5 Tips to Style the Perfect Bar Cart
A stylish bar cart can be the perfect focal point for your next party — or a stunning accent piece for your living room — but picking out the perfect decorations can be an overwhelming task. A good bar cart should play bartender, entertainer, and hostess all in one, while also keeping your guests happy and leaving you to relax and enjoy your party. To spice up your bar cart and turn your next shindig into the Party of the Year, check out these 5 decorating tips.
Antique Boutique
When you’re shopping for a bar cart, don’t rush it — let the right cart come to you. Garage sales and antique shops can be great places to hunt down a unique piece that will get all your guests talking. Don’t be afraid to get crafty, either: Beautiful bar carts have been styled out of everything from metal pipes to diaper changing tables. A fresh coat of paint and carefully placed mirrors can make a vintage cart look brand new.
Bar Necessities
Stocking a bar cart can be tricky business. You’ll want to invest in some basics, like vodka, tumblers, corkscrews, and wine glasses. But stocking a cart isn’t about collecting every mixer and alcohol under the sun — mixing drinks is as much about aesthetics as it is about the libations themselves. Try color-coordinating bottles, or if your favorite drinks come in less-than-classy packaging, try transferring them into decanters that better match your style. Keep essentials like soda and tonic in multiples to give your cart a neat, organized look.
It’s Easy Being Green
Add something fresh and floral to breathe life into your bar cart setup. Something living, like a vase of flowers or fresh fruit, adds a special something to your décor. A small potted plant can be another great way to bring some energy and life into your party. Bonus points if you can make your decorations both fashionable and functional! Keep a few lemons in a glass bowl to be added to whiskey sours, or grow a little pot of mint to add to fresh juleps.
Full Color
Don’t be afraid to stray away from uniform, clear glasses and white dishes. Splashes of color on glassware and artsy knick-knacks can give your cart a dose of fun. Even if you’re aiming for a simple, sophisticated style, a bit of color can help highlight elegant shapes and show off your unique sensibility. If you prefer a minimalist look, coasters, straws, and stirrers are all great ways to add a delicate touch of color, or you could always go all out with a cart painted bright yellow or pink.
A Personal Touch
Your bar cart should show off your personality, as well as your taste in drinks. Deck out your cart with stacks of your favorite books and records for a tasteful but homey look. Guests will get the chance to flip through your favorite titles while they pour their drink of choice. Offset the hard, rectangular edges of the books by topping them with eye-catching sculptural pieces or an elegant decanter.