Top 5 Family Command Center Ideas 

Top 5 Family Command Center Ideas that you can set up and start using to help control some of the family chaos and paper clutter today.

When it comes to a cluttered and chaotic home, more often than not it’s a group effort. Kids and school papers. Daily mail drops. Papers from work. It can all add up to one big mess and if we are not careful we can misplace important things without even realizing it.

The year I finally had enough of it all was the year I learned about family command centers. Yes, that was the year that allowed me to see the possibilities of what it would be like to have an organized home. And let me just say it was pretty promising to see for sure!

If you are not sure what a family command center is, let’s begin there.

What is a family command center?

A family command center is an area in your home where you control and organize the daily chaos. This can be a cabinet, a wall system, a drawer, an entryway, or an office. The choice all depends on the layout of your home and where your family tends to “drop” their stuff.

Why family command centers are useful

Do you remember in college, when a student would raise their hand, ask a question, and the professor would sternly reply: “Did you check the syllabus?”

That is basically what family command centers are the “syllabus of the house.” They are meant to be an organized, “catch-all” for thighs like meal plans, bills, chores, mail, school papers, to-do lists, and anything else you see fit.

Everything is organized and in one space making it easier to find what you need right when you need it. No more searching for lost papers or missing bills! And if we know anything it’s that less chaos equals a happier family. A happier us. 

So when the kiddos or hubby start asking, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” You can simply respond with: “Did you check the menu in our command center?”

READ: HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT TO-DO LIST

Another pro to this decluttering and simplifying a home feature is that family command centers are another way to inject a little bit of your family’s personality into another space in your home.

They’re easy to create. You can DIY one rather quickly just by using what you already have. Or you can skip the DIY and buy a system that fits your home’s personality to a T. 

Another bonus of a home hub is that it works for any stage of life. From school-aged children to teens even to empty nesters.

The Different Types Of Family Command Centers

Do-it-yourself

Crafting a highly personalized family command center is fairly easy. Just search on Pinterest for the most trendy command center ideas and start gathering pieces that will go in your chosen area. Pick and choose what you like and create a family command center that fits your home and hour family. 

The great thing about this way of creating a family command center is that you can go upscale or keep it extremely affordable by collecting pieces over time. 

Local home improvement stores will have different wood you can use for shelving, different sized hooks, and beautiful accent options, along with chalkboard paint that you can use to turn a framed picture into a menu board. 

You can also check out your local Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity Re-stores, and area thrift shops. All are perfect places to hunt for baskets, hanging cabinets, and other items you’d like to add to your space.

D/M PRO TIP: Before heading out to the stores, remember to shop your home first. You might be surprised at what you may already have that you are not using. An old shelf or bulletin board will work well in this space. Take a wire basket and hang it on the wall for a mail collection bin. Paint up a few old clipboards and put them on hooks to hold shopping lists or family menus. 

If you’re on a budget, you can “throw together” a cute, efficient command center for under $100 by shopping around and piecemealing items. 

Buy-it-yourself

If you’re like me and not the most creative person, or maybe you just don’t have enough time in the day, you can purchase a premade command center off of Amazon.

Here are my 5 favorites available on Amazon:

Remember, there are no rules when setting up a system for your family hub. Mix and match or going all in. Whatever works best for you. The most important thing to remember is to set up something that is easy not only for you to use but for your entire family as well.

Fav #1. Keep it Simple

I love this simple approach to a command center and if you are just starting out this might be a great option for you. So many times we tend to go “all in” and create organizing systems that can be too confusing to use. Keep it simple with a chalkboard, corkboard, and bin to hold mail and keys.

Fav #2. All in One

If you are short on space, then this all in one option might be a better fit for you. Remember you can always add in a few other things to really customize this idea into one that will “fit” your family better. Add in a few metal baskets and a corkboard and you can really create a setup that fits you better.

Fav #3. Mix and Match

If you are like me and not quite sure what all you need in a family command center, then I suggest you do a little mix and match. Let’s break it down by areas to make it easier to set up.

Baskets for mail, incoming papers, takeout menus.

Chalkboard for weekly menus or a simple to-do list.

Shelves are great to hold bulky items along with keys and coats.

Finally, a corkboard to hold all the miscellaneous things that many families have.

I love to mix and match to really create a wall of art that also works to organize our family hub.

Fav #4. Family Friendly Command Centers

I love this option and I think it is perfect for anyone that has kids. You can label each area for a family member and organize even more.

Fav #5. Counter Top Option

Let’s face it, not everyone has an entire wall that they can dedicate to a family command center.

I love this option because you can also use it to organize your kitchen cookbooks as well.

Don’t forget to add in a dry erase for weekly menus.

What do you put in a command center?

The typical family command center has: 

• A monthly calendar
  • Displaying work schedules, events, sporting obligations, holidays, and bills
• A meal plan
  • Displaying the different meals scheduled for the week, along with available snacks
• Chore list
  • Chores for each family member so no one forgets!
• Bills and/or Mail
  • A cabinet or hanging wall file folder where incoming and outgoing mail is kept
  • Holds bills and other important documents you need to have on-hand
• Shoe rack and/or gear area
  • A cubby hole for shoes
  • Places to put umbrellas
  • Hooks for jackets and accessories

The great thing about a project like this is that you get to decide what you want in your family command center. It’s all up to what works best for your lifestyle and family.

Family command centers can be as small as to fit inside a cabinet or on your refrigerator — or as big as taking up an entire wall beside your front door. The elaborate, or minimalist design is completely up to you and there are options to make whatever you choose to fit your needs!

Where do you put them?

The best place to put your family command center is the kitchen or the entryway, but again, it’s totally up to you! Here are a few popular locations to create your family’s go-to space:

1. Foyer
2. Mudroom
3. Kitchen
4. Office
5. Refrigerator
6. Inside of a cabinet
7. Built-in sitting area
8. Any high-traffic area of your home

My top 5 favorite command center designs 

Family command centers are a wonderful, efficient way to organize your life and give your space a little spark. 

Do you have a family command center? What do you love most about it? Has it helped your family? Let me know!