Cuckoo clocks and especially grandfather clocks are elegant pieces to be part of the décor in any home. The appeal lies in the quality crafted cabinets in grandfather clocks and unique designs of cuckoo clocks. They vary widely in design. The most popular design is the bird and ivy. It consists of large hand carved birds nestled inside a thatch of intricately designed ivy leaves. Other designs include animal heads.

The pendulum method of timekeeping is popular with grandfather and cuckoo clocks. In a grandfather clock, the pendulum swings once every two seconds. In a cuckoo clock the pendulum swings twice each second. They need to be adjusted regularly to maintain its accuracy. Modern cuckoo clocks now use batteries. They always provide accurate time and involve less maintenance.