This post provides you with all the essential details needed to create the perfect kitchen command center for your family- no matter your budget, available space, and time. You will also find examples of inspiring kitchen command centers to help you design your own space.
I am very excited to launch this post in my series “How To Simplify Your Life and Get Organized.” This post is all about creating a functional and fabulous kitchen command center. Every family needs a “go-to” place for organizing all of the important items that are needed on a daily basis.
The kitchen is often the location of choice for the family command center. It is considered the heart of the home and is a great option when creating an organized area for planning weekly activities, meals, and chores.
Tips For Creating A Kitchen Command Center:
- Decide the main purpose(s) of the command center and stick to this plan
- Keep it simple
- Pick an area that is easy to access
- Use items which can serve double-duty
- Utilize unused vertical space
- Coordinate colors and wood tones with your existing home decor
- Include whatever items are necessary to keep you and your family organized
- Consider using the front or side of an appliance as a magnetic backdrop
Kitchen Command Center Essentials:
- a clock
- dry-erase calendar
- magnetic dry-erase board or magnetic chalkboard (& magnets)
- dry-erase markers or chalk
- holder for utensils (pens, dry-erase markers, chalk, etc.)
- mail bins/sorters with labels
- folders with labels
- corkboard with tacks
- clipboards or magnetic clips
- family phone/tablet charging station
- emergency information and contact numbers
- additional options:
- daily homework supplies
- weekly menu
- chore chart or to-do list(s)
- shopping list(s)
- take-out menu storage
- storage for coupons, bills, receipts, cards, and invites
Inspiring Kitchen Command Centers:
(1) Charlotte from City Suburb Sanity created her Kitchen Command Center using a large area of unused space on the side of her refrigerator. She added stylish and functional glass jars to hold writing utensils.
(2) This Hideaway Cabinet System is featured on This Old House (sells for $600). I like the idea of a cabinet door hiding clutter. I wonder how hard it would be for you savvy DIYers to create your own cabinet hideaway? Consider placing it on an upper cabinet for easier access and creating a deeper hideaway to hold more items.
(3) This cool Family Command Center is from Valerie at The Caldwell Project. She created a magnetic, dry erase calendar and menu using sheet metal, plexiglass, and frames. She used colorful wet chalk markers to add pops of color. Holes were drilled in the lower pockets of mail bins to create a cell phone charging station. A picture wire was used to hang important papers and kids’ artwork.
(4) Jenn from over at Clean and Scentsible created her Kitchen Command Center using the Wall Manager System from Martha Stewart. This is a modular system that allows for the picking and choosing of specific items you want to include in your kitchen command center.
(5) This Daily System Organization Center from Pottery Barn is also a modular system. It is more expensive than the above-described system from Martha Stewart but has more options for creating your own customized kitchen command center. Choose from magnetic dry whiteboards and/or calendars, chalkboards, corkboards, linen pinboards, letter bins, and wall hooks. This system comes in rustic mahogany (pictured above), white, espresso, and black stains.
(6) This lovely Kitchen Command Center from Ashley over at Domestic Imperfection features a magnetic board created with sheet metal, an old frame, and a map used as a decorative touch. She added fun metal bins with labels made of plywood, paper letters, and twine.
(7) If the purpose of your kitchen command center is to organize the activities of the week, then these Weekly Activities Dry Erase Boards from Jen at A Thousand Words are the perfect solution. She created these colorful activity boards using white frames, scrapbooking paper, and stickers.
(8) This Organized Drop Spot from Cassie at Hi Sugar Plum was created using a small unused corner. It features mail sorters with metal labels, a fabric-covered pinboard, and a charging station.
[tweetthis url=”http://goo.gl/1ByYGm”]Keep your family organized this #school year with a #family command center. Here’s how=> [/tweetthis]
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SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:
Do you have a kitchen command center? What is your favorite command center from this post? What else you would recommend including in a kitchen command center?
Great article – love the pictures! Lots of great ideas! I like the side of the fridge idea. I kind of do that already, but not as cool.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I am glad you enjoyed the article all about kitchen command centers. Sounds like you are already ahead of the game on getting organized for the school year! Nice work! 🙂
-Amy Kathleen
I love these ideas. I could use help getting more organized. I love the baskets in #6
Hi Nicky,
Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, Ashley over at Domestic Imperfection did such a great job personalizing those baskets in her command center. So stylish!
Have a great weekend!
– Amy Kathleen
I love the idea of a command center, I use one too but not as pretty as some of these! Mine is functional though and has worked for me since I made it a year ago.
Hi Jenn,
Function is the key! What must-haves are in your commend center? Would love to know your thoughts!
– Amy Kathleen
Those are some great command centers. I need to make one for my kitchen too.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Have a wonderful weekend!
– Amy Kathleen
I need a good command center in my house! For sure!
Hi Debra,
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
– Amy Kathleen
So many neat and wonderful ideas! I am inspired!
Hi Kristi!
That was my intention- to inspire. So glad I was able to help out!
Thanks for stopping by!
– Amy Kathleen
Each is brilliant in their own way. I’m not sure which one is my favorite idea. I just love them all!
Hi Liz,
Yes, each is definitely wonderful and has something special to offer. Thanks for stopping by!
– Amy Kathleen
Absolutely love the dry erase boards and the wall ‘o inspiration and organization. A counter in my command space wouldn’t work at all for me. Stuff would get piled onto it.
Hi LydiaF,
Dry erase boards are definitely a must for a commend center, especially a magnetic one!
Have a great weekend,
– Amy Kathleen
This is really fabulous!! This kitchen looks really nice and neat, and well-organized!! I love being organize and this is smart idea.
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the post!
Have a great weekend,
– Amy Kathleen
These command centers all look so fantastic, I don’t know which one I like the most! My kitchen would definitely benefit from any of these systems!
Hi Jaclyn!
Thanks so much- so many talented bloggers out there creating these great command centers! 🙂
– Amy Kathleen
Oh my gosh, I have to do this! This is exactly what I’ve been thinking I need, and I love how you have so many examples. I think it will totally help me figure out what to do.
Hi Stephanie,
I am so glad! Keep me posted on what you end of doing. I would love to see it!
– Amy Kathleen
I need one of these in a bad way. School is about to start!
Hi Kristin,
Yes, the start of school is definitely here! 🙂
Best of luck! 🙂
– Amy Kathleen
These are some really great tips! I could use an area like this to keep our bills and other mail sorted. I swear I am always losing something that’s important.
Hi Holly,
Thanks! A mail sorting area is definitely a must- also a clipboard for important papers/cards/bills due that month.
Thanks so much for the comment,
– Amy Kathleen