You’ve missed another meeting at your child’s school; Shown up for an appointment on the wrong day; committed to two activities on the same day at the same time or even missed a deadline at work!
Life is busy–super busy if there are kids involved, and it’s a monumental task to keep track of it all! It doesn’t have to be that way, all it takes is a little bit or organization and by organization I mean a “Command Center”–EVERYTHING on your “TO DO” list in one place, laid out in a way that allows you to track appointments and commitments clearly and easily! Let me show you how!
What IS A Command Center?
A Command Center is an area in your home dedicated to keeping your family organized. It does that in a number of ways using a number of elements. It can be as small or as large an area as you have available. It’s the place in your home where you keep your calendar, drop the mail, and hang your keys. It helps you keep track of all the goings-on of your family–school projects, sports practices, scout meetings, dance classes, doctors appointments, dinner dates, birthdays, etc. Its a place for items that need attention like bills, permission slips, and school assignments,etc.
Common elements of a command center are easy to find and don’t have to be expensive! Depending on the size of you family, it can be as simple as the one above, in my home, or as big as suits your family member’s needs. It all depends on the size of the area that you have available to you and what you need to keep track of.
These are some of the elements you should consider when creating your command center!
Bulletin Board or Magnetic Board
Calendar
Key Hooks
Mail bin (or an in/out box)
Charging Station
Dry Erase Board
Shelves, wall pockets, baskets and bins are all great ideas too!
Our little command center came to be when we painted our kitchen cabinets-you can check it out here! Honestly, it started as a chalkboard wall for our grandkids to play with but I then decided it was a great place to hang our calendar. There are just the two of us and we really don’t have as much going on as a young family with children. The kids use the area below for their “art”! It’s all about what works for you. Here’s how ours came to be:
( that’s my pup “Piper” the sweetest girl)
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The perfect place, a blank wall, just needed a little chalkboard paint and a calendar and (for our needs) done. Our bulletin board is the reclaimed frame from an old mirror that we turned into a cork board and an old cream cheese box fastened to it with Command Strips
Here are some examples of some awesome “command centers” that not only function well, but look great too! Pick and choose the elements that would work best for you. Make it visually pleasing as well as practical. After all, you want it front and center so making it look good and fitting your decor is important.
Clean and Scentsible Command Center
I love how compact this command center is. It compliments the decor of the home and is well organized.
How to Nest for Less Kitchen Command Center
This command center has an awesome BIG calendar and I love the wall organizers! There’s even enough room for a shelf or bench if the bins were able to be moved elsewhere.
One Mile Homestyle Command Center
How easy is this! This family organized their command center on the side of their fridge! How many of us have wasted that space!
Chalkboard Command Center by Dwell Beautiful
What an awesome idea! Another take on the chalkboard wall!
Duke Manor Farm Command Center
This command center is decorated and organized! Practical and pretty!
The Goods
Where do I find the elements to create a Command Center?
I did a little shopping online and found these great items! Some of them may work for you!
Target has some awesome collections with components that can help you build a Command Center to fit your family’s needs and look great too!
Calleo Hook & Rail From Target
I really love this hook and rail system from Target. You can choose each element separately to get exactly what you need. If your command center is in an entry, you can add hooks for backpacks or jackets, wire baskets hold mail, drop your keys. Combine these elements with a calendar or bulletin board–endless possibilities.
Smith & Hawken has a nice selection of baskets and bins that would work well and look great. This would make a perfect entry setup!
There are so many different bulletin boards and calendars to choose from. Choose the best one for your space and style and that will keep you organized. These are very small selection of different types of each all available on Amazon. Click the link below to get the details.
3. Legacy Studio Decor Mail Organizer
4. Magnetic Dry Erase Calendar
5. Board Dudes Woven Bulletin Board
6. Brownline Monthly Paper Calendar
I came across a few more awesome items and I just had to share them with you!
Ok, I wasn’t going to, but I can’t resist. Here’s the mother of all Command Centers from Pottery Barn! (just an FYI some of these components are on sale right now)
Pottery Barn Daily Systems
Yea, see why I had to–it’s AH-mazing! All that galvanized goodness in one place! And guess what, you can design your own! They have wood, galvanized, white, black-lots of choices. 
Well, I think you can see that there are lots of options out there, and lots of price ranges. Sit yourself down with a cup of coffee (or wine) and determine what your family needs, where you want to organize (an entryway, mudroom, wall in the kitchen). It doesn’t have to be large, but it can be as big as you want. Check out the “featured” systems by my blogging friends. Make some notes, do a little online pricing by clicking on any of the “teal” links above to be taken right to the item to check it out.
Start Planning. There’s no time like the present. Create calm out of your chaos. Take control of your family’s stuff and see the difference it makes for you and your family!
Can’t wait to show you what we’re going to organize next time!
