3 Must Haves for an Organized Command Center

Like many others, my family is gearing up to head back to school after a fun summer off. During the summer, Tim finished our mud room and for most of it, I knew exactly how it should be organized. I knew I needed a long enough bench with at least three baskets for the girl’s shoes. We would need hooks for the girl’s jacket and book bags and of course I wanted it to all look as aesthetically pleasing as possible. These things were super easy to find and came together rather quickly however we had this little corner in the room that I had no clue what to do with. At first I thought the obvious solution would be storage for hats, scarves and gloves but then it came to me! It would make the most perfect little command center to help keep us school ready all year long!

I ran to my favorite store, Christmas Tree Shops, and quickly started searching for the most stylish and affordable pieces. I knew that they would have everything I needed to get this corner pulled together quickly. I gathered everything in my cart, checked out and ran home to set it all up. Here are the five things you should look for to set your command center up.

1. Small Piece of furniture

I had only 23” of space to work with for this corner so first I went straight to the furniture section of my Christmas Tree Shop. There were only a couple of styles that fit into this tight space so I chose the 3 tier bookshelf. I wanted something open that I could add baskets to and fill with those quick grab snacks for the girls as they run out the door. Right next to the furniture section were the the baskets and they had so many to choose from. I found the exact size and style that would fit the bookshelf perfectly.

2. Dry Erase Calendar

The office section was nice and full at the store and I was able to find several dry erase boards. I chose a calendar style that hung vertical to fit the space. I liked the simple design and that it already came with a marker and magnets. I like the idea of having one calendar that the family can refer to for activities or important appointments.

3. Paper Bins

One thing most parents would know is that kids come home from school with a lot of paper. Sometimes with the shuffling of paper, important ones can get misplaced. I found two wire bins at Christmas Tree Shops and labeled them with each of the girl’s names. This way, when i have to send notes to their teacher, or send in permission slips, I can put them in the bins and remember to return them to school as the girls fly out the door in the morning.

Now that we got the essentials set up for the command center, it was time to dress it up with some additional accessories from Christmas Tree Shops. I love greenery even if it’s faux so I purchased this chic plant. I loved the design of the vase it came in and the best part is that I don’t have to remember to water it. Lastly I grabbed this matte black bowl from the kitchen section. I thought it could be a convenient spot to throw my keys or loose change.

I’m very pleased with how our little command center turned out, plus it was super affordable. It goes to show that you really need only a little space, imagination and a local Christmas Tree Shop to get the job done!

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