Giant Wall Command Center {for my office}

 

I am so excited to show you my project today!

I have been wanting to make a “command center” in my home for like fo-ev-a!

giant wall command center

The biggest goal in my life right now is to be more ORGANIZED!  In our last home, I finally felt like I had a handle on all our “stuff,” and then we moved. Sad smile

It has taken almost 2 1/2 years in our new home for me to finally feel like I am starting to get more organized.  It has been so hard to be organized when, for the past two years, our house has looked like this…

installing kitchen floor

And this….

removing the kitchen soffit

Oh, and this…

pie 048

 

Just looking at those pictures gives me the hives!

 

So I cannot tell you how grateful I am that I now have an office space in our home where I can get my life organized!

craft closet makeover

I’m loving my craft closet.

And I’m starting to enjoy my new desk space, even though it isn’t completely finished.

office

 

But more than anything else, I am loving my Giant Command Center.

giant wall command center

I am a visual person, and I need to SEE things all laid out to help me stay organized.

So I painted a huge square on my wall with Chalkboard Paint from Lowe’s.

Then I used some inexpensive 1×3’s to frame it.

Since I like to see more than one month at a time, I decided to create 3 calendar grids on my wall.giant wall command center

I used a large level and a permanent white paint marker to create my calendar grids.

I decided to color-code the events on my calendar with Chalk-Ink markers.  (They are like chalk, but like a marker too.  I got mine at Hobby Lobby and Michaels.)

giant wall command center

The boys LOVE that they have their own color.  I hot glued a little wicker votive holder to the wall and placed my chalk markers in them.  Now, each event on the calendar is color-coded for each member of the family!

I bought a $5.00 clear plastic folder holder from Walmart, and spray painted it blue.  Then I hot glued that to the wall as well!  Smile

giant wall command center

The metal memo board is also from Walmart.  I use it to jot down important things that I need to remember to do.  I also use magnets to attach any appointment cards to it.  The little memo pad is magnetic, so it attaches perfectly to my metal memo board.  I use the memo pad to make my grocery lists or jot down any errands I need to run that day.  I tear the paper off and take it with me!

Hands down, my FAVORITE part of the Command Center is the four clipboards at the bottom!

giant wall command center

I have had a HORRIBLE time keeping up with all of my boys’ papers from school.  So I created a clip board for each of them to keep all of their important papers.  It has already saved my life this school year!  (I put four nails in the wall and hung a clipboard on each.)

When they bring home important papers from school about field trips or important school dates to remember, I say, “Clip it to your board!”

Now we always know where to find their papers.  It’s so much better than being buried in a pile of papers on my desk, like they used to be!

So there you have it!

Do I look organized or what?!

giant wall command center

 

I wish the rest of my house looked this way.  Smile

Baby steps, people, baby steps.

 

Do you have a command center

in your home?

 

p.s.  If you missed my post from yesterday, I would greatly appreciate you going back to it and click on the links or pictures about Deer Park Waters.  That’s all you have to do.  It is a sponsored post in which I get paid by “clicks.”  Thanks so much!!

 

Linking this project to these parties:

Tutorials and Tips Linky Party at Home Stories A to Z

Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop at House of Rose

Thrifty Decor Chick Before and After Party

81 Comments

  1. Cute, cute! You should check out 3M Commnad strips next time–they won’t mess up the wall like hot glue does but they’re just as strong!!

  2. We run a general contracting firm out of our house. Right now we are in the process of moving/remodeling the office. I am definitely doing something like this in my new office. Not sure what it will look like, but I know I am having a command center somewhere.

  3. I can’t even imagine keeping up with all the activities of four children! I love your Command Center. What a great idea. I am in the process of making something similar on the door leading to our garage. It is our main family entry and exit point. I have painted it with chalkboard paint. I am waiting for the paint to “cure” before proceeding. I will be incorporating a few of your ideas on a much smaller scale. Great job!

  4. What a great way to keep everyone organized! That could have saved me so many times when our girls were still in school. I enjoy seeing all of your updates in your home!

  5. Just last night I was trying to decide what to use to organize the school/incoming papers. I had reached the conclusion that we each needed our own space…I was thinking about labeled binder clips, but I’m so glad you reminded me about the clipboards!

    I love your new command center!! (and you!)

  6. This is exactly what I need! I also have an area in the mud/laundry room which leads to the garage-
    I currently have a large hanging organizational item with pockets… not working at all because
    it’s not customizable- coming down right now and I am off to Lowes for chalkboard paint!!! I am so
    copying this command center- Thank you for always sharing wonderful ideas!!!

  7. A great idea, Traci! I am with you on the need to see things and being organized. It really helps me to break things down so life isn’t so overwhelming. By the way, I love your blog! I recently found you this summer, and am encouraged by your ideas, your walk with The Lord, and how you love your family.

  8. Oh my Traci, if you keep on organizing and organizing, soon you will look at yourself and say NOW WHAT DO I DO? Just kidding you. I think it is great to be organized. I am having some problem with that myself, for me I think I have to many ideas, too many projects, crafts in my little head, that even a command center will start out perfect and then get overloaded with too many things.
    For me I just have to taper my “enthusiasm” for “Everything”, as I get older (and better just like good wine) I am getting better at it. So maybe I should make myself instead of a command center an activity / creativity center, where I can collect all the busy ideas moving around in my head but tackle one at a time…. hm you gave me some idea there.
    Take care your boards looks great and I think with the 4 boys it will teach them also to be organized….
    Good for you
    oh wanted to share something with you – as you know I live in the Northern Suburbs (North Shore) of Chicago look at our weather report:
    Despite other signs of summer winding down, summer heat is in full swing in Chicago.

    Public schools in Chicago resumed classes on Monday with Labor Day, the unofficial end to summer, just around the corner.

    However, Chicago is in the midst of its hottest stretch of weather since the middle of July. Similar to Sunday, temperatures Tuesday soared to 95 degrees.

    Combining the heat with sunshine and high humidity will send AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures into the upper 90s to near 100 degrees.

    Yeah 100 degrees, I just received an order of a few cosmetics and the lipsticks were all melted…
    This is HOT….and humid on top of it
    God Bless
    Edith YourChicagoConnection

  9. wow! you’re so organized. now that all my chicks have flown the coop, I don’t have all that paperwork from schools (thank you Lord) I remember thinking every year that there has to be a better way to handle the mass of paper work. Looks like you got this under control now.
    I love it! great job Traci!

    1. I have the same problem – textured walls. My teenage daughter wants a whole chalkboard wall in her room so I’m thinking of putting up plain paneling painted in chalkboard paint over one wall . Not quite sure yet. But for a small space like this you could do it and frame it out and make it look really cute!

  10. This is fantastic! I too am a visual person, so this is right up my alley! I think the clipboards may be my fav part as well! My boys have so many flyers, notices, etc that I worry will get buried. Your idea of the clipboards keeps everything in sight, but super neat as well! Bravo!!

  11. Great job Traci!!!

    You amaze me, you just explode with ideas that are so practical and so easy to do!!!

    No kids in our house, BUT I do mom’s financial matters since she is now in assisted living :(

    I will definitely implement some of these ideas!!

    Marilyn C.

    1. Thank you for your sweet words, Marilyn! I hope some of my ideas help with your mom’s financial stuff. :) Bless you for helping care for her.

  12. Oh girlfriend…. you rock in my books! This is AWESOME! I just got home from 9th grade orientation and was thinking how in the world I’m going to stay organized with these 4 kids this school year! I love your command center! Pinned and will be featuring it on my FB page tomorrow! Bravo, you organized mama-you!

    1. Thank you so much, Kim! Every year, I am soooo overwhelmed by all the paperwork!!! I am determined to stay on top of things this year, and I really believe these clipboards are going to help me. I just wish I had thought of this sooner. :) Thanks for featuring it on your facebook page!

  13. Your command center looks awesome!!! Wish I had a wall large enough to do something like this. Really enjoy your blog Traci and look forward to my inbox each morning with my coffee. You’re a true inspiration!!

  14. Such a great idea, Traci — I’ve been parenting for 20 years and STILL feel disorganized!! I have a shortage of wall space in the living areas of our home, so I’m jealous that you have the space to create this awesomeness! Nicely done!
    xo Heidi

  15. I love it! I have been staring at a blank wall trying to decide how to do my own command center and scouring pinterest and saving ideas but not just deciding. Thanks for the inspiration! It looks wonderful!

  16. Clicked away like 5 times…(and I admire your command center) does it count if it’s more than once from same computer? And for all your sponsored posts with links? Just wondering for future reference…I’d love to help ya out even though it’s a small way…

    1. Rachel,
      You are so sweet! Thank you for asking. :) For most of my sponsored posts, I am paid a flat fee. But some posts, they pay me by clicks. Of course, all sponsors like to see their links getting clicked on whether they pay me by click or not. They like to see a good engagement with my readers. I do not know if more than one click counts per computer. I think so, but I am not 100% sure about that. Again, thank you for asking and for supporting me and my blog.

      Bless you!

  17. I just found your site by way of DIY Showoff and I have to say that I will definitely be following your site. I haven’t blogged in forever but I am trying to get back into it. I love this post and want to do something like this so bad in my house but my hubby won’t let me. I am half tempted to put my office in the garage that we use for storage just so I can.

  18. I love your new command center! I wish I would have had something like this. I only have one child and this would have been great. I might do something like this but smaller for my hubby ;)

    Thanks for all you do. Hope you have a blessed day!

  19. Your command center was just the inspiration I needed to complete mine! I have had an blank chalk board hanging on my wall for weeks, but haven’t done anything with the space. Now I have it all planned out after seeing yours! Thank you!! :)

  20. I love the chalk markers but wonder how do they clean up ? I imagine after time; they will very smudged over a particular day on the calendar since activities are changing . What is your review? ??

    1. The chalk markers are great! They do not smudge at all. But the white is a little hard to remove. I usually use a Mr. Clean sponge to get it off. :)

  21. Traci, Love your command center! You look so organized and ready to go! I am working on a blog post rounding up some command center inspiration for people like me who are still drowning in papers. I would love to include a picture of your project with a link to your site if that is okay with you. Thanks!

  22. Brilliant.. I’ve always organised my home duties on A4 sheet but always felt that I need bigger to SEE organizer. At school as well, I have the A2 size calendar it’s so relieved.. Excellent idea.

  23. This was one of my summer projects and it’s finally up! My walls are textured as others said but I still think it looks and works just fine :) Thank you for sharing!!

  24. Traci – LOVE this! Now that you’ve had over a year to use it, how’s the wear and tear? Have you changed anything – or would you like to change anything?

  25. I recently made your command center and love it. Unfortunately I used chalk markers like you had and they do not come off. I will have to repaint parts of the wall now. Everything I read about chalk markers is that they are not recommended for painted chalk surfaces. I’m so disappointed. Can you tell me what would be safe on this surface and what kind do you use? Thank you.

  26. Traci! This is exactly what I was looking for! With four children of our own, and now guardians of my nephew (all preteens and teens) this would be great! Especially with all the activities, sports and now some have jobs too!
    Because I am a visual as well, and would like mine to come out looking like yours …
    Q … What are the dimensions of your command center?
    Thank you!

  27. We loved this idea so much! We found it on pinterest and shared your link with our readers. Perfect for getting the house ready for back to school time!

  28. What chalk markers do you use? I got mine off of amazon and they were highly rated. However they do not work very well for me at all. I have to shake and shake them and then when I do get ink out it leaks everywhere. Also when I clean off the board they do not completely come off. So you can see last months info still.

  29. I’m curious how well the chalk markers erase on the wall? I love this idea and can’t wait to try it!!!! Thanks for the awesome post

    1. The chalk erasers work really well, but they don’t wipe off as well as regular chalk. I use a magic eraser which works perfectly, and it didn’t remove my chalkboard paint. :)

  30. Does the nail hold up well with kids taking the clip board on and off? I love this idea, but worried my kids ruin the sheetrock.

    1. 😬 I just realized you nailed them to the wall so they don’t come on or off. So just ignore my previous question. (Blushing)

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