1THRIVE Review: What to Look for in Family Command Centers

There are truly dozens of options when it comes to family command centers, but 1THRIVE is my hands down favorite! Here’s why:

1THRIVE is an all in one, hanging command center that’s totally customizable to you and your family’s needs, and I am thrilled that they are sponsoring this review! 

I have The Brooke (pictured above) hanging in my hallway, but they have over half a dozen different configurations available. I’ll unpack The Brooke with you, but be sure to shop around on their site to make sure you’re getting the perfect command center for you! 

And one last thing before we dive in, be sure to click “download now” below to get your FREE family chore chart printable! It pairs perfectly with any family command center, whether you use 1THRIVE or a DIY solution. 

Prefer to watch instead of read? Click below to check out my YouTube video!

1THRIVE Command Center: What's Included?

Every 1THRIVE command center includes a metal base, a selection of boards, and chalk markers (I love the chalk markers!) The Brooke features a shorter, wider base, but there are other options such as The Rachel that have a tall and skinny base. 

Every 1THRIVE command center includes a different arrangement of boards. The Brooke came with: 

Double Wide Calendar/Notes Board on White Board

In my opinion, a monthly calendar is a crucial piece of any family command center, especially if you have older kids with varying schedules. Everyone knows where to look to see the schedule and any upcoming events or appointments. (Pro Tip: Color code your family’s schedule by giving every family member their own color marker!) 

Weekly Plan on Black Board 

I personally use this board to make a weekly meal plan, but you could use it to draw out a more detailed schedule, keep track of school assignments, or to assign family chores. 

Corkboard

The corkboard is a great place to keep items that need quick action like permission slips or bills (especially if you’re the type who needs to SEE it to make sure you don’t forget it!) It would also be a great place to put up a printable chore chart – don’t forget to grab your copy for free at the top of this post!

Hooks & Buckets 

1THRIVE thought of everything when designing these command centers! The Brooke includes two metal buckets and a three hook bar. These can easily hook over the bottom bar of the frame, and they can hold chalk markers, masks, keys – even kids jackets! 

1THRIVE Command Center: Features

Removable Boards (!!) 

The way these boards are designed is ah-mazing. The only thing you have to hang is the metal base – everything else hooks on to the base. This means two things. 

1) You can mix and match with various accessories (or if you have more than one 1THRIVE system in your house, you can move the boards between systems.) 

2) You can take the boards off to write on them! This is my very favorite feature of the 1THRIVE system and where I think that 99% of other command centers miss the mark. Standing and writing on a board that’s bolted to the wall is really difficult, especially if I’m trying to meal plan and look at recipes on my computer or phone – there’s just a lot to juggle. With my 1THRIVE system, I can take the board off of the system and to my couch, office, dining room – anywhere! It’s so much easier to write on that way! 

Magnetic…everything! 

The entire system (other than the corkboard and wooden frames) is magnetic! The metal base, the white board, the black board, the top rim – all of it! This is really nice for anything you’d like to display but don’t want to pierce holes through, like the scripture cards below. 

Personalize Your Board 

Did you see the top of these systems? There’s a magnetic black board strip where you can write your family’s name, a fun quote, or even magnetize some little holiday decor to make things festive! 

1THRIVE Command Center: The Chalk Markers!!!

I have used a lot of chalk markers in my life, and 1THRIVE’s are some of the best ever! They are wet erase, which means they won’t smudge when you come back to add something to your calendar and they wipe clean with a damp cloth. They write with a vibrant pigment that’s crisp and clear. 

Note: they will take a couple of tries to get “started” – you have to do a lot of shaking and gently pressing down on the tip to get the ink flowing. But don’t give up! Once you get the ink flowing, they work great! 

Now, here’s an interesting thing about the 1THRIVE boards – both the black board and the white board use the same chalk marker. The whiteboard isn’t your typical dry erase board, and actually, dry erase markers don’t work on these systems. But don’t worry – a set of chalk markers are included with your purchase.

1THRIVE Command Center: Other Options

So that’s an overview of what’s included with The Brooke 1THRIVE Command Center that I have – but there are so many available options! If you want to get the exact set I just showed you, you can find it here. But I’d highly encourage you to shop around and make sure you’re getting the perfect command center to fit your needs! Here are some of the other options offered by 1THRIVE: 

Vertical Command Centers

If you have the budget for it, these vertical command centers are perfect for kids! You could put one in each child’s room, or hang a set with one for each child in a common location. Some of the command centers come with a file holder as one of the boards which would be great for holding school papers! These are also a good option if you don’t have the space to hang the wider command center. 

Add on Boards 

With the 1THRIVE command centers you can mix and match and customize all day long! They have an entire shop of add-ons and accessories where you can get things like this mail holder or an extra black board or calendar board. That third rail on the frame really comes in handy when it comes to these accessories! 

I also love how everything is so perfectly proportioned. One wide board equals two square boards. And one square board equals two skinny rectangles. It all fits together like a puzzle! 

Family Packs 

If you’re wanting to invest in more than one 1THRIVE command center, then you’ll want to check out their Family Packs. These are recommended pairs of 1THRIVE centers, and they often are on sale for some sort of discount! 

Frequently Asked Questions about Command Centers:

Where should I put my family command center? 

I recommend putting your family command center in a common location that everyone will see. For example, an entryway, your kitchen, a loft area, or even a hallway. 

What is a family command center in a home? 

A family command center is a central location where the whole family can go to get information about the week. If anyone has any questions about the schedule, the menu, or needs to communicate something to the rest of the family – the family command center is the place to do so! 

How do you make a home command center? 

All you need to make a home command center is a central location where everyone knows to go to get information. A simple whiteboard can often do the trick, but you’ll find it has its limitations. For one, it can look a lot cheaper and tackier (depending on the whiteboard you pick, of course!) You also have to stand and write on the board against the wall – I am in loooove with the way I can take the 1THRIVE boards off their base and sit down on the couch or at the table to write on them! 

If you love to DIY your own solutions, you could definitely build your own family command center solution out of white boards, cork boards, and calendars. But remember that you’ll be paying for each individual item, and it could be hard to get them all to match and fit together well. If you want a low stress solution, I’d recommend investing in a 1THRIVE system – be sure to check out all the different options to find the one that fits your needs! 

What should be in a family command center? 

A family command center should relay any important information about the week, so exactly what is in your command center depends on what is important to your family! I’d recommend starting with a monthly calendar so that everyone knows what is coming up in the month. I also like keeping our meal plan on our command center so my husband knows at a glance what we’re having for supper. If you have a memory verse you’re working on as a family, that would be a great option to include! Or even a family chore chart like the one you can click below to grab for free!

As you can tell, I love the 1THIRVE system. It looks impressive in pictures, but I can tell you that when you receive it you’re sure to be impressed with the quality of the materials as well! Digging through the packaging is, let’s say, an adventure! It’s a large item, after all, and it comes very well protected. But you’ll love having it hanging on your wall and keeping everything in order for you! Be sure to check out the options here.