A family command center is a centralized spot for organizing schedules, announcements, tasks, and other family information. Having an effective command center can help reduce chaos and get your family organized and on the same page. Here are 21 smart command center ideas to help you create a system that works for your family’s needs.
Why Have a Family Command Center?
A family command center provides many benefits that can help you feel more in control and less stressed. Here are some key reasons to invest time in setting up an effective command center:
- Centralized Information Hub – A dedicated spot for organizingschedules, tasks, announcements, and notes helps prevent things from getting misplaced or overlooked. No more searching for that school permission slip!
- Promotes Communication – Visual reminders and centralized information ensure everyone is up-to-date. This can cut down on forgotten tasks and appointments.
- Reduces Morning Chaos – Referring to the command center for reminders, schedule, and to-do list items starts the day off right and prevents rushing.
- Organizes Kids’ Activities – Sports schedules, permission slips, gear checklists, and snack schedules for multiple kids gets crazy. A command center keeps it straight.
- Tracks Family Obligations – Visual calendars and reminders prevent double-booking and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
- Promotes Responsibility – Assigning kids tasks and chores that they can check off helps teach organization.
- Captures Things Quickly – Scribble notes, phone messages, grocery needs, etc so they don’t get forgotten.
Command Center Location Considerations
Choosing the right spot for your family command center is key for maximizing its effectiveness. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a location:
- Near the most foot traffic – Kitchens, mudrooms, and entryways see the most action.
- Easy to update and check frequently. Avoid set-up hassles.
- Works for your family’s height range – Accessible for kids too.
- Has available wall or floor space – To accommodate the components you want.
- Visible but out of the main flow – Prevent inadvertent collisions!
- Central to rooms family members frequent – Bedrooms, kitchen, family room, etc.
- Away from direct sunlight – Prevent fading and glare.
- Near power outlets – For clocks, charging stations, lighting, etc.
- Allows pins, magnets, and tape – For securing items without damage.
Best Practices for an Effective Command Center
Once you’ve selected the spot, keep these tips in mind when setting up and using your family command center:
- Seek input from family on needs – Customize to your family’s lifestyle.
- Make it visually appealing – Use colors, photos, art to motivate use.
- Combine analog and digital components – Balance paper with mobile access.
- Edit and purge regularly – Keep it current and clutter-free.
- Use consistent categories – Calendar, to-do, messages, meal plans, etc.
- Implement a filing system – For flyers, permissions, manuals, etc.
- Coordinate supplies – Matching containers, bins, labels keep things neat.
- Start small and make tweaks – Let ideal system evolve over time.
- Set rules and expectations – Assign duties and usage guidelines.
- Review it together frequently – Reinforce using it as a habit.
21 Smart Family Command Center Ideas
From simple paper boards to high-tech smart displays, here are 21 family command center ideas to consider:
1. Magnetic Dry Erase Board
Dry erase boards with magnetic borders are a popular analog option for family command centers. Magnetic borders hold up calendars, notices, photos, permission slips, and kids’ artwork. Dry erase surfaces allow for writing notes, to-do lists, and scheduling. Affordable, easy to install, and endlessly customizable.
2. Chore Chart
Tracking assigned chores is essential for teaching kids responsibility. Post a chore chart with columns for each family member. Use magnets, clips, or stickers to indicate tasks complete. Reward good behavior with star stickers or points.
3. Family Calendar
A shared family calendar is the heart of most command centers. Use a large format wall calendar with big grids for writing activities. Choose colorful designs to help it stand out. Mark school events, sports practices, birthdays, vacations, bill due dates, etc.
4. Bulletin or Cork Board
Use boards to tack up flyers, notices, thank you notes, photos, birthday cards, and keepsakes. Place near the calendar to keep memos visible. Useful for posting weekly school lunch menus, camp schedules, and other changeable info.
5. Whiteboard Wall
Transform a whole wall into a functional art piece and command central. Use large whiteboard panels or paint a wall with dry erase paint. Gives plenty of room for menus, to-do’s, brainstorming, calendars,include painted lines or magnet strips to keep things neat.
6. Digital Family Calendar
Shared digital calendars complement paper command center options. Services like Cozi provide apps, wall displays, and synced online access. Digital perks include calendar integration, reminder alerts, and coordination across devices.
7. Meal Planning Station
Keep the family feeding machine rolling with a dedicated meal planning zone. Use chalkboard paint or dry erase board to sketch out weekly dinner plans. Add market lists, recipe idea parking, takeout menus, and magnetic clips to hold printed recipes.
8. Family Weekly Planner
Supplement the main calendar with a section just for weekly schedules and to-dos. Use a dry erase board or printable templates. List weekly events, appointments, practices, meetings, school projects, and household tasks.
9. Reminder Board
Don’t let pending tasks or items slip through the cracks. Post sticky notes or magnets with reminders of things coming up, items to buy, calls to make, upcoming projects, etc. Assign someone and a due date. Check off when complete.
10. Message Board
Communicate within the family with a spot to leave notes. Use paper leaves, sticky notes, or magnets for writing messages like “Working late Friday”, “Soccer starts at 5:30pm Saturday” or “Dad – Call office about meeting”.
11. Photo Family Gallery
Bring personality into the command center with framed photos, kids’ artwork, certificates, awards, and family memorabilia. Arrange creatively on a bulletin board or magnetic paint wall.
12. Charging Station
Stay powered up with a dedicated charging area. Use labeled outlets, hooks, stands and bins to coral devices and cables. Consider safety covers, timers, and cord management. Bonus points for also including batteries.
13. School Work Display
Keep kids motivated by dedicating display space for showing off academic achievements and schoolwork. Use clothespins to clip up exceptional papers, assignments, tests, art and certificates.
14. Family Directory
Post a list of important contact information for household members, close relatives, and family friends. Include addresses, phone numbers, emails. Tape up or frame. Add emergency contacts too.
15. Office Supply Station
Stay stocked on command center staples like sticky notes, binders, pens, tape, batteries, and paper. Use jars, trays, and containers to organize supplies. Add a small dry erase board or bulletin board for parking memos and lists.
16. Key Hooks
Prevent morning key hunt chaos with labeled hooks installed near your command center to park car and house keys. Consider a lock box for hiding spare keys.
17. Art Easel
Keep kids expressing themselves with an art station attached to the command center. Use a freestanding easel, magnetic dry erase board, or install a chalkboard wall section. Stock up on chalk, dry erase markers and erasers.
18. Phrase of the Week
Inspire your crew and make them smile with a fun or motivational phrase, quote or word of the week. Write on a chalkboard, whiteboard, or print out and frame. Change it up each week.
19. Progress Charts
Track goals, habits, and milestones with dedicated progress charts. Use sticker charts, dry erase boards, or bulletin boards to monitor things like reading minutes, steps walked, screen time limits, fitness goals, etc. Move magnets or clips to indicate achievement.
20. Prayer Requests
For spiritual families, incorporate a space to share prayer requests and praise reports. Leave notes in a decorative bowl or post on a bulletin board. Set aside time together to pray over requests.
21. Play Area
Sneak in some fun by designating a small play zone near the command center with a basket of fidget toys, coloring supplies, magnetic fishing game, etc. Fidgeting can help kids focus while parents are planning out the week’s schedule.
Conclusion
A family command center offers many benefits for reducing chaos and keeping your whole crew informed and on track. The key is choosing a convenient location and components that suit your family’s needs and lifestyle. Allow time for experimenting to find the right setup. The investment will pay off in reducing daily stress and strengthening family communication. With everyone pitching in, your family command center can become mission control for a smooth running household.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Command Centers
What are the key benefits of having a family command center?
Some top benefits include centralizing important information to prevent misplaced items and missed commitments, promoting better communication and responsibility, reducing morning chaos, organizing kids’ activities, and providing a place to capture things quickly so they aren’t forgotten.
What are the best places in a home to set up a family command center?
Ideal locations have high visibility and traffic flow, like kitchens, entryways, and mudrooms. Near rooms family members frequent often is also good. Have adequate space available and pick a spot with good lighting that is accessible to kids.
What are some items and supplies that are useful to have in a command center?
Helpful supplies include calendars, bulletin boards, whiteboards, chalkboards, dry erase markers, paper, sticky notes, bins, frames, hooks, containers, labels, chore charts, chargers, office supplies like tape and pens, and art supplies like coloring books.
What are some tips for using a family command center effectively?
Seek regular input from family, edit and remove clutter regularly, establish categories and filing systems, coordinate supplies for a streamlined look, start small and build on what works, establish usage rules and responsibilities, and reinforce habits by reviewing it together frequently.
How can you encourage kids to use the family command center?
Make it visually fun and engaging, include areas just for them like art stations, progress trackers and chore charts with rewards, display their work proudly, and allow them to contribute art and ideas for the board. Assigning duties promotes buy-in. Praise them when used well.