20 Cool Retro Wall and Alarm Clocks for Your Home

Once seen in various business, government, and educational facilities, these type of clocks have recently come into vogue because of their retro look and feel. You may at first be put off at the idea of getting this type of clock since they originally came in neutral colors like chrome or black. However, modern day recreations now come in several fashionable colors. For example, Infinity Instrument's line of metal wall clocks are available in red, pink, green, "eucalyptus", and a few other hues, one of which is sure to match your existing decor.

With their faces rimmed with neon tube lighting, these flashy clocks are the type that most people often associate with 1950s diners, truckstops, and fast food restaurants. But just because you're not actually running a greasy spoon, it doesn't mean you can't grab one of these for your wall. If anything, because of their origins, neon clocks would make a perfect addition to any retro-styled kitchenette.

Two great clocks to add for that classic "diner" feel are the Trademark Coca Cola 14-Inch Diameter Neon Clock and Coca-Cola Evergreen Neon Clock. These slick and stylish clocks are red and white-themed and stamped with the classic Coca-Cola logo in the middle, just like ones from the past. And yes, they light up, much like their predecessors!

When it comes to so-called Mid Century Modern decor, no discussion about it would be complete without designer George Nelson, whose designs-- especially the "sunburst/ starburst" style of clocks-- were ubiquitous in the 1950s.

Because his designs are still so popular, there are literally hundreds of modern day recreations to choose from. His most famous design was the Wooden Sunburst Clock[>>]. This was a clock with multi-colored spiky sunrays bursting from the center

Another famous design was a clock that had metal rods and colored balls bursting outwards instead of spikes. A faithful recreation can be seen with this metal and wood ball clock by Cupecoy Design.

If multi-colored metal clocks aren't your style, that's okay, because Nelson clock designs come in a wide variety of materials and colors. Two examples are this silver Sunburst Clock and Walnut Sunburst Clock. Both are made of mirror and wood respectively, and offer a welcome alternative to Nelson's more widely recreated designs.

Speaking of George Nelson, so-called "sunburst" and "starburst" clocks were all the rage in the 50s. Looking at them, one can see why. With their colorful metal, plastic, or wooden rays bursting from a clockface, they often made quite an impression. In fact, one could even say they were works of art.

If you find this type of clock appealing, there are literally hundreds of recreations on the market in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. The Chaney 75153 Retro Star Clock, Starburst Retro Wall Clock, 18" Wood Wall Clock, and kitchen-themed Spoon and Fork Wall Clock are just a few stunning examples. Add one to a room in your house and it will be the 50s all over again!

For several decades, the zany Kit-Cat Clock became a staple of American homes as well as a beloved childhood memory for many Baby Boomers who grew up mesmerized by its swinging tail and moving eyes. You may believe that this clock has been lost to posterity but amazingly enough, the very company that produced this clock is still making them, as evidenced by this brand new version, available at Amazon.

Because the Kit-Cat Clock bore a resemblance to the comic strip character, Felix the Cat, it was only natural that there would be a clock version featuring the funny feline. Whether you choose the traditional Kit-Cat Clock or Felix the Cat version, however, this much is true-- either one will make a great conversation piece and add a nice nostalgic touch to your home.

Before alarm clocks became electronic boxes with bland led numbers and tiny buttons, they were charming little mechanical machines that you had to literally wind up like a toy.

If you'd like to bring a little bit of those days into your bedroom but don't want the hassle of actually winding them up, there's the silver Elgin QA Twin Bell Alarm Clock. It may look like a mechanical clock on the outside, but it's actually battery operated, giving you the choice of either a beeping or ringing sound.

"Booo! Hissss!" some of you are probably saying. You don't want an electrical clock that looks like a mechanical one. You want the real thing! Who cares about the carpal tunnel, the loud ticking, and jarring bell sound that's loud enough to wake the dead? Okay, then! So how about this Sternreiter Double Bell Alarm Clock or Twinbell Alarm Clock by Chaney Instruments? Both are 100% windable, making them-- for better or for worse-- every bit as authentic as mechanical clocks of yore.

Not all clocks from the past were mechanical; some were electric. Westclock recently put out some slick modern-day recreations of a popular line of "Big Ben" electric alarm clocks from the late 40s and early 50s. As nice as they are, the most stylish recreation by far is the "Moonbeam" series, an oddly shaped series of clocks that come in a variety of soft pastel colors like aqua blue, yellow, and pink. When it comes to adding that classic "Atomic Age" feel to your bedroom, I don't think you can do much better than these.

By the 1970s, alarm clocks began losing some of the charm of their mechanical predecessors as they grew more boxy and LED became the display of choice. However, some pretty cool designs came out during this time, and Infinity Instruments has tried to capture the look and feel of a disco era-clock with the hilariously named, That 70's Clock, an obvious reference to "That 70s Show." With it's round shape, quirky colors, and funky lettering, this modern day recreation just screams "70s."

You don't need to spend a fortune to add some retro touches to your home. With just the right accent-- in this case, a retro style clock-- you can have your home looking and feeling retro in no time, and without breaking the bank in the process!