Have you been on Pinterest and seen all those beautiful command centers? Have you thought you’d like to get a command center for your family, too? A command center is anywhere that you have set up for establishing your family calendar or important family information – this could be in your kitchen or other place in your home. There are lots of unique command centers – big and small. Your doesn’t have to look a certain way or be a certain size. I have created my own version of a command center, too! But, it can be whatever you like! I’ve put together 7 of the most important things you’ll need to set up your command center for success!
1. A space
To make your command center, you need to find a space that you can do it. It can be a cupboard in the kitchen, a wall in the hallway, a nook in the corner, or a big back entry. It doesn’t matter where but you can make it happen in just about any place you can find. It’s all about making it work in the space you have!
2. A purpose
If you have no reason to have a command center, it’s not necessary. But, your purpose should have something to do with wanting to corral all your family papers, keys, electronics, announcements, and more. It’s a place to keep your family business organized and things in one place. My purpose was just that, to keep all our important family business and items in one easy-to-find place for everyone!
3. A folder
Well, you may need more than one folder. Having a place to set up a small filing system helps a lot. Organizing papers by each child, or function, can help when you have a steady stream of school or church calendars and papers that are important but you don’t want to lay them around. A few ideas for folders include one for each member of the house, future events/tickets, important receipts or tax write offs, or important family information.
4. A place for keys
Your command center is a great place to keep all the household keys when you walk in the door. Having that place to hang or lay your keys every time you walk in the door will guarantee that you won’t misplace them the next time you look for them! Organize them on hooks hanging them them each person’s keys, or by vehicle, or other special way. If you’re a “throw your keys down” kind of family, make separate trays for each person to throw their stuff and keys in. The “key” is to make sure you’re putting them in the same place every time you set them down.
5. A Binder
One of my favorite things to use, and one of Mique’s, is binders! Having a family binder write menus, track goals, health information, emergency information, and more can help save you time and keep you organized knowing where all that information is! Keeping it in your command center only makes sense. You can always add more binders for more family organization, too!
6. A place to write
A great command center will have a place to write things for everyone to see! A chalkboard, a chalkboard painted wall, or a dry erase board are all great ways to communicate, write down dinner menus, keep track of days of week activities, and more. Make sure to keep it updated weekly and reference it often to your kids and spouse so that everyone is used to looking for what’s happening that week in your household.
7. A place to recharge
The last thing you need for organizing a great command center is place to charge all those gadgets – smart phones, tablets, laptops, or any other electronic goody you might have! Keeping all your things nearby your keys also helps you to remember where everything is!
Have you ever set up a command center or thought about it?
I’d love for you to stop by at Organizing Made Fun where I promise to inspire you and motivate you to get your whole house and life organized!