What is a Command Center in a Home
Command centers are the little known secret to running a family and home. Not sure what a one is? This article will explain it all! Learn what is a command center in a home and why it will completely change how things are organized.
Having a command center is a game changer, and I will show you how it can help you with your schedule, to-do list, and more!
Raising a family, kids, pets and a spouse is a lot, and keeping things running smoothly can be a tall order to fill. Papers come in every day and schedules fill up before the sun rises and that alone can make things pretty chaotic.
Luckily there is a way to get things under control. A way to setup a routine that will fit your family specifically allowing you to enjoy your home instead of being frustrated by it.
It’s called a command center and if you have never heard of one before you are in for a pleasant surprise. Not only is it easy to set up, it will help you keep track of all the things from calendars to bills, entertainment to birthdays, and so much more.
What is a Family Command Center?
A family command center, also known as a home hub, is a designated area in the home that acts as a centralized hub for organizing a family and home. It helps manage everyday tasks, schedules, and information related to the household and the family.
It typically includes a combination of physical and digital items allowing you to really customize a setup that fits your personality.
Why Should You Have a Command Center?
Having a command center in your home can help you to feel more on top of things. It not only helps you stay organized with your calendar, it also keeps papers from taking over the rest of your home.
I like to compare it to an air traffic control tower, a small area where the complexity of incoming and outgoing flights are guided and directed.
The same is true with a home hub. It gives you a central location for all the important information for all the people living under your roof as well as the house they are living in.
How a Command Center Helps
A command center is helpful in any sized home and there are many areas where it can help tame some of the chaos.
#1. Organized Papers
The biggest benefit of a home hub is a centralized area for all family papers. There is nothing worse than a stressful morning because of a missing permission slip and a command center will fix all of that.
Now, kids can drop school papers in the command area and you can go through each one being sure to take action on the papers needed.
Before leaving the home, your family can stop at the command center and grab any papers from their area.
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#2. Centralized Calendar
A calendar is such an important part of any sized family and a hub will keep that calendar front and center ensuring it gets the attention it needs each day.
An organized calendar keeps schedules in one place giving an accurate overview of how a week will play out.
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By using a shared calendar system, every family member can add their appointments, reminders, or significant dates, allowing everyone to stay aware of each other’s schedules.
This is helpful for car pools, snack assignments, and sport events.
DM Pro Tip: Assign a color to each family member and write their schedule in that color only. The colors will help you to more easily see where each person is through the week.
#3. Realistic To-Do List
As for managing to-do lists, a command center becomes a visual reminder of tasks that need to be done.
Whether it’s chores, grocery shopping, or school projects, these can all be listed clearly in areas that are seen by everyone each day.
Lists that are out in the open serves as a visual reminder to everyone and helps ensure each person completes the items they are responsible for.
#4. Efficient Filing
A command center can also serve as a hub for storing important documents. Things like bills, school forms, medical records, pet care, and other paperwork can be stored for easy access.
This really helps to reduce clutter and makes locating important papers when they’re needed easier.
Overall, a command center is a powerful organizational tool that helps manage all the parts of a busy family’s life in a way that is easy to keep up with and less stressful than traditional setups.
Important parts of a Command Center
There are a few key components to consider when setting up a command center in your home. What you choose will depend on your family’s size, the age of your children, and your time of life.
#1. A Calendar
Choose a calendar that works best for your family and is large enough to incorporate everyone’s schedule. We like to use colors to designate each family member.
This visual clue makes it simple to see your own schedule without getting distracted by others. Be sure your family knows to check the calendar each day and to add to it anything that has a date.
What to use:
There are many options to try for a family calendar which is great news. A few ideas are:
- Large paper calendar
- A book calendar
- A digital calendar setup
- A large magnetized option for your fridge
#2. To-Do Lists
Create designated areas for tasks that need to be done and make sure everyone knows how to add to and check off items from these lists. This works great for shopping lists, home tasks lists, even chore charts.
What to use:
Clipboards work great for these because you can change them out quickly.
#3. Communication Board
A communication board can be used to post important messages and reminders for the family, such as upcoming events, assignment due dates, or tasks that need to be completed.
This can also serve as a place to leave notes for each other. Use the same color for notes as you use for the calendar so each person can easily see what notes are meant for them.
What to use:
An empty photo frame is perfect to use as a communication board. Put dark paper beneath the glass and use a dry erase marker to write notes. You can use sticky notes on the glass as well.
#4. Important Contact Information
Even in a world full of smart phones, having a designated spot for emergency contact information, including phone numbers and addresses for doctors, schools, vets, and other frequently used services is helpful. This way, this information is easily accessible to everyone.
What to use:
A single page of numbers on a clipboard is a great way to keep them front and center.
#5. Charging Station
Create a designated area for charging devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops. This will help keep all devices organized and ensure they are always fully charged when needed.
What to use:
You can purchase an all in one setup that will allow you to charge a phone, iPad, watch, and headphones. Another option is to make a cheap and fun DIY setup out of a dollar store caddy basket!
#6. Meal Planning Area
Having a plan for meals is a huge time saver in a home. Designate a space in your command center for your weekly meal plan and grocery lists.
This can include a whiteboard or chalkboard for writing down weekly menus, a list of items needed at the store, or takeout menus to your family’s favorite spots.
What to use:
A hanging plastic file holder works great to hold takeout menus and a clipboard is perfect for your weekly meal plan.
Not a fan of clipboards? You can purchase a magnetized menu and that will work great too!
#7. Important Dates
Have a list of Birthdays and Anniversaries to remind you and others what events are coming up.
You can also have a spot to hold greeting cards and gift cards for last-minute gifts.
What to use:
I like to keep a sheet of special dates in a page protector so it will stand up to constant use. Keep it in a binder or in a basket with greeting cares and stamps.
#8. Chore Chart
Create a chore chart that outlines each family member’s responsibilities and chores. This will help distribute household tasks evenly and teach children about accountability.
What to use:
Clipboards are perfect for holding chore charts! Be sure to hang them low so your kids can easily reach them.
#10. School Papers
Have a spot for holding each child’s papers from school. Have your children check their area before heading to school to ensure they have all the papers they need.
What to use:
You can use a plastic drawer setup with a drawer designated for each child. A hanging file holder will work great as well.
The important point to remember is giving an area only for each person so papers stay where they need to be.
#11. Mail
Having a spot to toss mail is a huge way to keep paper clutter under control as well as always knowing where incoming papers belong. It is also great to have a bin for anything that needs to be sent out.
What to use:
Set up a paper sized basket on a table or a hanging plastic bin will both work great to put mail in.
#12. Misc
Finally, a wall organizer to hold keys, sunglasses, and purses is a great way to calm the chaos that often hits when trying to leave home.
What to use:
Hooks on a wall, a basket on a table, or a hanging bag are all great options to use.
Not all of these areas need to be included but this list will help you to get started setting up a space that fits your family and your phase of life.
Setting up Your Own Command Center
Now that you have a better understanding of what a command center is and what it can do for your family, it’s time to set one up for yourself. Here are some steps to follow:
- Find a central location in your home: This could be a spot in the kitchen, mudroom, or entryway.
- Gather supplies: Make sure you have all the necessary materials, such as a whiteboard, calendar, file folders, and any other items you may need.
- Assign tasks and responsibilities: Determine who will be in charge of maintaining and updating different components of the command center.
- Personalize it: Add personal touches to make the space feel more inviting and functional for your family.
- Utilize technology: Consider incorporating digital tools, such as a family scheduling app or virtual to-do lists, to make your command center more efficient.
- Test it out: Use the command center for a few weeks and adjust as needed to find what works best for your family’s needs.
- Keep it organized: Make sure to regularly declutter and update the contents of your command center to maintain its usefulness.
Remember, your command center should be tailored to fit your family’s specific needs and routines. Don’t be afraid to make changes and try new things until you find the perfect setup for your household.
With a little bit of planning and organization, a command center can become an invaluable asset in managing the chaos of everyday life.
