A bare, blank wall gets a stylish (and functional!) upgrade with a black pegboard. Hang your pots and pans from hooks and outline them in chalk so you never forget where each item lives. Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess
Paint it White: Paint some big books white & stack them high! - 18 Ways to Upcycle Books via Brit + Co. -- Good for defunct dictionaries, encyclopedias, and textbooks. great idea for night stand in small space