Raspberry Pi offers multiple variants, from a tiny microcontroller to an overpowered Pi 5. This versatility makes it a perfect fit for DIY projects because you can use one or multiple Pis to build your project. However, some DIY projects cater to aesthetics and novelty rather than focusing on solving a problem. These projects look enticing at first glance, but are often time-consuming and complex to build. A Raspberry Pi exists to cater to solutions that need a low-power computing device, and some ingenious projects can make a difference in your life.

I’ve used the Raspberry Pi to build several self-hosted and DIY projects that improve or repurpose an old gadget into a useful, smart machine. Without further ado, let's look at a few Raspberry Pi projects that aren't just novelty items combining a few over-the-top elements.

Personal cloud storage with sync

And a thriving app ecosystem

Got an external hard disk drive and a Pi? You can build a fully functional personal cloud storage with these two components to handle local file sync across devices. I deployed NextCloud on my Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, and the results were pretty convincing. It could easily sync all the personal files on my PC to the external storage and detect when a new file appeared in the shared folder.

But don't think of it as a mere backup solution. You can add multiple devices to the mix, syncing data on your local network. It even does so when the internet connection takes the plunge, and that's the best part of hosting a local cloud storage space.

But the fun doesn't stop there. NextCloud has plugins called “apps” that help you improve your sync setup. Whether setting up a monitoring dashboard or a complete office apps suite with OnlyOffice, it's got it all. Cookbook is another underappreciated gem that'll help you discover new recipes. Imagine the myriad of solutions Nextcloud packs, and if you run it on a Pi 5, you won't have to worry about performance woes.

Retro gaming station

Relive your best gaming years

I remember playing arcade games after school, which used to be my favorite part of the day. While my PC can play any AAA or retro game, having a dedicated retro gaming station is a different experience. All it needs is a spare screen and a Pi, and you're good to go.

Even the Pi Zero 2W can run old titles without breaking a sweat, even when you're trying to emulate an old console. For PlayStation 1 and newer games, you have to get a Pi 4 or 5, but that's a niche use case. The best part is that there are custom Raspberry Pi operating systems that make it ridiculously easy to emulate old games. I've used both Batocera and RetroBox in the past, and both have a perfectly capable set of emulators and a user interface to recreate the arcade experience.

Building a retro gaming station doesn't need any kind of soldering and is a simple plug-and-play HDMI solution. Even if you have a single monitor system, you can hook the Pi to a vacant HDMI port and switch to it whenever you want to play. It works with old 720p TVs and is a good time killer, especially if you have kids. Rather than wrecking your main PC, you can use a spare screen and connect a controller to play games. The retro gaming operating system UI is navigable with the controller, so you don't need a keyboard connection.

Smart speaker with streaming

Don't waste a perfectly good Hi-Fi speaker

I moved on to a Bluetooth smart speaker quite a while ago, and plugging in an aux cable to play audio felt like a chore. It rendered my hi-fi speaker useless because wireless control and playback are difficult to ignore. However, a cheap Raspberry Pi Zero 2W helped me convert the dust-collecting 7.1 speaker set into a wireless streaming device.

This project only needs a DAC, an aux input from the speaker, and the cheapest Pi you have. The Pi serves as the brain of the operation, while the DAC lends audio connectivity to the Pi. You don't need to buy those soldiering-intensive DAC hats, as the USB-C DAC results are pristine audio quality with no static sound.

On the software side, I use moOde OS, which transforms the setup into a streaming solution. You can access the web interface via a phone or PC, add your music collection, and play audio directly. If you cannot copy your collection, moOde OS can leverage the Bluetooth controller on the Raspberry Pi to pair with your phone and play audio via it.

Compact monitoring dashboard

Every app at a glance

The best part about self-hosting is that it doesn't need a screen. After configuring your Raspberry Pi once, you can access the web interface via any browser. While the approach is effective for most projects, building a dashboard for something like Home Assistant is wise.

It saves you the effort of viewing the actual web portal and simultaneously getting the stats you need. You can use a spare phone, tablet, or a cheap display to connect to the Raspberry Pi and then build custom dashboard layouts that present everything neatly.

Even if you don't use Home Assistant, you can set up a monitoring dashboard using Prometheus and Grafana and display system and network stats, among other things.

Put the Raspberry Pi to good use

All the above-mentioned projects try to utilize the Raspberry Pi's raw power and another device to build a project. You'll be surprised by the challenges the tiny single-board computer can take on. I've used it to create a media server and a remotely accessible file manager, and you can too.