There is something special about the tricks and tips people come up with to turn old or useless objects into something fresh and useful. Turning an old gadget or piece of furniture into something completely new is a great way to extend its life, and here are some of our favorite conversions from the last year.


With the rapid progression of technology each year, it's easy to accumulate a pile of obsolete gadgets that you just can't bear to get rid of. Here's a few of the best ways you can still get use out of those gadgets and repurpose a pile of what might otherwise end up in the landfill. More »


Family living site Disney Family Fun shows us how to repurpose an empty milk jug into a lunch container by washing it out, drawing lines as shown in the photo, cutting it out, folding, and attaching a hook and loop closure. More »



Reader Ryan Mottau built this awesome DIY smartphone car mount using our favorite DIY wonder-tool, the binder clip. Here's how he did it.

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There are plenty of products you can buy to hang your keys on the wall for easy access, but none with the geeky charm and stability of plugging them in to an RJ-45 port. More »



If you carry headphones with you everywhere you go but can't seem to find a tangle-free wrapping method that works for you, look no further than the duct tape of office supplies, the binder clip. More »


Keep headphone wires from getting tangled Reader Paul says he's got a little trick that helps keep his headphone cables from getting tangled… Read more


If you happen to have an old can of soda or beer lying around the house and you're struggling to get a good Wi-Fi signal on your computer, The Chive has a guide to cutting out a parabolic reflector out of the can.

Using nothing more than an aluminum can, a utility knife, scissors, and some adhesive... More »



We've looked at turning a MacBook into a tablet computer and even written some software for you to turn it into a nice heads up display, but Instructables user mkarvonen has created a how-to that demonstrates how to turn virtually any laptop into a touchscreen tablet-so long as you have the... More »


Make a Lamp from Old CDs Have you noticed a growing amount of old music compilations, out of date software or even just… Read more


Have you noticed a growing amount of old music compilations, out of date software or even just faulty blank CDs stacking up in your office? Wish you could breathe some new life into them again? How about turning that stack of CDs into a Lamp? More »



Having recently moved into an apartment with far less built-in lighting, I've come to find that lamps are pretty useful when you want to actually see indoors. It turns out you can repurpose old plastic cups into a great lamp.More »



Backpackers often buy small lightweight containers to avoid lugging around full-size bottles of soap, condiments, sunblock, and many other substances. If you're looking for something small to carry around, you can stuff two soda can bottles together for a tiny, sealed container. More »



Next time you're using a roll of toilet paper as a box-of-tissue stand-in, take this handy tip from reddit user FlintsDoorknob: Remove the cardboard tube from the middle of your toilet paper and pull up. More »


DIY Glass Bottle Lamp Nearly everyone uses glass bottles and needs lamps, so why not make a lamp out of a used bottle?… Read more


Nearly everyone uses glass bottles and needs lamps, so why not make a lamp out of a used bottle? Here are two ways you can get this project done, either with a traditional tungsten filament or a more modern LED. More »



We've shown you one or two ways to mount your smartphone to your bike, but that won't do you much good when it starts drizzling outside. This quick trick will make sure your smartphone stays safe and dry. More »



Kegerators can be a great way to keep beer on tap in the house, but they're expensive to build or purchase, which is why Instructables user MrBippers put together a guide to repurposing a chest freezer to a kegerator for just $20.

The real trick here is that this guide uses a cheap, custom installed... More »



If you have a frame that's doesn't have a wire on the back for hanging, you don't need to go searching for a way to hang it up. All you need is a screw and an old soda can.

In order to pull this off, we'll need to remove the pull tab from the soda can without damaging it. More »


There you have it. It has been a great year for repurposing, clever uses, and other reuse projects this year. Whether your favorite of the year made the list or not, we'd love to hear about your favorite repurposing posts in the comments. And for the greatest hits of yesteryear, check out our biggest repurposing hits from 2010, 2009, and 2008.