Every once in a while on Apartment Therapy, we like to do something out of the ordinary, something just for fun. Here are some posts from 2012 that were a little off the beaten path — in a good way. From fashion to television to video games, our writers found inspiration all over. More

Are you a serial scroller? A quick glance at the lead photo of a post and if it doesn't instantly grab you, off you go? We understand, we're busy people too. But sometimes you miss out on the special little details in a room: fun, clever or with a story behind them. Here are ten examples from the past year:

• Painted dresser drawers in Meg's Room For Three
• A nightstand play kitchen in Olivia Ellen's Copenhagen Charmer
• Recycled skateboard coat rack in Corbin's Colorful Crib
• Toy chest customized to look like a house in Freya's Sweet & Serene Space
• Rolling toy storage in Cooper's Soothing Neutral Nursery
• Vintage toy truck as book holder in Niko's Antique Toys Toddler Room
• Vintage-style picture frame memo board in Jia Rose's Bright, Handmade Nursery
• Rustic headboard made from a fence gate in Gabe's Rustic Retreat
• Handmade bookcase in Jasper's Joyous Jungle
• Branch clothes hanger in Xavier Dean's Striped and Serene Nursery

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I like to play the equivalent of "Where's Waldo" while viewing House Tours throughout the year, searching for each of the household's television(s). I know you're there somewhere, maybe even just cropped out of the frame...I see the remote! Some people try to hide their televisions, while others incorporate them as part their home decor. Either way, our tours often prove televisions don't have to be an eyesore with some planning

• Knoxy Knox's Inviting, Modern Home
• Kim & Scott's Fresh Reverie
• Lauren & Kevin's Urban Jungle Oasis
• Anna & Joe's Living History in Georgetown
• Merisa's Playful Modern Apartment
• Levi & Evette's Simple, Approachable Style
• Evan & Greg's Small Cool Downtown LA Loft
• The Craver Compound
• Justine & Angus Cook Up Some Style in Toronto
• Lauren & Nick's Home Is Where the Heart Is More

Apartment Therapy's Annual Guide is our way of tracking the best of essential home goods. Many of these guides, like Best Storage Beds and Best Disk Racks, have been updated year after year, keeping a running history of the evolution of the products. Counting down, these are the 10 most popular best product roundups of 2012…

10. Best Small Space Compost Bins 2012
9. Best Wall Mount Hooks & Coat Racks 2012
8. Small Space Guest Bed: Best Air Mattresses
7. Best Bar Stools & Counter Stools 2012
6. Best Shoe Racks, Cabinets & Stands 2012
5. Best Space Heaters 2012
4. Best Storage Beds 2012
3. Best Dish Racks & Drainers 2012
2. Best Modern Litter Boxes 2012

And the #1 most clicked Annual Guide: Best Sleeper Sofas & Sofa Beds 2012 More

All homes have their quirky moments, unusual corners, and odd angles. Some even have some bizarre rooms and downright peculiar architectural features. But where most homes share at least some basic conventions of location and spatial configuration, this year we've featured some unusual spaces that defy even these most basic assumptions. More

Every day I bring you a Family Find: one product that I think you should know about. Maybe because it's beautiful or unusual or super helpful. I try to shine the light on out-of-the-way finds that you may not have seen before and now's my chance to revisit ten of my favorites from the past year. And, hooray, they're all still for sale.

• Children's Neighborhood Chairs
• Animal Polkadot Bookends
• SockBears & Bunnies
• Custom Family Glassware
• Little Owl Rug
• Ceramic Fox Speaker
• Interactive 3D Kids Rugs
• Industrial Metal Letters
• White Rabbit Light
• Hand Painted Mirrors by Sandra Eterovic More

Perhaps Santa was kind enough to bring you your first DSLR or prosumer point and shoot this holidays. Or maybe you're dusting off the ole collection of lenses and hoping to get restarted on a most satisfying of hobbies for 2013. Regardless of skills, our resident "Photo Magician" and regular house tour contributor, Leela Cyd Ross knows her way around a camera and has plenty of helpful insight to make your next photo your best one yet.

• Setting Up a Photo Studio on the Cheap
• Photographing Food: Part 1 of 3
• The Perks of Shooting Tethered
• Prepping for a Shoot: 3 Basics to Keep in Mind
• More Tips for Photographing People
• 5 Tips for Photography While Traveling
• Using Movement to Add Life to an Image
• 5 Tips for Using a Wide Angle Lens
• The Difference a Lens Makes
• Bethany Nauert's 5 Tips for Photographing Interiors More

Each week we profile a few stores, both old and new, covering a wide range of goods for the home. This is our way of building up a database of all the resources for outfitting your little corner of the world. Some profiles are a little more popular than others — and who doesn't love a good old fashioned countdown — so I give you the top 10 most visited Store Profiles of 2012 (in order from least to most clicked).

10. Scandinavian Made: Handwoven Rugs
9. Custom Map Murals by Wallpapered
8. Beam & Anchor: A 7,000 Square Foot Haven for Warm Industrial Housewares
7. Les Touristes: Patterns and Colors from Around the World
6. Creative Classics: Furniture for Small Spaces Handcrafted in the USA
5. Stella Bleu Designs: Industrial Decor
4. PANYL: Easy & Affordable IKEA Customization
3. Leibal: A World of Modern Design Direct to Your Doorstep
2. Urban Home: Affordable Reclaimed Wood Furniture & More
1. Erin Ashley: Reasonably Priced Contemporary Art More

As the year started to wind down, our House Tours continued to heat up. Some of the hottest tours of the year hit the site for this first time last month - from Nicole & Aaron in DC to Kate's photogenic happy home in Chicago to the travel-inspired style of Alex and Sarah in Los Angeles... More

It's been a great year for Before & Afters on Apartment Therapy. Lots of unloved furniture found on the curbside or at the thrift store was adopted and refinished and got a new lease on life. In this post, we're highlighting some of the most dramatic transformations of 2012. Looking at the sad state of some of these pieces in the 'before', I'm impressed with the intrepid DIYers who saw potential in them. Click along with us and you'll be even more impressed with the results. More