How to Build an Effective Family Command Center

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Does it ever feel like the to-dos and piles of paperwork are never ending? When one thing gets done, 3 more get added. 

A mom’s list of stuff is continuously added to and at some point it gets so overwhelming that there is a breaking point. 

I remember coming home one day from work after my long commute and all of the to-do items just kept racing through my head. It became so heavy that I completely lost it when I walked through the door. 

I was thinking about having to get the taxes done, adding an event to my work calendar, making sure I returned some Amazon packages, schedule my annual physical, renew a prescription that had run out, make dinner, give the kids baths, write out a check for the gardener, pack dinner for my mom to take home the next day…

Yah, the list didn’t stop there and I was mentally done. I went into anxiety mode and I couldn’t possibly jam pack one more thing in my mental to-do list. 

So what happened? I snapped at my family and then proceeded to feel like a horrible wife and mom. Obviously I know that’s not true, but it’s hard to not think that in the moment.

When I had my breaking point, that’s when I realized I needed help and discovered how to build an effective Family Command Center.

This thing is an absolute game changer and has helped me in so many ways.

I’ve been able to get help from my family because they now use it too, I’ve been able to gain time back throughout the week because I built a system where I only look at it once a week, I have gained mental clarity because the to-do clutter in my head is now out in the open and easy to see, and the anxiety around never ending tasks has been managed. 

This is seriously one of the best and quickest wins you can implement on your journey to whole-home management and is something I am so passionate about because it works and it’s simple. Every family needs one of these. 

What is a Family Command Center?

A family command center is a centralized hub where all communication to and from family members flows. A command center can also provide organization for items you use on a daily basis. 

Essentially, all of the most important things that happen within a family regularly, can be housed and managed within the family command center. 

Keeping all the important family items and communication in one place creates structure and organization for the entire household. This right here is a game changer for moms everywhere!

What does a Family Command Center Do?

A family command center really does act as a centralized hub for families. It streamlines the communication if everyone is taught to check the command center each morning and each night. It can also help save time so you’re never looking for keys, wallets, lunch boxes, etc. 

The purpose of the family command center is streamlined organization at the family level. 

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Elements of a Family Command Center

The best part of a family command center is making it work for you and your family. Although these are all the different elements you can incorporate in your family’s command center, you can mix and match what works for you.

• To Do List
• Shopping List
• Meal Plan
• Family Calendar
• Budget Tracker
• Key Organizer
• Goal Planning
• Incoming Mail (Bills/Important Papers)
• Chores
• Homework/School Papers
• Receipts/Taxes
• Backpacks (add wall hooks right under your command center!)
• Lunchboxes (add cubbies for each kid!)

Command Center Must-Haves

The must haves for your family’s command center will greatly depend on what is important to you. If you already have a system in place for some of the items listed above, then focus more on the areas where you need help. 

For my family, a place where we can make notes and to dos is huge and was really one of the biggest game changers for me. 

My mom watches our kids 4-5 days a week while we’re at work so we use the command center to leave important notes for her. One time we got a notice that there would be some work done on our street the upcoming month so we left a note so my mom wouldn’t wonder what the loud noises were all about. 

Every Monday we make dinner for my mom to take home for her and my dad. I always leave a note letting her know what’s for dinner and where she can find it. We also leave a note each day so she knows what the kids have for lunch in the fridge. This makes things easier on her and she never has to text me at lunchtime. 

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Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Decide Must Have Elements

• What do I need the most help with?
• Do papers pile up around the house in stacks?
• Do the kids always throw their backpacks/papers/homework in different places?
• Am I always losing my keys?
• What room does our family hang out in the most?
• Where does most of my stress come from?
• What communication is always missing within our family?
• Are bills being paid late or am I missing due dates on important tasks?

How do you Build a Family Command Center?

The beauty of 1THRIVE is that you get to build the design, but all the hard work is done. They have beautiful designs and make it so easy for you to customize a command center that will work best for you and your family. 

I just picked a wall, measured it out, then went on their website and played around with the different options until I found what would work best for me. 

Of course you can always make your own by piecing it together, but the convenience of using 1THRIVE and the design is what sold me. 

How to Build a Family Command Center System

Once you have a command center up, now what? How do you systemize the use of it so mom can get the most out of it and gain some time back in her days?

Let’s look at a system for each area of the command center. Typically, the best day to really look at all the areas of the command center when it comes to planning is on Sunday. This should be your day to plan for the week ahead. 

When you’re only looking at items one day a week, you automatically free up mental space and time during each week. You aren’t doing things that aren’t urgent and you can prioritize what matters. 

• To Do List: Add items to the to do list as they come up. If something is urgent add a due date next to it otherwise, only look at the to do list on Sundays so you can prioritize items for the week. 

• Meal Plan: Plan out your meals on the weekend and write them up for the entire week.

• Shopping List: Based on your meal plan for the week, gather your shopping list and do that on the weekend. Add any items that may have gotten added to the list throughout the week as you realized you were low or out. 

• Family Calendar: Use this to add any to dos that are missing or anything that comes up as you review papers, lists, etc. that got added during the previous week. 

• Bill Organizer: As bills or random papers arrive in the mail, throw them in your command center and don’t even look at them until Sunday. Go through all the paperwork on Sunday and trash what isn’t important and schedule what is. 

• Chores: Hang your kids chore charts up on the command center so they can easily check items off and keep it visible. If rewards are incorporated, mom can easily see what she needs to add a to do to get the reward. 

• Key Organizer: Always put your keys here when you walk through the door. You will never have to look for them again. Promise.

• Goal Planning: As goals come up, whether they are financial, fitness, business, etc., add them to your command center. Then, on Sundays, you can incorporate those goals into your weekly schedule or leave them for future ideas. 

• Homework/School Papers: Teach your kids to place their homework and school papers in a slot of the command center each day when they get home. Once dinner is done, you know everything that needs to be reviewed is there and you’ll never miss a note from the teacher again. 

• Receipts/Taxes: How many times do you go to do your taxes and you literally have no idea where the actual proof is??? Ugh, this was me every damn year until I started using our family command center for a catch all. I take what has accumulated during the week and transfer it to a taxes file so I never have to look for these items again. 

• Budget Tracker: If you are sticking to a strict budget this is a great place to keep track of whether you are on or off target for your monthly budget. This is also a great place to manage your money if you’re using the envelope system to manage your budget. 

Some of these items can now become part of your evening or morning routine so they aren’t missed on a daily basis. 

Family Command Center Layout

Make sure when you are trying to figure out the layout of your family command center you think of who is using it. If kids are involved you’ll want to make sure the items they need access to are near the bottom and they can reach it. 

The layout is really up to you based on your preference and what different elements you are going to incorporate, but once you consider who will be using it, it does help build the layout for you. 

You will also want to consider what your space limitations are if you have any. That will also impact the layout of you command center. I would suggest measuring your space before purchasing the different pieces of your command center to make sure they’ll fit nicely. 

Where Should I Put my Family Command Center?

Where does everyone in the family spend the most time? Your family command center really needs to be in an area that your family members won’t miss. 

The great part about 1THRIVE command centers is that they aren’t an eye sore so they can really be placed anywhere in the house that makes the most sense for getting the most interaction from your family. 

Typically the entryway or kitchen are good places to put your family command center. 

I really like the entryway for kids because if you do incorporate backpacks or lunch boxes, you can easily teach them to put those items away as soon as they walk through the door. 

Another great thing about 1THRIVE command centers is that they are flexible and interchangeable so you can make them fit for any space! So always go for making the command center fit in the best space of your home. 

Family Command Center Wall Ideas

1THRIVE has so many inspiring command center wall ideas! The fact that they are interchangeable really gives you the opportunity to create so many different options. Here are there standard combos, but you can also customize these with their accessories as well. 

Check out their 1THRIVE inspiration page for real-life examples from people who love the brand!

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The Susan (MY FAVORITE!!!!)

The Sarah (BEST SELLER)

The Ashley (BEST SELLER)

The Taylor (BEST SELLER)

The Rachel

The Megan

The Brooke

The Henry

The Casey

1THRIVE Accessories

Once you’ve selected your main command center, there’s a ton of accessories you can add on to make these things really customized to your needs. They have anything from decals to markers to accessory add-ons. This is where the fun comes in when you get to make your command center your own!

1THRIVE Family Packs

They even have family packs where you can save some serious moolah on bundling a few options for your family. This is a great way to add command centers to the home for the family and individuals that may need a bit of organization in their personal lives. A great option for teenagers and business owners!

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