How to Organize the Family Command Center

Dream of trading in your perpetual piles for an appealing hub that keeps family life running smoothly? Thanks to clutter coach Chip Cordelli, your wish is our command (center).

Start Here

Find the Right Spot

A zone that everyone passes through is the most effective: a corner in the kitchen, a nook in a hallway, or a centrally located home office. Shelves are key; if you don’t have built-ins, just use an armoire or a bookcase.

Make Some Rules

To keep this area from becoming an unloading zone, determine what belongs here and what doesn’t. Suggested yeses: bills, sports schedules, medical records, school papers with short-term relevance. Nos: backpacks, 3-D art projects, magazines, newspapers.

Take Care of the Nos

If there’s no plan for the junkifiers, your precious command center is toast. Find other homes for all the bulky, random items that threaten your bliss.