Is there a way to re purpose the phone and turn it into something nice? Its embedded deep on the wall, and I don't want to take it off... (and its too old to actually be used) Thanks!
Asked on Sep 21, 2016
What can I do with an old phone??
by
Rachel
+63
I bought a house and there is a really ugly phone that is attached to the hole in the entrance way.
Maybe you can re-wire and connect an audio jack - this way you can connect it to your cellphone
I don't know why, but turning it into a planter sprung to mind. You could lay the receiver on a shelf nearby, (perhaps the same color as the phone), & plant air plants into each end. If you hollow out the phone innards & make a hole in the top, you could have a plant inside & peek out the top. Reattach the back of the phone & put it on the wall right where it was before. Very little work involved! Good luck!
Introduce it to my old avocado wall phone. Maybe they'll
have a little princess phone...lol. It is good to have a landline
as backup. I really like the previous response to have a speech
bubble by it.
I would give my eye-teeth for some good old-fashioned phones.....
Hi, Maybe donate it or sell it! Start up a collection?
Hi Rachel, this is actually really cool! You could put a frame around it and use it as a piece of historic art!
Remove it from the wall and mend the wall it was installed on, then add felt to the bottom of the phone and use it as a door stop/conversation piece.
Frame it and tell people you collect antiques. Bet most people under 21 haven't seen this before. LOL
Leave it just as it is and make it part of a gallery wall with other vintage items.
After second thoughts if you doesn't go with your decor remove it. These aren't valuable I see dozens at Good Will and they sell them cheap.
Perhaps you can donate it to a local museum :
give it to Goodwill
Take if down and cover the opening with a framed picture.
Let us know what you did with the phone after receiving all these suggestions. :)
If your old landline is still in good condition, consider donating it or selling it. You can try selling it locally or on eBay, since discontinued phones can be valuable.
Because they run on a wireless network, cell phones are more susceptible to interference, and cell towers are very sensitive to the elements and have a limited range. A landline will never drop calls, and they are generally louder; they can always be used to reach someone in an emergency
If you don't like it Cover it up, or smash it out and fix the wall after.
An old phone might seem outdated, but it can still be super useful or even earn you some cash! Here are creative, practical, and even fun ways to repurpose or upcycle an old smartphone:
📱 Give It a New Life (Repurpose)
1. Smart Home Remote:
Use it to control your smart devices—lights, thermostat, speakers, etc. Just keep it charged and connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Dedicated Music or Podcast Player:
Download your favorite playlists or apps like Spotify and keep it docked in your kitchen, bathroom, or workshop.
3. Digital Photo Frame:
Install a slideshow app, prop it up with a stand, and enjoy a rotating gallery of family pics.
4. Security Camera or Baby Monitor:
Apps like Alfred or Manything let you turn it into a free security cam.
5. Kitchen Assistant:
Use it exclusively for recipes, timers, and video tutorials while you cook (and save your current phone from sticky hands).
💼 Donate or Sell
6. Donate It to a Charity or Shelter:
Organizations like Cell Phones for Soldiers or domestic violence shelters accept working phones.
7. Sell or Trade It In:
Use platforms like Gazelle, Decluttr, or even a carrier trade-in program to earn cash or credit.
🧒 Kid-Friendly Options
8. Hand It Down as a Kids' Device:
Load it with educational games, audiobooks, or parental-controlled apps for your child or grandchild.
9. Emergency-Only Phone:
Keep it charged and stored for backup. Even without a SIM card, most phones can call 911.
🎨 Creative or Decorative
10. DIY Phone Projector:
With a cardboard box and magnifying glass, you can make a basic mini projector for fun movie nights.
11. Decorative Tech Wall:
If you have several old phones, frame them in a shadow box as retro tech art!