Bar Cart Styling: 2 Very Different Ways

The most fun part about owning a bar cart isn’t the drinks – it’s the bar cart styling! We have a wet bar to store our drinking glasses, but we use our bar cart to display our prettiest liquors and bar accessories day to day.

The best is when we get to roll our bar cart out for parties…. because nothing gets a party started like rolling out a cart full of fancy cocktails!

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Bar Cart Styling

The beauty of a bar cart is that it does the work for you! Instead of standing at the fridge asking guests what they like, a bar cart is your virtual bartender! If you have your cart fully stocked, guests help themselves.

Our bar cart is the Monaco Bar Cart from Serena & Lily. I chose this one because of the coastal flair of the rattan. What sold me was that this cart had 3 shelves to hold all the extras I put out when we entertain (bowls of limes, party games, etc.!) And I am in love with the little brass wheels on the bottom.

You can find some really beautiful (and unique!) stand out items at Serena & Lily for any kind of bar cart styling, hosting or entertaining needs.

Bar cart styling is obviously the most fun part of owning a bar cart, so don’t limit yourself. Here are two very different ways to get your creativity juices flowing!

Kids’ Party Bar Cart

Bar carts are NOT just for the 21 and over crowd! Over the holiday break my oldest had some school friends over for a “Winter Party”. A winter party just means the kids drink hot cocoa while the moms drink wine! (I highly recommend, by the way).

We had a hot cocoa station and sweets in the dining room for the kids. Across from the cart we had the kids’ board games all set up on the table. The massive glass jar of candy canes was a huge hit with the kids (obviously!) Of course we included all the hot cocoa toppings to get the kids hopped up on sugar.

A bar cart would work well on family nights- a few crafts, games, something sweet and savory, and a cozy blanket or two. I could also see this cart being used at a child’s birthday party for corralling all the gifts and cards together.

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New Years Eve Bar Cart

A New Years Eve party is all about the fancy champagne in our house. Remember, the point is for the bar cart to act as your bartender / serving station. This way your guests feel free to help themselves throughout the evening.

Roll the cart out into the party room front and center. Dress it up to get noticed so your guests feel comfortable using it! I put a big gold party bow right on the side, and a balloon arch trailing above it.

Since champagne was the theme, we offered two different kinds of champagne for guests to choose from. We also included an ice bucket filled with ice to chill the open bottle, and our prettiest champagne flutes. I used glasses that had delicate gold detail to tie in with the gold on the wheels.

Put out a bowl of chocolates or something savory, even if you aren’t serving food at your party. How about a stack of New Years Eve Party hats, noisemakers or fun photo props? I have a box full of party favors to give out to guests on the bottom shelf, tied up with a chic navy velvet bow.

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Bar Cart Uses

There are so many fun ideas on what you could use a bar cart for! Here are a few I would do myself:

serve as a dessert cart at a child’s party
a coffee cart in your bedroom (yes!)
a hot cocoa station with liquors for an adult holiday party
brunch cart (mimosas and bagels – this would be cute on Christmas morning!)
fun nightstands, especially in a guest room stacked with their towels and water bottles, etc
a unique side table in your living room
an organized craft cart for your kids you can roll from room to room
in your office to keep extra office supplies available

Bar Carts You Might Like:

If you are looking to beautify your home, Serena & Lily believe that living well begins at home. They have some beautiful bar cart options to fit all kinds of lifestyles, from glass and upscale to the more casual but sophisticated rattan.