With school back in full swing, you may be finding the paper clutter building up. It’s easy for papers to end up on your kitchen counter or table when there is no system in place to contain them. The pile doesn’t take long to build up and before you know it an important paper has been misplaced or a bill hasn’t been paid on time. ENTER THE COMMAND STATION : a simple solution to slay the paper clutter monster for good!

I had the pleasure of working with a busy mom to create a modern farmhouse command station in the hub of her home: the kitchen. After completing a beautiful renovation, she needed to add a little organization into the space so that her shiny new countertops wouldn’t become an eye sore with papers everywhere. We wanted this organization powerhouse to fit seamlessly in this space so we chose elements and textures to compliment the modern farmhouse style she has in the rest of her home.

CHOOSE THE LOCATION

We chose a long blank wall as our canvas and then got to work dreaming up a perfect space to house school papers, bills, medical papers, a homework station and a chalkboard for inspirational scripture and quotes.

  • A blank wall near the entrance to your home, in the kitchen or even in a closet are all great options to house your dream command station.

NAME THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPACE 

This busy family not only needed a place to house papers but they also wanted to incorporate a homework station as the kids always complete their work at the kitchen island. We incorporated the 3 small tins to hold homework essentials such as pens, pencils, highlighters, tape, scissors and erasers. The black wire baskets are titled “IN” for items that need to be dealt with now, “OUT” for items that need to be filed or returned, “KIDS” for items that pertain to school or activities as well as homework projects, “STEVE/HUBBY” for his work related papers and the basket for larger items such as binders, iPad and laptop. My client also wanted her family to be encouraged when they came to this space so we included a chalkboard to write their favourite scriptures and quotes on.

  • Control paper clutter
  • Incorporate a homework station
  • Get inspired with motivational quotes or uplifting scriptures
  • Include a family calendar

CHOOSE ELEMENTS THAT COMPLIMENT YOUR STYLE

To compliment the “modern farmhouse style” we were going for, we chose black wire baskets, natural wood, a chalkboard feature, metal tins and a weaved basket to house some of the family’s larger items. My client also wanted to incorporate an arrow in her design. If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can type in the style you are going for on Pinterest and then gain inspiration from there.

  • Choose elements that compliment the aesthetic of your home
  • Zone in on your “style” by perusing Pinterest for inspiration
  • Popular styles to search: modern farmhouse, shabby chic, modern, rustic, lake house, traditional
  • Mix and match textures and finishes

CONSIDER HIRING A PROFESSIONAL

If you are feeling overwhelmed and in over your head, you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer to come into your space and help create a functional space that will help your family stay on top of the paper clutter! Many organizers offer a free initial consultation and affordable packages to meet all of your organization needs!

  • Contact your favourite local organizer
  • Request a free consultation
  • Choose a package that fits your budget and needs

I hope you have found this modern farmhouse command station post both inspiring and useful! Taking some time to re-think your space and create an organization powerhouse will help to keep paper clutter at bay.

Snap a picture and add hashtag #simplifypaperclutter on your facebook or instagram to encourage other families in our OWK community!

Do you have any tips to deal with paper clutter? I’d love to hear all about them in the comments section below!