Updated on September 17, 2022
Project Organize: Command Center. Create a command center to corral loose papers that come in daily. File instead of pile and reclaim organization in your home.
Today in the quest to organize paper clutter we are going to talk about setting up a “command center”. You can call it whatever you want, but basically, it is a place to deal with papers that are coming in on a regular basis. This will help eliminate all those piles of papers around your home.
How to Create a Command center
First, you want to determine where is the best place to put your command center. It can be located on the counter in a small file box or sorter. You can also hang a file sorter on the wall to make use of your vertical space.
Choose a central location that is easy to access for everyone that will be using it. Also, it helps to put it near where your paper piles are already piling up since it will remind you to file instead of the pile!
What is a Command Center?
First off, let me tell you what a command center is NOT: It is not a place to permanently file paperwork. Your command center is a place to store paperwork coming in that is temporary and urgent for the present time.
Our command center is a mixture of spaces all closely tied together. It includes my pull-out desk that has a wall file sorter, a bulletin board, and a shelf on our bookshelves that is directly to the right of my desk.
It often helps to include some type of bulletin board or pin board in your command center. Pin current papers here, including a monthly calendar. Often if we file something away, we will forget about it.
I also include a family monthly calendar that has all our upcoming events on it. This helps everyone to stay on the same page with what we have going on.
My file folders in my command center desk include:
- Bills
- To-do
- Pending
- File
Bills
When I sort mail, all bills that need to be paid go into the bill pay folder. I remove any extraneous envelopes and inserts and simply keep what I need to pay my bill. My husband is paid twice a month. On paydays, I grab my folder, computer, and checkbook and get all the bills paid that are in the folder.
To Do File
My to-do file has anything that needs to be dealt with within the next week to month that I don’t have time for right now. Usually, if something will take me less than 5 minutes to do, I try to finish it right away when it comes in. However, certain things need some follow-up that I don’t always have time for. Choose one day a week to go through your to-do folder and follow up on all items.
Pending File
My pending file holds papers that I am waiting on a response for. An example would be a mail-in rebate I am waiting to receive back in the mail. I have already dealt with mailing in the rebate, but I haven’t yet received my money back. It is not something that needs to be worked on, but if I need to follow up I can easily find the papers. Also, go through this file once a week to be sure you are staying on top of things.
File Folder
The last file is a to-be-filed folder. Papers I’m saving in long-term storage go here. I file everything in its appropriate place once a month.
Tax Folder
Personal and work tax receipts get their own folder for the current year. This includes receipts and home office expenses. At the end of the year, I can easily locate all the receipts that I need for my accountant.
On my bookshelf, I use a small filing box that is used for files I refer to on a more regular basis. We have binders where we file our credit card statements and paper bill copies. I have my recipe binder, home management binders, and my blog planner on this shelf as well.
I have three baskets near my front entryway for coupons, mail, and my incoming schoolwork.
Anytime my husband or I get the mail that we don’t plan to sort immediately, it goes right in the basket. About once a week I go through the basket and recycle, shred, and file all of the paperwork into my command center.
School Papers
School papers my son and daughter bring home (that do not need to go back to school) go into the basket on the right. I file the contents of the basket once a month after deciding what to keep and recycle.
Note: The school papers I am talking about are the work my kids have completed, not informational papers from the school. Those go into my home management binder in the school section.
Having a month’s time and seeing how much accumulates in that time frame allows me to be a little more ruthless in tossing papers and not saving everything they bring home. I am very sentimental, and it can be hard for me to throw things out.
When the month is up, I file anything I want to save in the kid’s school totes.
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Phyllis says
Did you make this command center or order? If ordered can you provide information because I need this setup ASAP. Love it!
Laura Silva says
Phyllis,
I painted and upcycled the cork board. You can see that post here: https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2015/09/thrift-store-cork-board-makeover.html. As for the desk, I purchased it on Amazon. Here is the link: http://amzn.to/2DoOw2m. The file folders were purchased in the Dollar Spot at Target a few years ago. My home management binders were from the Martha Stewart line at Staples. You can find them here. I hope this helps!
Laura