The Designer’s Guide to Sunburst Wall Clocks in an Art Deco Kitchen

A sunburst wall clock suits an Art Deco kitchen because the radiating rays repeat the fan, chevron and stepped motifs that define the style. To make it work, choose a metallic finish that matches your kitchen hardware, keep the clock in proportion to the wall, and give it clear space so the outline can be seen. Hung above a range cooker alcove, on the end wall beside an island or above open shelving, a sunburst clock becomes the decorative focal point of the room while still doing a useful job.

Our collection of modern sunburst wall clocks UK includes gilded, brass and black finishes in a range of sizes. In this guide, we share the principles designers use when bringing a sunburst clock into an Art Deco inspired kitchen.

Why the sunburst belongs in an Art Deco scheme

Art Deco emerged in the 1920s and 1930s and drew on geometry, luxury materials and a sense of optimism. The sunburst was one of its signature shapes, appearing on gates, radio cabinets, mirrors and the front doors of suburban houses across England. Many 1930s semis still have a rising sun pattern in their original stained glass or garden gates.

Bringing a sunburst clock into a kitchen with Deco influences connects the room to that history. It also introduces a crucial element: movement. Kitchens are full of flat planes, and the rays of a sunburst lead the eye outwards in every direction, adding energy without visual clutter.

Start with the metal finishes

Designers usually begin by looking at the metals already in the kitchen. Tap, cabinet handles, light fittings and bar stool footrests all contribute to a metallic palette, and the clock should feel part of it.

• Brushed brass or gold: the classic Deco choice. It pairs well with deep green, navy, black and cream cabinetry.
• Polished chrome or silver: a cooler interpretation that suits grey, white and black kitchens with a more streamlined look.
• Matte black: a modern take that keeps the geometry but loses some of the glamour, useful if you want a subtler result.
• Bronze or copper: warm and rich, especially effective with terracotta, rust and blush tones.

You do not need every metal to match exactly, but the clock should share an undertone with the hardware. Warm golds work together, and cool silvers work together. Mixing both can look accidental unless it is clearly deliberate.

Getting the scale right

Sunburst clocks are often larger than standard clocks because the rays extend well beyond the dial. A clock described as 60 centimetres across may have a face of only 15 centimetres. Designers judge the clock by its overall diameter, since that is how much wall it will occupy visually.

In a typical UK kitchen, where wall space is often broken up by wall cabinets, windows and splashbacks, a clock of 50 to 70 centimetres across usually sits comfortably on a clear wall. In a large kitchen diner or extension, you can go larger, up to 90 centimetres or more on a long end wall. In a galley kitchen, a smaller sunburst of 40 centimetres may be all you need.

Allowing breathing room

The rays are the whole point, so give them space. Avoid hanging a sunburst clock so close to wall cabinets, a cooker hood or a window frame that the outline is cut off visually. A clear border of at least 15 to 20 centimetres around the outermost rays lets the shape read properly.

Where designers place a sunburst clock in a kitchen

The chimney breast or range alcove

Many older UK kitchens have a chimney breast that once held a range. If you have one, the wall above the alcove is a natural place for a sunburst clock, provided it is kept well away from direct heat. The symmetry of the chimney breast suits the radiating form.

The end wall of a kitchen diner

In an open plan room, the end wall is often the largest uninterrupted surface. A sunburst clock here can be seen from the cooking and dining areas, and it anchors the space.

Above open shelving

Floating shelves with glassware and ceramics create a softer, more styled zone. A sunburst clock above a run of shelves adds height and a glamorous finish.

Beside the island

If your island faces a wall, a sunburst clock opposite the seating creates a view for anyone sitting at the counter. This placement works especially well when the island is used for breakfast or homework.

Building the rest of the Art Deco kitchen around it

A clock alone does not make an Art Deco kitchen, but it can become the starting point for a scheme. The same thinking that applies to modern living room furniture UK sale applies here: repeat shapes and materials across the room so the clock does not feel like an isolated statement.

Cabinetry and colour

Deep, saturated colours define the look. Bottle green, inky blue, black and oxblood all work with a gold sunburst. For a lighter scheme, cream or pale blush cabinets with brass hardware still feel convincingly Deco. Fluted or reeded cabinet fronts echo the linear rhythm of the sunburst rays.

Seating at the island

Bar stools are one of the most visible pieces in a kitchen with an island, and they are an opportunity to repeat Deco details. Velvet upholstery, curved backs and metal footrests in gold or brass tie in with the clock. Our range of modern bar stools UK includes designs with channel tufting and metallic frames that suit the style.

Wall decoration

If the kitchen has more than one feature wall, a piece of metal wall art with geometric shapes can complement the clock on another wall. Keep the two apart, ideally on different walls, so they do not compete. Our metal wall art UK sale collection includes pieces with fan and geometric patterns.

Lighting

Globe pendants, ribbed glass shades and brass fittings all reinforce the style. Warm white bulbs flatter both metal finishes and deep paint colours.

Coordinating the seating and accessories

Once the clock is in place, the furniture around the island and table should support it rather than compete. Colour, finish and silhouette all play a part. For a closer look at how stools, counters and surrounding pieces work together, our guide to coordinating bar stools in UK kitchens explains how to build a balanced look.

Practical considerations in a kitchen

Kitchens are tough environments for decorative pieces. Steam, grease and changes in temperature can all affect finishes over time. Keep the clock away from the hob and kettle, and wipe it gently with a dry or barely damp cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners on gilded or painted surfaces.

Weight is another consideration. Large metal sunburst clocks can be heavy, so check the fixing requirements and use plugs suitable for your wall. Plasterboard walls in extensions may need cavity fixings.

Finally, think about legibility. A small dial surrounded by large rays can be harder to read at a distance. If the clock needs to be practical as well as decorative, choose a design with a slightly larger face and contrasting hands.

Bringing Deco into a kitchen that is not fully Deco

Few UK kitchens are designed as a faithful period piece, and that is no bad thing. Most people want a kitchen that works for modern life with a suggestion of Art Deco glamour rather than a museum recreation. A sunburst clock is a helpful tool here, because it carries a strong period message on its own and allows the rest of the room to stay fairly simple.

If your kitchen has plain white or grey units, you can lean on the clock, the stools and the lighting to introduce the style. Choose a gold or brass sunburst, repeat that metal on two or three other details, and add one deeper colour, perhaps on the island or a single wall. The result reads as Deco inspired without requiring new cabinetry.

In a rented home, where painting and replacing hardware may not be possible, the clock becomes even more important. A freestanding bar cart, a velvet stool or two and a sunburst clock on a single fixing can shift the mood of a kitchen considerably, and all three can move with you when you leave.

Mixing eras with care

Art Deco sits comfortably alongside mid century and contemporary pieces, as long as the shapes are clean and the finishes are related. It sits less easily with heavy rustic styles. If your kitchen has a farmhouse feel, a smaller, more restrained sunburst in black or bronze will feel more at home than a large gilded design.

A considered final touch

A sunburst clock brings the spirit of Art Deco into a kitchen in a way that feels both decorative and useful. Match its finish to your hardware, give the rays space, and carry the geometry into seating and lighting. To explore clocks, stools and accessories in one place, browse Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

What size sunburst clock suits a small kitchen?

In a galley or compact kitchen, a sunburst clock of around 40 to 50 centimetres in overall diameter is usually enough, provided it has clear wall space around it.

Can a sunburst clock work in a modern kitchen?

Yes. A matte black or chrome sunburst gives a contemporary kitchen a subtle nod to Art Deco without leaning too heavily into period style.

Should my clock match my cabinet handles?

It does not need to match exactly, but it should share a similar warm or cool undertone so the metals feel related.

Is a sunburst clock easy to read?

That depends on the size of the face. If legibility matters, choose a design with a larger central dial and hands that contrast with it.