How to Design the Perfect Bar Cart
Bar carts don't always live up to their potential but by adding in a few key accessories (and a little extra thought), your bar cart can become a focal point in your home. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite bar carts to prove that serving serious style is as important as serving tasty drinks!
Everyone has a bar cart these days and they’re great because they’re functional and beautiful. Functional because they can hold all the essentials for a great party, but, trust me, they can be so much more! Keep scrolling for styling tips and ideas!
Get Organized
Just like when you're designing a space in your home, a well-styled bar cart begins with a plan. Gather the things you want to use and then divide the bar cart into zones and dedicate each zone to a specific essential, whether it's glassware, bottles or bar tools. Group everything together and add some decorative elements such as bowls of lemons or limes, flowers or nuts.
Your bar cart can be the perfect display space. Use it to present some of your favorite glassware and dishes. And don’t worry because there are no rules and just about anything looks good on it! Fresh flowers are a must to add aroma and color. Add a beautiful book if you have room!
Be Creative
No bar cart…no problem. Use a chest or table that’s already in your home. Add a basket to organize bottles, flowers and/or a plant, glasses, and a candle and you’ll be party ready in no time!
The bar cart (cabinet) above has serious style, but it’s also very practical and beautiful! The books that are decoratively placed on the floor ground the airy cabinet.
Play Dress Up
The best part of styling your bar cart is dressing it up with your favorite treasures. Visit vintage and antique stores to look for unique bar tools, cocktail recipe books and unusual glasses. Then use only the prettiest liquor bottles. A well stocked and beautiful bar cart immediately invites guests to enjoy themselves!
When stocking your bar cart, consider your needs and the beverages you like to drink and serve.
Here are some basic tools and glassware to have on hand for a party:
Tools
Shaker, Jigger, Ice Bucket, Strainer, Juicer, Muddler, Bottle Opener, Corkscrew,
Glassware
It’s always nice to have an appropriate glass for your drink. For example…I cannot stand to be served champagne in a wine glass!
Highball, Lowball, Champagne Flute, White Wine Glass, Red Wine Glass, Cordial Glasses, Shot Glasses, Martini Glass
Infuse Your Personal Style
The items you use to style your bar cart are a reflection of your personality! My style is more girly (see below) and less industrial, but either can work!
Use decorative trays and containers to corral bottles and hold other similar items. They add one more element of interest.
Look For Pretty Packaging
Color, pattern and texture all come into play when styling your bar cart. Custom coasters and cocktail napkins add style and function. Cloth cocktail napkins are a small touch that can go a long way.
Look for bar carts in vintage and antique stores that can be painted or repaired and brought back to life in your home! I’ve found great inexpensive carts that I’ve given to my daughters.
Color-Coordinate
Think about both color and quality when selecting spirits and glassware. Here, a collection of all blue glasses and blue vase bring continuity to the cart. If your favorite spirits come in less-attractive bottles, scour vintage stores for bright decanters. I love the decorative, but useful dish towel on the side of this cart.
Stocking the Bar
Now that your bar is beautiful, what should you serve your guests? In my opinion, you should always mix the practical with the unexpected. Have a selection of basic liquors: vodka, gin, bourbon or whiskey and vermouth and round these out with a few funky liquors in bottles with different shapes for visual appeal. Notice the removable tray on the cart above. I found one like this that I keep on my front porch for summertime entertaining. I can easily lift the top off, bring it inside to fill and then easily serve my guests! I found it for under $100 at a vintage store!
Master the Mix
As the holidays approach, it’s the perfect time to mix family heirlooms in with newer pieces. Mix in the old… crystal glassware, a silver ice bucket, corkscrews - with the new… colorful napkins, straws and even fun bottles of water and mixers. Fever Tree makes an amazing ginger beer that comes in a pretty bottle and you can never go wrong with glass bottles of Perrier.
Notice the beautiful cordial glasses on the bar cart above..
The bar carts above and below are knock-your-socks off for different reasons. Both have a “glam” theme. The one above uses vintage 1940’s decanters and interesting colorful decanters, where the one below is strictly Rosé and Champagne. Which one is your favorite here?
A built in bar can be the ultimate luxury!
I hope you’ve found this post useful and inspiring! Please leave a comment and let me know your favorite and if you have any tips that I’ve left out! As spring gets closer, I’m ready to get my house in order and enjoy the season!