Are you struggling every morning to find your kid’s backpacks and lunch boxes?
Have the incoming papers and homework assignments taken over your kitchen?
If you’re tired of the chaos, a family command center might be just what you need! From managing your household and keeping track of important dates, to providing a dedicated place for backpacks and lunchboxes, a command center is becoming the new heart of the home.
You might be thinking that you don’t even know what a command center is, but don’t worry! This post will give you plenty of examples plus some tips and tricks for setting up your own.
After reading this post you will have all the information you need to create one in your home. So let’s get started with all the different elements that make up a family command center!
what is a family command center?
In case you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about, I’ll fill you in. A family command center is an organization system that acts as one centralized place for everything your family handles on a daily basis.
- Incoming Papers
- ScheduleCalendar
- To-Do list
- Grocery List
- Meal Plan
- Chores
- Homework
- Receipts
- Bills
- Keys
- Backpacks and Lunchboxes
But you don’t have to incorporate every one of those elements in order to have a successful command center! You only need to use the ones that will benefit your family specifically.
Related Post: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE – ORGANIZING MAIL
There are literally hundreds of ways to design a command center; it’s almost impossible not to find an idea that suits your style!
To give you an idea, here are a few of the most common types:
- Chalkboard Wall
- Modular (Interchangeable)
- Command Center with Printables
- Closet Command Center
- Small Desk (or small space) Command Center
- Corner Command Center
- Gallery Wall
- Simple Command Station
- Backpack Center
- Launch Pad
Later on, we’ll be covering how to choose the elements for your own family command center.
But first, let’s go over some of the best ideas from around the web.
You can use them for inspiration when deciding how to style your own!
GRAB THIS FREE PROJECT PLANNER AND USE IT TO JOT DOWN SOME OF THESE COMMAND CENTER IDEAS! 👇
20 INSPIRING COMMAND CENTERS
These ideas are perfect for those that don’t need to include a place for backpacks.
To read more, just click on the website name to be taken directly to their post!
Hallway Command Center
Sue from Home Heart Harmony created a welcoming area in her front hallway with a charging station and a place to corral the family paperwork.
Modular Command Center System
This modular system from Pottery Barn has probably been on everyone’s wishlist forever! At $400, it will be staying on my wishlist for now. But a girl can dream! 🤩
Gallery Wall Command Center
This homeowner used a mix of style and function when she was creating her command center.
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Paper Command Center
This family made sure everything has a designated home. Receipts, coupons, and important documents are all separated and labeled.
Source Unknown
Command Center in a Cabinet
Chris from Just A Girl Blog created an organized drop space in one of her kitchen cabinets.
Command Center with Printables
Kati from House Full of Handmade painted a giant chalkboard wall to use as a weekly menu and a backdrop for her kid’s daily responsibility charts.
Fridge Command Center
@Eveeandgrayhouse makes use of the side of her fridge to keep her family organized.
Farmhouse Command Center
This farmhouse-inspired command center from @white.oak.shop is gorgeous!
Command Center in a Closet
Krista at The Happy Housie took a boring, cluttered closet and turned it into a fabulous command center with everything her family needs.
Simple, Budget-Friendly Command Center
How to Nest for Less provides an easy, budget-friendly way to organize your life with desk sorters.
Chalkboard Wall
This chalkboard wall command center from @barbellsandlessonplans is so neat! Painting a whole wall in chalkboard paint will allow you to customize your command center to your heart’s content.
Corner Command Center
Cassie from Hi Sugar Plum turned an unused corner into a functional drop spot and charging station for her family.
COMMAND CENTERS FOR BACKPACKS + LUNCHBOXES
The following command centers include ways to store backpacks, coats, and/or lunchboxes.
Lunchbox Storage
This command center from @catt_xo uses Ikea picture ledges to hold her daughter’s lunch boxes. On each shelf, it looks like she has a jar – possibly for lunch money.
If you’re looking for a way to store lunch boxes, this is a fantastic idea!
Fridge Panel Command Center
If you have refrigerator panels, this type of command center would be the perfect way to make use of a small space! I’m loving the little basket for lunch boxes. Check out At Charlotte’s House for all the details.
Bright and Cheerful Command Center
Megan from The Homes I Have Made thought of everything when she put together this command center for her family.
Backpack and Activity Center
Doesn’t this long shelf seem like the perfect solution for a house with multiple children? This would be an excellent way to teach young kids to be mindful of their belongings.
Source Unknown
Simple Backpack Storage
This just goes to show that you don’t need all the other bells and whistles (like a calendar and multiple paper sorters) if you know you won’t be using them.
Source Unknown
Backpacks on S-Hooks
Over the Big Moon has a creative solution for storing coats, backpacks, and lunchboxes.
Board and Batten Backpack Center
Bethany from I’m Batmom DIYed a board and batten wall for her kid’s backpacks. It turned out beautifully!
Backpack Command Center with A Bench
Nikki from Five In The Hive was tired of backpacks being scattered everywhere, so she created this neat little corner with a repurposed bench, a few file holders, and antique door knobs-turned coat hooks!
Well, you’ve seen some inspiring examples! And you’ve decided you want to add a family command center in your home.
Now you may be wondering where you should put yours…
WHERE TO PUT YOUR FAMILY COMMAND CENTER
Where you put your command center is up to you. It largely depends on personal preference, as well as the space that you have available.
Some families like to have theirs in the kitchen, while others like to have a gallery wall by their front door. You can even put yours in a hallway.
My only suggestion is that you choose a place that will be accessible by everyone (except of course the babies and toddlers).
In order to determine the best place to put yours, take into account the following options.
{Note} Not every question below will apply to every family… These are just some helpful things to consider.
– Where is the main entry in your home?
If your goal is to prevent mail and paper clutter from taking over your entryway, it won’t do you any good to place your command center somewhere else in your home.
– Where does your family congregate in your home most often?
Likewise, if your family is always hanging out in the kitchen, that might be the best place.
– Is there an unused wall space that would just be perfect?
Some people have a perfectly-sized unused wall. So take advantage of it!
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR FAMILY COMMAND CENTER
The elements that you include in your command center will depend on the needs of your family.
A good place to start is by making note of everything you handle on a daily basis.
Here are a few questions for you to consider when deciding what items will work best for you:
– What type of clutter tends to pile up in your entryway?
If you have mail and school papers cluttering up your entryway, you will definitely want to include a mail sorter and a hanging wall file!
– Do you misplace your keys pretty frequently?
Are you constantly on the hunt for your keys? Make sure to include some key hooks in your command center!
– Do you need to add a place for backpacks, coats, and shoes?
If your family tends to avoid your coat closet like the plague, that might mean it’s time to update to something more user-friendly.
Try adding wall-mounted coat hooks or individual hooks right below your command center so your kids can hang up their belongings right when they walk in the door.
– Are your kids constantly asking what’s for dinner?
If so, you may want to include a chalkboard or a small dry erase board so you can write out your dinner menu for the week.
– Will your spouse and kids need access to the weekly schedule?
Maybe you’re a digital family who keeps your schedule on your phone or in the Cozi app. If so, you can keep an iPad on a desk under your command center so anyone can access it.
Or you can kee[ your schedule on a large calendar on the wall. This is how we have ours set up, only because my husband won’t go out of his way to look at something unless it’s staring him directly in the face. 🤣
– Would you like to add printable responsibility charts for your kids?
Since children are visual learners, chore charts, and/or responsibility charts are a powerful way to encourage independence.
A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of free printable charts. Print them off, laminate them, and hang them on a clipboard in your command center.
You can even use them to control screen time by verifying that everything is checked off before screens are allowed.
– Lastly, do you want to include a place to pay bills and keep messages?
Having a designated place for bills (in a budget binder) is a great way to make sure you never forget when something is due.
You can place a small shelf underneath your family command center for bills, envelopes, stamps, pens, etc.
NEXT STEPS
Everyone wants the school year to run smoothly. But that’s easier said than done when little ones run your household!
If your entryway has become a cluttered mess, show those kids who’s boss by taking control of the chaos with your very own command center.
- First, decide where to put yours. Use the examples above for inspiration.
- Then, choose which elements you want to add:
-
- Calendar
- Message board
- Weekly menu
- Printable responsibility charts
- Mail Sorter
- File sorter or hanging baskets for incoming papers and homework
- To-do list
- Key hooks
- Backpack hooks
- A place for coats and shoes
- Small pockets for coupons and receipts
- Artwork or family photos
- Once you have a pretty good idea of what you want to include, shop your house to see if you already have some things lying around that will work. Then, decide which items you’ll need to buy. You can purchase most of your command center supplies at an office supply store, Home Goods, or Amazon.
- And finally, start setting everything up!
So are you ready to create your own command center?! Once you everything in place, you’ll be ready for anything your family throws your way. Good luck! 😉
DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE PROJECT PLANNER
Use it to help you plan all the details for your own command center! 👇
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