How To Style A Bar Cart (On A Budget!)

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click or make a purchase, I make a little cash at no extra cost to you. I’ll probably use it to feed my dog. Thanks for feeding Sadie. (Don’t worry, she gets food regardless)

When I see a home with a perfectly put together bar cart, my first thought is, “Dang, this girl has it together.”

Anyone else think that? 😂

I love pulling out our bar cart for hosting because it can be customized to any party or event, and it always dresses up the area it’s in. Today I’m sharing the essentials you need to to style your bar cart using what you already have in your home💃

Because we have a small apartment, our bar cart is usually tucked away in a corner behind the dining room table. It gets sad in the corner, but it’s the best place to have it so it’s out of the way.

When we have friends over, we love to pull it out (using the royal “we” here😉) and put it in an area that’s more functional for the party. For New Year’s, we had it out with champagne punch, gold polka dot cocktail napkins and the cutest champagne glasses.

There are so many cute bar carts out there, but I picked this one from Kohl’s because

A) it was on clearance for $40, and

B) its layout offers so much functionality.

I actually sent a picture of it to one of my best friends in the parking lot, and she asked me to go back inside and get one for her, too. It was a killer deal! If you like anything specific in these photos, you can shop the post at the bottom👇

When you’re in a small space, you need your items to be functional. I love that this one holds our extra wine glasses, and has storage for wine bottles along the bottom. I customize the top and middle shelf to fit whatever party we’re having! I like to be resourceful and use what I have around the house before I go out and buy something for a specific purpose.  Livin’ on a budget, ya know? That’s why this bar cart is designed with things you likely have sitting around the house, or things that cost only a few dollars to pick up at the store. It’s just a matter of styling it all together to achieve a cohesive look!

The Essentials

Glasses

Simply pull out whichever glasses go with the theme of the party and display them on your bar cart. If it’s a taco night, pull out the margarita glasses. Relaxed night with friends? Wine glasses. Arrange them in a group and they automatically dress up the cart.

Fruit

Fresh fruit always brightens up any space. Limes or lemons are great because they add such a pretty color. They’re cheap to pick up at the store, and bonus points if you’ll use them in your drinks.

Flowers

Real or fake, it doesn’t matter! These pink peonies are fake and normally live in the bookshelf, but they add such a great pop of color to the bar cart. I just move them over when we’re having a party!

Cookbooks

Any books will work, really. They add a different shape and textural element to the cart.Stacking them vertically or horizontally adds visual interest, too!

Here are some of my favorite cookbooks: one | two | three

Bar Tools

We got this copper set after we got married, and it’s the star of our bar cart. I waited and waited on it to go on sale, and snagged it for a good deal at Macy’s. I see cute sets at HomeGoods, too! It instantly dresses up any party (and makes you look like a total pro when you’re using it).

Wine & Alcohol Bottles

It is a bar cart, after all. Make those bottles work for you! I love the textured glass of the tequila bottle we have, and will probably keep it even after it’s empty. Pelegrino bottles also add a pretty color. Am I going to use them? No😂 but they look nice, and they can be used time after time. Plus, they’re only a few bucks each.

Tray

My husband jokes that I’m the queen of trays. They’re everywhere. I love how they instantly pull together the look! I have a pretty silver tray next to my oven where I keep all my olive oils, and I just think it looks so nice. This copper tray came with our set, but you could easily pick one up at Target, Walmart, or HomeGoods. Group together a few items on it, and it instantly dresses up the cart.

Straws

Another super easy (and cheap) trick. I always have straws on hand because of my love for smoothies. So, I popped a handful in a mason jar, set it on the bar cart and voila. Throwing some in a mint julep cup looks cute, too!

Napkins 

This one is silly, but if you have cute patterned or colored napkins, throw them on there! I love these Kate Spade polka dot ones that were left over from New Years. I also really, really want these but haven’t pulled the trigger.

Art/Photo/Garland

This is something you can switch up with the event! I picked up this majorly cute garland at Target for $5, and it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. If our cart was a little bigger, I would add a photo of Andrew and I, or maybe of Sadie. If your bar cart is in a permanent spot, hanging some art right above it would look so good, too! The big clock in these photos is listed below.

What are your favorite things to stock your bar cart with? I’d love to hear!

Thanks for reading,

SHOP THE POST