The revamped cuckoo clock

The Modern Cuckoo reinterprets the silhouette of the cuckoo clock in a graphic and colourful style. It brings a playful note to a kitchen, an entrance, or a child's room.

The flip clock

On a flip clock, the numbers are printed on panels that flip over as the minutes pass, like the old display boards at train stations. The Big Flip and Boxed Flip XL can sit on a piece of furniture or be hung on the wall.

What size for which wall?

Small wall or kitchen: a compact clock, readable up close.
Above a sofa: a large diameter, filling the space like a painting.
Entrance or corridor: a slim and graphic model that doesn't obstruct passage.
Bedroom: a model with silent movement, so you don't hear the ticking.

Where to hang your clock?

Position it at eye level, where it can be seen from several points in the room. Above a piece of furniture, leave about a hand's width between the two, so everything feels spacious.

Avoid walls exposed to steam or heat, like above a cooking hob.

Composing a wall

A clock can also fit into a wall composition, surrounded by frames, posters, or shelves. Choose it in a tone that picks up a colour already present in the room.

A clock for each interior style

In a Scandinavian interior, a light wood clock with a clear dial complements oak furniture and natural textiles. In a classic living room, a glass model or one with golden hands matches the mouldings and antique frames. A colourful interior welcomes a revamped cuckoo clock or a graphic dial.

The clock in the kitchen

In a kitchen, the clock serves every day, to monitor cooking or not miss the school run. Choose a dial that is readable from afar, with well-contrasted numbers, and a material that is easy to wipe clean.

The silence, a criterion to check

For a bedroom or office, a silent movement avoids ticking. Check for this mention on the product sheet before choosing.

The table clock

Sitting on a chest of drawers, a shelf, or a desk, a table clock like the Globe, designed by Armando Breeveld, acts as a decorative object. It can be moved around as desired.

A gift idea

The clock makes a popular housewarming gift: useful and decorative, it always finds its place. Choose a neutral colour if you don't know the person's interior well.

Maintaining your clock

A dry, soft cloth is enough to dust the dial. Change the battery as soon as the clock starts losing time, and remove it if you're storing it for a long time.