Clocks for your home
Visit any dwelling and you will likely see a bevy of timepieces scattered throughout the living space. Microwave and oven timers, wall clocks, a mantel or grandfather clock, clock radios, and decorator or collectors' clocks are some of the types that can be found throughout a residence.
As you look about your own rooms, you may be wondering about the type of time-keeping you want to put in place. Here are some options to consider:
1. Wall clocks can be mounted in any room. Even out-of-the-way areas like basements or bathrooms can provide wall space for a clock. Of course, they may not be used that often if the rooms are not occupied or provide activities for family members to engage in. But other rooms may be in need of a timepiece. The kitchen seems to be an area that typically is decorated with a wall clock, no doubt used for timing recipes, but also for managing several activities at once. For example, a harried parent may be trying to start dinner, check on the baby's next scheduled feeding, and keep an eye on when the older kids need picked up from soccer practice. The kitchen is, after all, the heart of the home.
2. A grandfather clock or a cuckoo clock are timepieces that are rich in tradition. A folksong titled "My Grandfather's Clock" illustrates the importance of this timely feature in longstanding family heritage:
"My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf, so it stood ninety years on the floor.
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born, and was always his treasure and pride.
But it stopped, short, never to go again
When the old man died."
Grandfather clocks, massive and stately in their bearing, represent heritage and longevity. They fit well in a foyer or living room, or wherever family members and guests can enjoy its great beauty.
A cuckoo clock typically offers the small bird that pops out from its hidden nest to cry "cuckoo" on the hour. Originating in Switzerland and Europe, the usual cuckoo clock was shaped like a bird house with decorous gingerbread trim. Many families mount these on walls where they can be viewed by everyone in the home.
3. A mantel clock, sometimes a key-wind clock, typically sits on the fireplace mantel or a shelf. Often encased in an oak or walnut frame, the mantel clock provided an honorable accent to reflect the passing of time and the legacy of one generation handed off to the next. These clocks originated several generations before but remain popular today, though styles have become more ornate than before.
4. Clock radios take many forms. Typically used as a wake-up device for sleepers, they are found in bedrooms or guest rooms as well as hotels and other types of lodging. Encased in wood bodies, when set to alarm at a certain time, the radio will come on and start playing as a wake-up call to the person(s) in the room. Most include a buzzer function that can be used in place of music. The clock portion usually posts bright, large digital readings for the time, such as "9:41" rather than the conventional round face with hands that many of us associate with clocks.
5. Table clocks come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, styles, and designs. Mickey Mouse or Sponge Bob clocks for kids, often with a wake-up alarm, are adored by young children who keep these prized possessions in their bedrooms or play area. Lovely porcelain clocks, timepieces set in lamp bases, and just about any type of theme you might enjoy are available at many department stores or through print or online catalogs.
Telling time has never been as easy or fun as it is today. Browse your local clock section at the store to examine an assortment of clock types, and find one that will add the right accent to your home.