Time and Space in Home Decor

Decorating is a form of art. You take a space, and you apply meaning to it through colors, shapes, textures, and accessories. You make a room feel warm, or spacious, or inviting, by shaping the atmosphere. Clocks are unique elements in this decorative mix, both because of its constant movement, and because it’s symbolic representation of time.

The clock at its core is a functional piece. It is designed to tell you what time it is, and to let you know how much time has passed during certain events. This makes it a fairly prominent and important piece. These pieces naturally draw the attention of the room towards themselves, even if only in fleating moments.

As such you generally do not want to select a piece which will fade into the background, receding from view. This is antithesis to the inherent nature of the clock. You should instead opt for a piece that is easy to see, even from a distance, so that its functional utility isnt lost on the room.

One way to do this is to have the clock stand out against the rest of the room, by choosing a piece which is a contrasted color, or which has prominent features. Larger timepieces will also garner more attention.

However you have to be aware of the ever present, constantly moving nature of a clock. The more prominent the piece is the more active the room will seem and larger clocks will definitely add motion and energy to a setting.

However the nature of the energy can manifest in a variety of forms. Some people get nervous when they are around clocks, almost as if they are constantly being reminded that they are late. Sometimes people are actually soothed by the ggentle constant ticking of a timepiece, as it keeps its steady beat throughout the day.

It is important to recognize your own reaction to clocks, and to accommodate that as much as possible. Understanding the symbolic and psychological importance of a timepiece is the key to using them as effective decorating elements in the home.