Looking to get your family organized? You need to read this post!
Back to School brings stress for so many families because of all the things to buy, organize, and schedule. There’s just so much to do! Get a jump start on the scramble by taking some time to create a family command center in your home. If you are unfamiliar with the phrase family command center, this post will make your day! A family command center is a vertical organizational system that helps keep your family completely organized! It is a central location for the weekly events, daily chores, all that paper clutter, and anything else you’d like to help organize. If organization excites you, you’ll love this post! If you already have a family command center, you might like to see other ideas below to help you even more with your own center.
Let’s go through the different types of command centers based on location in the home:
DROP ZONE COMMAND CENTERS
The “drop zone” is the place in your home where everyone tends to drop their stuff when they arrive back home for the day. This zone will be different for each family depending on where you enter your home, but for most homes, it’s going to be directly beside the door most frequently used. Look around this area and see if you have some unused or underutilized wall space. If you have wallspace that is currently being used, think about finding a new home for that decor and use that space as your drop zone instead. Creating a command space in a mudroom, garage, or foyer is a great use of space! If you children tend to dump their bags in the mudroom, a great idea would be to attach some wall files and a cork board to attach all that paper clutter. This is a great spot to hang those important papers for field trips, appointment reminders, tuition payment reminders, or printed emails from school. Find the source for each project under the picture with the coordinating number.
KITCHEN COMMAND CENTERS
The side of the refrigerator is also a great spot for a command center! If you already use your refrigerator as a spot to attach important papers, this system would be a natural replacement for your family! Just make what you already use into a more functional space. It’s much easier to see a paper and remember that the paper contains important information if you have it all organized. Very strong magnets are available to clip basically anything to the refrigerator these days! You could hang clipboards, pocket organizers, calendars, etc. The dollar store has lots of small containers that can hold lots of things that you will find useful in your command center. Think about the items that you’re always searching for in your home, and the dollar store has a container for it! Find the source for each project under the picture with the coordinating number.
- Southern Living 2. The 36th Avenue 3. Not Just a Housewife 4. Unknown 5. Achieving Creative Order 6. Jenna Burger
DESK COMMAND CENTERS
If you have a wall above your desk, this is a great spot for a command center! You can hang cute shelves, framed cork boards, chalkboards, and white boards to make this area organized and stylish. Find the source for each project under the picture with the coordinating number.
- Intentional Adventures 2. Hi Sugarplum 3. Organize with Sandy 4. Clean and Scentsible
FULL WALL COMMAND CENTERS
If you have lots of empty hallway space, you will love these ideas below! DIY chalkboards can be created at home using a sheet of MDF and several layers of chalkboard paint. Sheet metal cut to size at a home improvement store can be framed to create a unique magnetic organizational system. Second hand stores are great sources for acquiring large frames and old schoolroom chalkboards. A friend of mine just found a huge chalkboard for $1.11 at the thrift store! So be on the lookout for those items if you’re the thrifty type. Find the source for each project under the picture with the coordinating number.
To help you get started with your family command center, I have created a FREE printable calendar! Simply click on the link to be taken to the file. Save this file to your computer, and print the calendar. You can frame this calendar behind glass and use the glass as sort of a “white board” by using dry erase markers. Or you could laminate the calendar and use a dry erase on the laminated sheet. Dry erase markers will wipe off of glass easily with a tissue or rag.
Click here to get your own Week at a Glance Printable.
Edna Walker says
Your site is AMAZING!!! Thanks for sharing! I totally love the DIY Homework caddy.
Beth says
Thanks so much Edna!