a bar cart is both an essential and versatile item to have in your home, especially if you like {or aspire} to entertain. they don’t take up a lot of real estate, which for our house is key, and they’re a good excuse to have some fun with your styling!
if you’ve been following on instagram, you’ve seen me making updates to our {previously undesigned + underwhelming} dining room including painting, a new light fixture, sideboard, and installing a fabulous stikwood wood ceiling {more to come on that by the way but you can check out some highlights here}. but there’s a dead space in the corner next to the large window + sideboard so when serena & lily reached out about styling a bar cart two ways, i wholeheartedly accepted the challenge.
i chose to style the south seas side cart in black which is the perfect blend of texture, casual and chic which makes it a perfect fit for #farmhousedialfano {i do also love this}. the first way i styled it is for everyday, with the second being a more elevated version for new year’s eve {yes it’s tomorrow!}.
you really can’t go wrong with what you put on your cart but typically there are some go-to’s such as booze , glasses, and tools such as bottle openers and cutting boards for cutting lemons + limes. i tend to keep ours fairly simple, partly because we have a couple other furniture pieces in the dining room that store other items we might want or need, and partly because i don’t like it too cluttered. for everyday, i keep out some of our nicer bottles that my husband drinks from often {i’ve been drinking more wine + beer these days} as well as some bitters that can instantly upgrade a basic cocktail. rounding out the mix are beautiful kosta boda glasses we received for our wedding, books, and decorative accents.
now while i can certainly embrace glitter/confetti/sparkly things, they’re not really the vibe of our house. what is though: a disco ball! it’s my secret weapon for creating the most beautiful glow and i’ve kept one in our living room for years. for the NYE version of the cart, i brought it into the dining room and found the perfect spot to cast those amazing sparkles! it’s a really simple way to make your cart and room extra festive. to elevate the everyday cart, i added in some additional glasses, swapped out the decorative accents for some star/geode/crystal ones, strung some battery-operated fairy lights, and added a bottle of champagne of course! i also left up the greenery garland over the window but you could add a small wreath if you want as well.
you’ll notice that in both versions i carried through some of the same elements {artwork, books, glass shadow box etc.} but with subtle changes, the overall look is different. again, while there are no hard rules for styling a bar cart, i do have some tips!
TIP 1 / display items you want or need easy access to and/or those that look great + fit your design aesthetic, preferably a combo of both!
TIP 2 / think outside the box…books don’t have to be cocktail related. you don’t need to serve wine in wine glasses. create layers by adding in items you can stack or fill, such as small bowls.
TIP 3 / incorporate textural elements such as flowers {fresh or dried} and greenery.
TIP 4 / factor in what’s around the cart not just ON it. think: artwork, window shades, hanging plants etc.
wishing you a very happy new year + decade!
emily
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DISCLOSURE: this post is written in collaboration with serena & lily and i was compensated with the bar cart and additional product. the post also contains affiliate links which means if you purchase a product i’ve linked to, i may receive a small commission at NO additional cost to you. thank you for supporting the brands i support + for allowing us to be a source of inspiration!+