Cool bar carts, cabinets and stands
Pour yourself a drink; this one is on the house
Display your spirits in style with these cool carts, cabinets and stands
Story by Jenna Wiley
Why limit happiness to just one hour? Add a little more spirit to your home decor with a glamorous bar cart, a luxurious liquor cabinet or a beautiful serving buffet. Whether you’re looking for something mid-century modern, art deco or bohemian, there is a bar setup to suit your style. The idea of a home bar has never been more enticing.
Style: Farmhouse chic
Summer Hill Serving Buffet
If you prefer a more discreet place to store your liquor, a multi-functional piece may be the best choice. This serving buffet has seemingly endless storage options, both for bottles and dishes. Its ideal placement would be in your dining room as a place to have quick access to your drinks while dining, while still having the stylish look of farmhouse chic. fwdgonline.com $2,240
Style: Old Hollywood
Hamm Gold Metal Mirrored Six-Tier Bar Cart
This chic bar cart will have you feeling like a glamorous Old Hollywood star in your own home. With mirrored shelves and an elegant glass top, it is perfect for displaying all your favorite spirits. Plus, it has wheels, so it’s perfect for entertaining.worldmarket.com $450
Style: Rustic Modern
Boilermaker Bar Cabinet
This boilermaker-inspired bar cabinet by Howard Miller has everything you could want in a bar cabinet. It can store wine bottles on the top and bottom and has plenty of space in the two drawers for your collection of bar tools and accessories. The storage layout of this cabinet is fully customizable, so you can adapt your home bar to your lifestyle. coastalhomehhi.com $3,500
Style: Contemporary Modern
Aleja Bar
Dark and moody more your speed? If so, this beautiful walnut bar cabinet is a solid choice. The handmade cabinet has brass hardware and adjustable storage options to make it highly customizable. It is nearly four and a half feet tall. arhaus.com $2,699
Style: Mid-century
Uttermost Adia Bar Stand
This bar stand is perfect for a smaller room, like a game room or a screened-in porch. It features a unique floating design with black glass inlaid shelves, finished in dark bronze with gold highlights. mcvfurniture.com $550
Style: Mid-century
Armor Bar Cabinet
Mid-century-style furniture is on the rise in popularity, and this mahogany bar cabinet would be a great addition to your collection. It has a surprising amount of storage options with a self-closing drawer, removable wine rack and exterior wine bottle storage wings. ethanallen.com $2,117
Style: Bohemian
Toscana Rattan Mobile Bar Cart
Most people shy away from bohemian home decor for fear of their house looking like a beach-side rental, but this rattan rolling bar cart is the perfect blend of bohemian and classy elegance. With granite, glass and wooden shelving, it will blend in seamlessly with the other items in your home.coastalchic.com $2,400
Cool cooler
Café Stainless Steel Wine Cooler
Say goodbye to tepid wine with this spacious Café wine cooler, available through Apple Appliance. It can hold 46 bottles, which is perfect for hosting those company holiday parties and family gatherings. This smart cooler also connects to Wi-Fi so you can even change the temperature of your drinks remotely if you want a cold glass when you get home. appleappliancecenter.com $3,099
How to style a bar cart
Bar carts are fun ways to liven up a party any time of the year just by changing up the styling. Yes, styling a bar cart is a thing.
1. Create a self-serve drink station
Keep things stress-free by having your guests prepare their own cocktails. By creating a self-serve drink station, your guests will have fun crafting their own custom drinks, and you can join the party.
Pro tip: For a New Year’s Eve party, be sure to keep champagne bottles cold by submerging them in a decorative ice bucket.
2. Keep the bar fully stocked
Remember that your bar cart will be a popular destination throughout the party, so you’ll need to make sure that your bar is fully stocked. Keep plenty of straws and napkins on hand.
Pro tip: For self-serve cocktails, arrange the ingredients and accessories by laying them out on the top shelf. Leave breathing room to make each item accessible.
3. Decorate with fresh florals
No party bar cart is complete without fresh florals. Keep things simple by sticking to one or two types of flowers arranged into simple bouquets. Stargazer lilies were paired with white hydrangeas to match the palette perfectly.
Pro tip: When putting together your floral arrangements, keep in mind that you’ll want the top shelf to have plenty of room, so choose a taller vase to free up valuable tabletop space. For the bottom shelf, a shorter arrangement placed on the opposite end balances the entire look.
4. Stick with a defined color palette
Your bar cart will stand out with a defined color palette. Use just one to three colors that will really make your bar cart the star of the party. As with all good design, don’t be afraid to mix and match similar textures.
Pro tip: Mixing similar yet distinct metallic hues together keeps things interesting.
5. Stock extra bottles
Your bar cart will be responsible for getting the party started, so make sure that you have plenty of drinks on hand to keep the party rolling. Use the bottom shelf to stock extra bottles. Feel free to provide alternative options as well, such as wine, different liquor options like whiskey and vodka, along with bitters and vermouth.
Pro tip: Offer a selection of non-alcoholic beverages like sparkling sodas and infused waters. Adding fruit gives them a festive twist.
