We are almost at the end of redecorating Liam and Bear’s new shared big boy bedroom and I wanted to add some fun new decorative pieces to the photo ledge above the wallpaper. Looking online for inspiration, I came across the idea of using an abacus as wall decor.
An abacus, as you may know, is not intended to be “art” but instead is a counting tool, using the beads to count and work on addition and subtraction. Liam is at the perfect age for playing with an abacus as he is now counting to 100 and counting by tens. And frankly he just loves new toys. So I thought this would be their new wall decor but also something he (and Bear) could have fun playing with over the years.
Online you can find a variety of inexpensive ones, including this Target version, but they mostly come in your typical primary colors. (I actually just purged a shopping bag full of primary color Paw Patrol toys, so I made the executive decision to have the decor in there a little less… loud.)
If you head to Etsy, you can have a custom one made but you will have to spend a little bit of money. Although I really do want to buy this rainbow abacus and these hexagon ones for the twins! But for now I decided instead we could spend a rainy Sunday making our own.
Supplies You Need:
10 brass rods // 100 wooden beads (pre-painted or buy natural and paint them yourself) // 4 half inch screws // 2 pieces of 3/4″ square wood trim and 2 pieces of 1/4” square wood trim // paint (your choices of colors) and paint brushes.
Total cost: between $26-30
Steps:
Step One: Paint your beads in whichever colors will bring you joy! I had one box of pre-painted assorted blue, white, and greens to match the boys’ bedroom colors and then a second box that I painted with basic acrylic paint. I had to do multiple coats but just remember you want 10 of each color.
Step Two: Cut the two 3/4″ boards into 11″ long pieces. We used a simple handsaw and miter blocks to hold the wood in place for cutting. These will be your two side pieces. Wait to cut your top and bottom pieces.
Step Three: Using a pencil mark on the 11” pieces where you will drill your holes. They should be centered on the wood and one inch apart, making 10 marks total.
Step Four: Drill holes into the marks with a 1/8″ drill bit, drilling halfway through the wood.
Step Five: String your beads onto the brass tubes
Step Six: Insert the ends of the tubes into the drilled holes on both sides. Push the two pieces of wood firmly together, with the tubes and beads inside and in their respective holes, but be careful not to push too hard and bend the tubes. No glue is needed!
Step Seven: Line up your remaining 1/4” top and bottom pieces of wood so that they complete the square and make a mark with a pencil where you should cut. Go cut the two pieces. (how deep you drill your holes in the side pieces will effect the length of your top and bottom pieces so that is why I save this step til the end).
Step Eight: Screw the wood into place on the top and bottom.
Step Nine: Enjoy!
We decided not to mount it to the wall and instead it is leaning up there and Liam can reach for it and take it down to play whenever he wants. I love the way it turned out, love that it didn’t cost much at all, and love even more that they have some of mom and dad’s handy craftsmanship in their new bedroom.
Let me know if you have any questions and I am always happy to help answer or guide you to the correct answer! xx
