Breaking your beloved computer monitor is a tragic situation to find yourself in. While you may not be able to enjoy your PC like you used to, you don’t have to mourn the loss of your screen: you can upcycle it. But how can you turn a broken computer monitor into something new? Let’s take a look at some of the best projects from around the web to help you to achieve this goal.

1. DIY Transparent LCD Screen/Side Panel

While it doesn’t look like it, the pixel panel inside your monitor is semi-transparent. This makes it possible for the backlight to shine through it, in turn making it possible for images to be displayed on the screen. Of course, though, you can take advantage of the transparent nature of your broken monitor’s panel when it comes to turning it into something new.

Building your own transparent LCD screen, as in this Instructables guide, takes patience and a broken monitor with a working panel. That makes this king of project great for those with monitors that have broken speakers, backlights, or other components that aren't needed for it.

What Is a Transparent LCD Used For?

This LCD computer side panel guide shows you how to create a transparent LCD side panel for a computer case, but there are loads of other ways to use a see-through monitor. You could attach your monitor to a fish tank, using the lights inside as the backlight (as long as it doesn’t upset the fish). Alternatively, you could also attach a monitor like this to the inside of a window to use natural light as the backlight.

There are a lot of ways to use a transparent LCD screen; you just need to make sure that you have a way to light it from behind.

2. DIY Photography Lighting From Broken Monitors

LCD, LED, and other types of monitors contain semi-transparent sheets called diffusers. Diffusers spread the light created by backlights to make sure that it covers the display evenly, much like the diffuser panels used by photographers.

This project is ideal for those with monitors that don’t work at all. Diffusers don’t require a power source or working electronics, and this means that physical damage to the diffusers themselves is the only issue that will render them unusable.

Using monitor diffusers to create photography lighting is affordable and easy. You just need to get your hands on some LED strips to get started, and there are plenty of guides around the web to help you through the process. This type of lighting is perfect for photography, videography, and even live-streaming.

3. DIY LCD Smart Mirror (With Raspberry Pi)

Smart mirrors have been the subject of much excitement around the web in recent years. Like something out of the pages of a sci-fi novel, smart mirrors offer a glimpse of the future, turning a usually boring household item into something more. You can use your smart mirror to check the weather, catch up on news, and even shop for your next outfit, all while staring your beautiful self in the face.

Like the first idea we covered, your old monitor needs to be in relatively good condition to work as a smart mirror. You can choose from mirrors small and large, as long as you are able to remove the backing of the mirror your choose and expose the clear glass it is made from.

Raspberry Pis are perfect for powering smart mirrors. These mini-computers are powerful enough to perform basic tasks, while also being affordable. You can check out some of the best LCD smart mirror projects around the web with our handy guide.

4. DIY Bluetooth Speakers From Broken Monitor Speakers

Wireless speakers are great, giving you the power to take music whenever you go. Of course, though, who wants to buy new speakers when they have an old or broken monitor with great speakers built-in? This video shows you how to turn your old monitor or TV speakers into a wireless Bluetooth speaker with a soldering iron, some batteries, and a Bluetooth module.

Building a DIY Bluetooth speaker is easier than it used to be, but there are still things to keep in mind. You need to have the right type of speaker connections available for this to work, and your finished device won’t have advanced features like waterproofing. With that aside, this project is fun and easy to take on for yourself.

5. DIY Drawing/Craft Lighting

Drawing, arts and crafts, and other types of DIY projects often benefit from a good light source. Artists have taken advantage of light tables for a very long time, providing a backlight for artwork that makes it much easier to see what you are doing. You don’t have to buy a specialized light table when you have a broken monitor available to you.

This Instructables guide shows you everything you need to do to create a light table with a broken monitor. The panel doesn’t have to work for this, but you need to make sure that the backlight is still functional. Light tables are great for a variety of artistic activities, from drawing and painting to playing with the kids.

6. DIY Cinema Projector

If you finished school more than a decade ago, you probably remember old-fashioned overhead projectors. Having made way for modern digital projectors, old overheads are very cheap to buy online and can make a great DIY project for those with an old monitor.

Overhead projectors work by shining light through a semi-transparent sheet and reflecting it through a lens and set of mirrors. Anything on the sheet will appear on the wall the projector is pointing at. By turning your monitor into a transparent LCD, like in the first project we looked at, you can make a static overhead projector into something much more.

You need a dark room for this to work properly, and you will also need to buy a couple of parts online. Once you close the curtains and find some good speakers to use, though, you can create your own home cinema without spending much at all.

Turning Broken Monitors Into Something New

Recycling the broken tech in your home is one of the best ways to have a positive impact on the environment. With more than 60 million tons of e-waste being shipped across the world each year, it always makes sense to embrace DIY projects that reuse old gadgets. Your broken monitor is the perfect place to start, but you can apply this to other objects, too.