Make sure you follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for a sneak peek into my recent projects!
I’ve kind of been crushing on kitchen command centers on Pinterest recently. There are some amazingly beautiful and intricate displays out there, but they all seemed a little too expensive to tackle.
I was looking for something quite simple: a large calendar plus a place to organize some paperwork, oh and something that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. So after some bargain shopping I came up with this….
I could have hidden my trashcans but I’m keeping this real. I’m still debating whether or not to convert a cabinet into trashcans, but until then my recycle and trash go in this designated space.
So my favorite part of this kitchen command center is my dry erase board calendar. I actually designed the printable myself and had it printed 22×28 inches from a local shop (I know you can order online from UPrinting for $19). Then I purchased the white frame from Amazon for $19 (not an affiliate link).
I purchased some dry erase markers from Target. I love that you can easily write on top of the plexiglass or glass of the framed calendar to make it a dry erase board.
With just the calendar on the wall it seemed a bit bare so I decided to use some of the empty space to organize my paperwork. I purchased two desk organizers and some pre-designed labels from Target for $4.
To attach the desk organizers to the wall,
we drilled three holes in the back of each.
Then used drywall anchors and screwed the organizers into the wall.
Then I added 6 of the pre-designed labels from Target. They seemed to coincide perfectly with what I wanted: markers, paper, receipts, misc., expenses and pens.
Then in the back of the organizers I put my budget binder (with our monthly bills and budget sheet) plus pocket folders for our other paperwork.
On top of the calendar I framed two cute little sayings. I’m thinking about switching these out for each season using some of my favorite printables.
Overall this was a pretty cheap project.
Calendar print from UPrinting or local printer: $19
White 22×28 frame from Amazon: $19
Desk organizers from Target: $14
Pre-designed labels from Target: $4
White 8×10 inch frames from Michaels: $15
Dry erase markers: $4
TOTAL COST: $75
And so happy to finally feel organized!
This weekend I’m putting the finishing touches on our Family Room,
so stay tuned for that makeover on Monday!
Stephanie says
September 4, 2014 at 2:00 pmIs it weird that my favorite thing about this is that the trash cans are right under where you are sorting the papers? Because that seems awfully smart to me. Love it!
Kris says
September 9, 2014 at 1:12 pmI love this! What a great idea – I can hardly wait to make this for my kitchen.
Tiffany S. says
September 10, 2014 at 11:27 amLooks great!!! I like the idea of the dry erase calendar & love the two sayings, where are they from?
howtonestforless says
September 10, 2014 at 1:48 pmThe two sayings I created in Photoshop from some stock illustrations I downloaded from BigStockPhoto. Due to copyright on the script, I can’t offer them on my blog, sorry!
Rylie says
September 10, 2014 at 1:17 pmI love your kitchen command center! I am trying to get the calendar printed from uprinting however there are so many options, which did you pick? Thank you!
howtonestforless says
September 10, 2014 at 1:50 pmI actually printed from a local print shop. I just mentioned the UPrinting as an option if you couldn’t find anything around town. Here is the link though from their website where you can order: http://www.uprinting.com/large-format-posters-printing.html
And I would do 22×28 inches in semi gloss!
Treshea Johnson says
September 27, 2014 at 11:30 amI love your Life Center!! I was just wondering if you think it would work with one of those large desk calanders and change it out monthly? That way if you needed to refer back to a date that something was done it would be written down. The reason I asked is because I too have been looking for a cheaper way to have a organization station.
howtonestforless says
September 29, 2014 at 7:41 amYes, that would work as well! Great idea!
Tara says
September 30, 2014 at 3:59 pmI love you Life Center! What program did you create the calendar in?
Thanks,
Tara
howtonestforless says
September 30, 2014 at 9:47 pmThanks Tara! I used Photoshop for the calendar.
Cass says
September 11, 2017 at 9:24 amHello!! I love your calendar, and have bought the frame to create my own…but your download here link just opens a blank page for me. Am I doing something wrong? Is there another link somewhere? I would love to use yours…thank you!
howtonestforless says
September 12, 2017 at 8:09 pmTry this link:
https://howtonestforless.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/calendar-board.jpg
misti says
October 18, 2014 at 11:46 pmSome of these command centers are so expensive i love how you made it
so much cheaper
howtonestforless says
October 20, 2014 at 12:29 pmThank you!
sessy says
November 15, 2014 at 10:21 pmEvery time I try to download the calendar it says that it can’t download because the calendar has an error. Is there a way around this?
howtonestforless says
November 15, 2014 at 10:39 pmTry clicking on this link:
https://howtonestforless.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/calendar-board.jpg
April says
December 10, 2014 at 8:15 pmLove this! Where did you get the plexiglass?
howtonestforless says
December 11, 2014 at 6:07 pmIt was just part of the cheap frame that I purchased!
Kara says
January 22, 2015 at 8:47 pmUgh! I spent years agonizing over my own command center, finally finished it, was all sorts of proud, and then saw your post. I need the grocery list on my calendar. Loud. Exasperated. Sigh. Brilliant! And now that I’m ready for a makeover of my very new makeover, please take a look and feel free to offer suggestions so I don’t repeat this post next year. P.S. I’m so happy to find other people share my joy in making organizing pretty. Your wall looks fantastic!
http://missfrugalfancypants.com/fancy-family-command-center/
howtonestforless says
January 25, 2015 at 10:36 amYours looks beautiful! Love those hanging file folders!!
Kara says
January 27, 2015 at 8:13 amThanks!
Casey Thomas says
April 12, 2015 at 1:26 pmThis is amazing! I am adopting it for my kitchen this week! Question for you – I have an 18 x 24 space for a frame. Do you think I can print the calendar that size or should I just try creating my own? Thank you!
howtonestforless says
April 12, 2015 at 7:00 pmIt will cut off a little of the top and bottom of the gray border but you’ll hardly notice!!
Kelsey says
April 19, 2015 at 9:41 pmWhat program did you use to make your calendar?
howtonestforless says
April 20, 2015 at 8:26 amPhotoshop.
Lauren says
June 30, 2015 at 8:18 pmI was just wondering if you knew what the wall paint color is? Really like it!
howtonestforless says
July 1, 2015 at 8:53 amInspire Awe from Clark+Kensington at Ace Hardware!
Evora says
August 3, 2015 at 9:20 amWhat other things do you keep in the folders? I know you said your budget info is in one.
howtonestforless says
August 3, 2015 at 9:04 pmIn one folder I had all of my medical and dental bills. In another folder I kept my kid’s school paperwork. And the third folder held misc. paperwork.
Gina says
September 13, 2015 at 2:04 pmThis looks fanantastic. I am going to set up my command center like the bins (with that arrangement).
Gina says
September 13, 2015 at 2:05 pmThis looks so neat. I am going to set up my bins like this. Our recycling and trash make me crazy.
Meaghan says
January 4, 2016 at 12:42 amLove this!!! You totally motivated me a few weeks ago when I found you on Pinterest!!! I was super bummed because I haven’t been able to find the labels but that’s ok. I just completed our command center this weekend! I’ll have to email you a picture just to share. Thank you for your great idea!!!
howtonestforless says
January 10, 2016 at 7:50 pmYes, please email a pic. Would love to see it!!
L says
July 30, 2016 at 1:27 pmI love this post. Could you do another post just about your budget binder and how to make one? I’m new to adulting and trying to figure out how to save & spend wisely!
howtonestforless says
August 1, 2016 at 4:20 pmI would definitely check out these two posts for help!
https://howtonestforless.com/2014/08/13/paid-20000-credit-card-debt/
and
https://howtonestforless.com/2014/11/10/tips-saving-money-setting-budget/
Cherry says
September 1, 2016 at 10:29 amThank you for this customizable printable, I printed some for the back to school board of my daughter 🙂
Camille says
January 4, 2017 at 8:59 pmI love it. Definitely going try this.
mizzacdqueen says
April 3, 2017 at 3:28 amim stumped april 2017 how have you fit it in I either have to miss a number out whichever way I look at it help !!
Heather says
January 2, 2018 at 8:48 amI absolutely love this idea! Thank you for sharing! How did you find your printable calendar? I was looking at changing up the colors in it. Thank you!
howtonestforless says
January 7, 2018 at 1:37 pmI made it myself! The link to download is on the page 🙂
Kirsten says
January 19, 2018 at 10:24 pmDoes Target still carry the black labels?
howtonestforless says
January 24, 2018 at 5:28 pmNot quite sure… haven’t looked recently. Maybe try Hobby Lobby for blank ones?