DIY Kitchen Command Center
I have a problem. My problem is piles of papers. Mail, coupons, school papers, to do lists, chore charts and so on. I finally got sick of my piles and decided I needed to do something about it. I turned to my faithful friend, Pinterest, who holds all the answers to life’s questions. Pinterest lead me to the land of the Kitchen Command Center (que orchestra). Here is my take on the Kitchen Command Center. It is smaller than most, because I didn’t have a lot of real-estate to use, but it packs a punch in practicality and coolness. Enjoy!
Steps to creating your own DIY Kitchen Command Center
Step 1: Dry Erase Schedule Board
This is a great way to frame all your charts and schedules. You can write on the plexiglass of the frame with a dry eraser marker. It will erase right off.
What you will need:
- Oblong poster frame (11.75″ x 36″ or 12″ x 36″…Trendsetter Poster Frame, 11-3/4 by 36-Inch, Black)
- Cleaning Chart, Kid’s Chore chart, Notes & Stuff and Weekly Menu printables
- Fun pattern 12×12 craft paper / scrapbooking paper, 3 – 4 sheets (Martha Stewart Crafts Paper Pad, Brights, 12 by 12 inches, 42 Sheets)
- Double-sided tape (Scotch® Removable DoubleSided Tape)
- Dry erase markers (Quartet ReWritables Dry Erase Mini Markers with Cap Mounted Erasers, 6-Marker Pack)
- Ribbon to hang frame with
- Over-the-door hook to hang dry erase schedule board (if hanging on the back of a door…OXO Good Grips Over-the-Door Hook)
Instructions:
1. Print the Dry Erase Schedule printables:
- Print file(s) at home onto card stock or upload file(s) to a photo center like Snapfish.com or Costco.com and order prints. You will have to crop the 8.5 x 11 files to 8×10 if printing at a photo center. Click on printables below to print or save to your computer.
Cleaning Chart printable (example of mine which you can use):
You can handwrite your own chores below or upload the JPG file to PicMonkey.com to add text or use your own desktop publishing program like Word or Pages to add text.
Kid Chore Chart printable (example of mine which you can use):
You can handwrite your own chores below or upload the JPG file to PicMonkey.com to add text or use your own desktop publishing program like Word or Pages to add text.
Notes & Stuff printable:
Weekly Menu printable:
2. Line your poster frame with the scrapbooking paper. This will be the background for your printables. Space your printables out on top of the scrapbooking paper. Once you like the layout, tape down using double-sided tape. Put your frame back together.
3. Hang your frame on your over-the-door hook (or to the wall) using a fun ribbon.
Step 2: Inspirational Prints
Everyone needs a bit of inspiration now and then. I loved this Oprah quote about responsibility and energy. It is long, but is such a good message to young and old. You also can never go wrong with a quote like ‘Be Awesome!’ Send your family off everyday with these positive and inspiring quotes as they conquer their worlds.
What you will need:
- 2 8×10 frames
- ‘Energy’ printable (Oprah quote found on Kind Over Matter)
- ‘Be Awesome’ printable
Instructions:
1. Print the inspirational printables:
- Print file(s) at home onto card stock or upload file(s) to a photo center like Snapfish.com or Costco.com and order prints. You will have to crop the 8.5 x 11 files to 8×10 if printing at a photo center. Click on printables below to print or save to your computer.
‘Energy’ printable:
‘Be Awesome’ printable:
2. Frame the prints and hang.
Step 3: Chalk & Magnetic Boards
I made two of these boards, and yes, they are made from cookie sheets! How fitting for a Kitchen Command Center, right? For my full instructions on making a chalk and magnetic board go {here}. If you noticed, I used office clips as hooks to attach the cookie sheet chalk and magnetic boards to the wall. This way I didn’t need to bother with drilling holes in the boards.
Step 4: Shopping Lists
I don’t know about you, but I go to certain stores for certain items. That means I always have multiple lists going. By categorizing my lists, I can stay better organized and not forget to get milk and socks! Also, with having all my lists stuck to the chalk and magnetic board, they won’t get lost and will be more visible.
What you will need:
- Magnetic clips (I got mine from Target, but here’s some that are similar: ACCO Magnetic Steel Clip, Box of 12 )
- Shopping list label printable
- Post-It Notes (Post-It Notes Canary Yellow 4 Pads 50 Sheets Each)
Instructions:
1. Print these labels:
2. Cut and glue labels onto clips.
3. Clip Post-It Notes to chalk and magnetic board.
Step 5: Supplies
I needed a place to store all our supplies that was close to the Kitchen Command Center. I love these little tin pails. In the first one I store my dry erasers. In the middle one I store chalk and an eraser. In the third one I have pencils, pens, permanent markers, a highlighter and a pair of scissors. My kids also always need to sharpen a pencil so I bought a cheap little pencil sharpener and hot glued a magnet to the back of it so it can be stored right on one of the chalk and magnetic boards–never lost in a drawer again.
What you will need:
- Mini tin pails (Silver Mini Tin Pail Favors,pack of 10)
- Office supply clips (ACCO Metal Binder Clips, Medium Size,12 Clips per Box)
- Dry erasers, chalk & eraser, pens, pencils, permanent markers, highlighter, scissors
Instructions:
1. Clip your tin pails to the bottom of one of your chalk and magnetic boards.
2. Fill will your supplies.
Step 6: File Box
This is the Captain Kirk of the bunch when it comes to my Kitchen Command Center. Mr. File Box is where you will store most of your floating paper–mail, school papers, coupons, etc. Everyday you get mail or important papers, file your papers in your file box. If it doesn’t fit into a category in your box, then throw it away!
What you will need:
- File box (Snap-N-Store Letter-Size File Box, Black)
- Hanging file folders (Ampad Envirotec 100% Recycled Colored Hanging File Folders, Letter Size (8.5 x 11), Assorted Colors, 20 per Box)
Instructions:
1. Set up your file box by making a folder for each of these subjects (these are just suggestions):
- Bills to be Paid
- Coupons
- Mom Action
- Dad Action
- Kid Action (important information from school, activities, etc…make a folder for each child)
- To be Filed
- To be Shred
- Sports Info
- School Info
- Menus
- Phone Directories
2. Place file box near your command center.
3. Everyday you get mail or important papers, file your papers in your file box. If it doesn’t fit into a category in your box, then throw it away!
There you have it. I hope this helps you (and me) get a bit more organized. Say BYE-BYE to your paper piles and HELLO to your cool DIY Kitchen Command Center!
What a great idea and I just love that it is a kitchen item used for kitchen organization! Thanks for sharing with us this week at Monday Funday!
Take care,
Trish
My pleasure! I love Monday Funday!