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After spending three years using a digital wall calendar in my home, I’ve learned quite a bit about where these displays work best – and where they definitely don’t! When I first got my digital calendar, I made the rookie mistake of hanging it in our home office. Turns out, that was about the worst place I could have chosen. Let me share what I’ve learned about finding the perfect spot for your family’s digital calendar.
Finding the perfect spot for your digital wall calendar can make a big difference in how your family uses it. Here’s how to choose the best location in your home:
My first attempt at hanging our digital calendar was, honestly, pretty bad. I thought the home office made sense because that’s where we plan things, right? Wrong! The calendar sat there, barely used, because no one went into the office unless they had to work. After a week of missed appointments and forgotten soccer practices, I knew we needed a change.
Through trial and error, I discovered that the best place for our digital calendar was actually in our kitchen, right next to the refrigerator. Why? Because everyone visits the kitchen multiple times a day, even my teenager who seems to raid the fridge hourly! This simple move transformed how our family uses the calendar.
Best Places to Hang Your Calendar
Based on my experience, here are the top spots that really work:
The Kitchen
- Near the refrigerator (this was our winning spot!)
- By the coffee maker where parents stop first thing in the morning
- Next to the pantry door that everyone opens throughout the day
- Above the breakfast table where families gather for meals
The Living Room
- Near the TV where everyone naturally looks
- By the main entrance so it’s visible when coming and going
- Next to the family message center
- In the conversation area where family members gather
The Mudroom or Entryway
- Next to where kids drop their backpacks
- Above the shoe rack
- Near the key hooks
- By the coat closet
Places to Avoid (Trust Me, I Tried These)
Let me save you some time by sharing spots that definitely didn’t work for us:
- The Home Office My first mistake! Unless your whole family regularly uses the office, this is a terrible spot. Our calendar got ignored for weeks here.
- Bedrooms I briefly tried putting it in the hallway near bedrooms, but people were usually too rushed in the morning or too tired at night to stop and look.
- The Basement Even though we have a nice finished basement, the calendar got zero attention here because it wasn’t part of our daily traffic pattern.
Making Sure Everyone Can Use It
Height and Visibility After some adjustments (and a few complaints from shorter family members), I found that the perfect height is about 5 feet from the floor. This makes it accessible for most family members, including my 11-year-old daughter.
Tips for Perfect Placement:
- Stand in different spots around the room to check for glare
- Test the display at different times of day to check lighting
- Make sure there’s enough space for 2-3 people to gather around it
- Double-check that everyone can reach the touch screen comfortably
Creating a Family Hub
Once we found the right spot in our kitchen, I noticed something interesting happening. The area around our calendar naturally became a family gathering spot. Here’s how we made it even better:
Personal Touches We Added:
- A small bulletin board next to it for paper notes and reminders
- Family photos in matching frames around the display
- A small shelf underneath for markers and a notepad
- Good lighting with an adjustable lamp nearby
Getting Everyone Involved
The biggest challenge wasn’t the technology – it was getting everyone to actually use the calendar! Here’s what worked for our family:
Making It a Daily Habit:
- We check the calendar during breakfast every morning
- Everyone adds their own activities right when they learn about them
- We have a Sunday evening “week ahead” meeting
- We celebrate when everyone remembers to use it (ice cream rewards work wonders!)
Practical Tips from Three Years of Use
Power and Connectivity One thing I wish I’d thought about earlier was power outlet placement. Make sure you have:
- A nearby outlet that’s not already overloaded
- Good WiFi signal in your chosen spot
- A way to hide the power cord neatly
- A surge protector for safety
Maintenance Matters Keep your calendar working well by:
- Dusting the screen weekly (it’s amazing how dusty it gets!)
- Checking for software updates monthly
- Keeping the area around it clutter-free
- Testing the touch screen sensitivity regularly
Dealing with Common Challenges
Over the years, we’ve faced and solved several common issues:
Screen Glare
- Added adjustable blinds to nearby windows
- Installed an anti-glare screen protector
- Adjusted room lighting to reduce reflection
Family Resistance
- Started with just adding fun events like birthdays and vacations
- Made it a game for the kids to add their activities
- Offered small rewards for consistent calendar use
- Celebrated when the calendar helped us avoid scheduling conflicts
The Results: Three Years Later
After three years and several location changes, our digital calendar has become an essential part of our family organization. The key was finding the right spot where it naturally fit into our daily routines. Now, missed appointments are rare, and everyone knows what’s happening in our busy family life.
Remember: The perfect spot for your digital calendar might take some trial and error to find. Don’t be afraid to move it around until you discover what works best for your family. The goal is to make it so convenient and natural to use that checking the calendar becomes an automatic part of everyone’s day.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, moving our digital calendar to the kitchen was the best decision we made. It transformed it from an ignored gadget into an essential family tool. If you’re just starting with your digital calendar, learn from my mistakes: skip the home office and head straight for the heart of your home – wherever that may be for your family.
What started as a simple calendar has become our family’s central communication hub, all because we found the right spot for it. Sometimes the smallest change – like moving a calendar – can make the biggest difference in keeping a family organized and connected. Copy
