Customize Your Home Command Center

Make organizing your family's schedule easier with a home command center in the middle of the action. This is not the home office — it's in an open part of the house where all essential functions of running a home happen: organizing mail, bills, keeping everyone up to date with calendars and schedules, messages, meal planning and other items and information your family shares. Take a look at common features of a command center and see how you can make it easy — even fun — to keep track of your family's busy schedule.

When designing your family command center:

Find the right spot. The best location for the command center is a high-traffic area where family members have access on a daily basis. A spot by the family's most popular entry door is perfect.

Determine what features you really need. Sometimes all you need is a computer if everyone in your home is comfortable with it.

Think of the look you want. Consider mixing storage designs, such as using open and closed shelving, working with the style of your existing cabinetry for a seamless look, or putting everything on the wall to save floorspace.

Read on for 13 helpful features to consider. Which ones are right for your household?

Browse photos of family drop zones