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A DIY family command center is a great way to get your whole family organized! Find out how to make one on a budget using items already in your home.

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[bctt tweet=”Stop losing your forms, keys, important bills, and more with a DIY family command center!” username=”diyadulation”]

Note: We have updated our system. Find the new one here!

It is no secret that being organized save your family time and money. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

How many times have your kids lost field trip forms? Is your husband constantly asking where his keys are?

The worst is when you forget to pay a bill because it got buried in piles of mail.

A DIY family command center helps with all of those problems and more!

The larger (and older) our family gets the more difficult it is to keep track of all of our stuff. I needed to figure out a way organize the whole family in one place because I was tired of homework, coupons, and invitations getting lost.

That was exactly why we needed to get our family organized. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on it but still wanted something both pretty and functional.

Turns out you can make a DIY family command center easily using items you already have.

Determine Your Family’s Needs

The components of your command center will vary based on your family’s needs and lifestyle. Take a minute before getting started to brainstorm ideas for what you need your DIY family command center to do. Then determine the items that will help you accomplish that. Here are some examples:

Cork Board for notes, invitations, and more.
Central Calendar to keep everyone on the same page.
Homework Folder for each kid.
Individual Kid’s Boards with chores, storage, and more.
Mail Organizer to keep you from ever missing another bill.
Office Supplies Holder

Find the Items Needed

Cork Board

I had a perfectly good cork board already. However, it was plain and kind of ugly so I covered it with fabric to brighten it up. Simply hot glue the fabric edges to the back of your board and voila!

Calendar

Don’t think this has to be anything expensive or fancy. An upcycled thrift store frame with a grid inside works perfectly.

Homework Folder

We didn’t really have anything I liked for this, so I made my own using cardboard, fabric, and a glue gun. You could also do this with file folders and binder clips.

Individual Kid’s Boards

We had picked up some of those metal, wire squares that you put together to make a cube organizer (at Goodwill for $1.50 I might add). The way that I put them together to organize kids’ craft supplies left me with extra squares. I decided I could use these to make my kid’s boards. The rest was made with just craft paper, cork, and zip ties.

Mail Organizer

This was also made out of cardboard. It is covered it with craft paper to decorate it. If you already have a mail organizer that works for you but maybe isn’t quite your style, give it a quick makeover with Mod Podge or spray paint.

Office Supplies Holder

Ours is made out of the bottom of an already decorative greeting card box. All I did was punch 2 holes in it and added some zip ties to hang it from. Super easy.

Getting Your Family On Board

The most difficult part of any system you put into place is getting your family on board. Your family needs to use the command center to make it effective. While I can’t promise that it will happen overnight, I do have some tips to make it easier:

First of all, make it convenient. Put your DIY family command center in a location that is convenient when walking in your home. This will increase the incentive to use it.
Secondly, be excited. Young kids will mimic your enthusiasm and your husband will love how excited you are. Talk about an easy way to make you happier.
Lastly, remember to be consistent. Kids especially will need reminding about the new system. Stick with it and it will eventually become second-nature.

This DIY family command center doesn’t cost a dime to make when you use items you already own in creative ways. You will always know where bills are located and if there are permission slips that need signed. Your husband will always locate his keys and wallet easily. No more late fees while you are paying off debt and no excuses for someone “not knowing” you had plans. This will free up your time an energy to do things you actually want to do.

See where I’m linking up!

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More Ideas You’ll Love:

DIY Coffee Mug Organization Rack
Tips to Organize Personal Information Now
DIY Debt Payoff Chalkboard
Washi Tape Dry Erase Calendar – Made in a Day

Could your home use a refresh this spring? After the snow finally starts to melt away, you want to bring that freshness into your home. If you don’t think it’s in the budget I have a surprise for you. These awesome wood projects to make for your home let you refresh your décor and furniture on a small budget.

[bctt tweet=”Refresh your décor and furniture on a small budget with these awesome #woodprojects to make for your home!” username=”diyadulation”]

Whether you’re looking for new furniture ideas or projects to get you more organized, you’ll find them below. Then stick around for this week’s Merry Monday link party and find more awesome DIY’s for your home!

1 Hour Coat Rack (Farmhouse 40)

Are you ready to wrangle those coats as soon as you walk in the door? This easy coat rack will help you do just that.

Easy Framed Pegboard (My Pinterventures)

Last week I shared a smaller framed pegboard perfect for a small craft area. This one is great to organize in a larger space to organize your craft tools.

Double Photo Frame (The Country Chic Cottage)

This adorable DIY is perfect to easily display and change out your family photos. It also makes a fantastic gift idea for friends and family.

$10 Tiered Planter Box Plans Tutorial (Anika’s DIY Life)

Don’t forget about the porch when you update your home for spring. This planter box is budget-friendly and gorgeous!

DIY Console Table (Love and Renovations)

When buying new furniture isn’t in the budget, DIY it. This console table is clean and sleek. Find out how easy it is to make at home at the link above.

Modern Farmhouse Picture Frame (Salvage Sister and Mister)

This easy upcycle is great for farmhouse décor but it also works for a botanical gallery wall. Make it in several different sizes for a gorgeous focal point in your home.

DIY Upholstered X-Bench (Anika’s DIY Life)

Anyone else dying for a gorgeous bench at the foot of the bed? Make your own with this fantastic tutorial.

DIY Dog Bowl Stand (Two Purple Couches)

Remember to refresh your pet’s corner of the home. This DIY dog bowl stand is an easy project that gets you organized and spruces the pet corner.

Knockoff West Elm Curtain Rods (Gross to Grandiose)

A small budget doesn’t have to limit your curtains to hanging out on white metal rods. This West Elm knockoff is a gorgeous budget-friendly solution.

DIY Wood Tray (A Fresh Squeezed Life)

I never get tired of seeing all of the different takes on wood trays. This one is especially gorgeous but still crazy easy to make.

Yay! Now you can refresh your home for spring without breaking the bank. Which one of these awesome wood projects to make for your home is your favorite? There will definitely be some of those farmhouse picture frames in my home this spring. I think they would look great in a botanical bathroom makeover. I’m officially inspired. Now, let’s keep that inspiration going with the Merry Monday link party! Thank you so much for stopping by to party with us every week!

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It is time for the Monthly Thrift Store Décor Upcycle Challenge. This month we are keeping with our Halloween momentum and I am crazy excited about it. I picked up this Christmas house from Goodwill last November and immediately knew I wanted to turn it into a haunted house. The snow on the rood and the many windows are perfect for a creepy piece of Halloween décor. Keep reading to find out how to make your own DIY haunted house makeover.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

The Rules:

Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
There’s no monthly theme.
There’s no budget to stick to.

Meet the Hosts

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

[bctt tweet=”#DIY haunted house makeover from a thrift store Christmas statue! #repurposeit” username=”diyadulation”]

Materials

Thrift Store Christmas House
Black Acrylic Paint
Brown Acrylic Paint
White Acrylic Paint
Purple Acrylic Paint
Acrylic Spray Sealant
Birch Bark
Plastic Halloween Toys (I got mine at the Dollar Tree)
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Fake Spider Web

Step 1

First, cover your entire house in black acrylic paint and let it dry.

Step 2

Next, paint the front door brown.

Step 3

Then mix a small amount of brown paint with your purple paint and paint all of the windows on your house.

Step 4

Next, mix a small amount of white and brown paint and paint the trim of the door.

Step 5

Add the same lightened brown paint to the trim of your house.

Step 6

Then add some of the brown and purple mixed paint to random shingles of your roof.

Step 7

Touch up any areas that need it and allow the paint to dry.

Step 8

Spray your entire house with acrylic sealant and let it dry.

Step 9

While your sealant dries, cut small pieces of birch bark to look like boards for the windows.

Step 10

Next, glue the boards across all of the bottom windows on your house.

Step 11

Now select some plastic Halloween toys to embellish your house with, including one skeleton bookmark.

Step 12

Cut the bottom off of your skeleton bookmark.

Step 13

Next, attach the skeleton to the top front window on your house with hot glue.

Step 14

Then glue small toys over each wreath on your house.

Step 15

Add a board across the window directly above the door and one board next to the door.

Step 16

Next, pull off a small amount of fake spider web.

Step 17

Add the spider webs to the roof of the house.

Tip:

You may need to add dabs of hot glue to keep the spider webs in place at the edges of the roof.

Step 18

Lastly, glue a plastic spider or 2 on the spider webs.

This DIY haunted house makeover turned out fantastically! The fun colors of the plastic Halloween toys make it more playfully spooky so that it doesn’t scare the kiddos. If you want to up the creep factor, stick with the white toys exclusively or paint the toys bronze before adding them to your haunted house. Whichever style you choose, you will have a fun and thrifty new piece of Halloween décor. We’re not done with the upcycled fun yet. Check out the other thrift store projects from my friends below!

See where I’m linking up!

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And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!