Bar Carts Let the Good Times Roll
These portable furniture pieces are oh so versatile and retro cool
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a teeny splash of your favorite tipple at the end of a hard day. It can taste all the sweeter if it’s prepared on a chic bar cart. Whether vintage or modern in style, a cart can also double as a side table, snack tray or magazine rack. But its real beauty is that it can be moved from room to room, serving different functions as it goes. With the holiday season just around the corner, peruse these examples for ideas and learn some tips on how to stock your cart.
Go bottom-heavy. There are no hard and fast rules for this, but generally it’s wise to keep bulky bottles, ice buckets and decanters on the bottom tier of your cart and display lighter, more delicate glassware on top. So it can be a good idea to choose a cart with a large space underneath. This will help the weight distribution and balance of the cart as you move it from room to room. It also means transparent glasses on the top shelf won’t obscure or clash with any artwork or photographs hanging above it.
Make it work harder. Your cart doesn’t have to be dedicated solely to drinks and glasses. It can also be handy for keeping plates, bowls, cups and saucers for guests all in one place while you’re entertaining. This is also a great dinner party trick, as all of your dishware can be wheeled out to the table in one fell swoop.
Keep it light. Because bar carts are such beautiful objects in their own right, it’s a shame to clutter them with too much paraphernalia. Besides, you don’t want glasses and bottles slipping off if you decide to wheel the cart around, so try not to overload it.
So Your Style Is: Retro
So Your Style Is: Retro
Go for extra tiers. If you like to have a good selection of your favorite drinks at the ready, get a bar cart with an additional shelf, to provide more storage for the same footprint. A three-tier drinks station like this one will offer more than enough room for decanters, a tray of spirits, cocktail shakers and plenty of glassware — perfect for getting the party started.
Upcycle an old find. Give an old wooden cart a quick coat of paint and your upcycled treasure will quickly become your favorite accessory for every kind of get-together. Sand the wood and remember to use a primer before applying a few layers of tough, hard-wearing gloss- or satin-finish paint, either of which can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Chalky paint would also work, and can be applied straight to the surface.
Give it a new job. These petite, portable pieces of furniture are versatile and work well all over the house. Use your cart as an occasional table in the living room for stacking books and displaying accessories. Or wheel it into the bedroom, where it can be a perch for a lamp, a glass of water and your favorite book. Or give it a home in the bathroom, where it would make a great spot for makeup and toiletries.
Choose clever fixtures. Seek out bar carts that make life easier. For instance, this beautiful retro design not only holds an ice bucket and decanter, it has a neat built-in wine rack and storage for glasses on the underside of the top shelf. This leaves more room for other party paraphernalia.
Channel all-out glamour. If it’s cocktail hour, there’s nothing quite like your very own drinks cart to add a touch of elegance to the event. A curvaceous gilt design will conjure up a little slice of Gatsby chic. If you really want to up the glamour, make sure your cart is stocked with a bit of everything: bourbon, champagne and a good selection of aperitifs, as well as beautiful crystal, old-fashioned decanters and a shiny ice bucket.
Revel in retro. There’s something rather old-school about a bar cart anyway, but team it with vintage glassware and stand it under the right artwork and you can really bring out the midcentury charm.
Clean up an original piece. If you find yourself a regular at your local antiques shop, or like to scour garage sales for your favorite finds, keep an eye out for an antique wooden bar cart. If it looks a bit worse for the wear, don’t worry. Treat it to a good buff, polish and wax to bring back its original luster. And you can always hide any scratches or marks with a beautiful vintage tray and a couple of sturdy decanters.
Try a tray table. If you haven’t managed to track down a cart you love, a simple foldaway tray table can work too. Since it’s not on wheels, it will be more difficult to move around, but position it carefully and you’ll soon have a cool focal point for your parties.
Tell us: Have you bagged yourself a beautiful bar cart? Share your stories, ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
Holiday Party Prep: Ready Your Supplies
Make Your Checklist for Entertaining Season
Tell us: Have you bagged yourself a beautiful bar cart? Share your stories, ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
Holiday Party Prep: Ready Your Supplies
Make Your Checklist for Entertaining Season