Lately my hubby and I have been having a lot of fun trying our hand at mixing drinks, trying everything from a vintage Old Fashioned, to the hot trend of Moscow Mules. With our newfound love for mixolgy, comes all kinds of fun barware! We decided that a bar cart would be the perfect way to display our wares, as well as inspire us to try out some new concoctions! After assembling the perfect bar cart, I thought you’d enjoy my tips on “How to Style a Modern Bar Cart”!
I started on my bar cart journey with a revolutionary thought… that before I could style a bar cart, I needed to buy one! Yes, I planned on styling it before I even owned it. I headed to Pier 1 and found this amazing vintage brass faux bamboo cart. That’s when the styling fun could begin!
I feel like fresh flowers can make ANY space, and started by tossing these tulips into this great chalkboard pitcher. I love that the pitcher totally looks at home on the cart, but the flowers add an unexpected surprise!
I love how there’s a chalkboard label, making it easy to label the pitcher for parties!
If you look close you’ll see how I staged the pitcher and wine glasses on that awesome soapstone platter. This is my next tip for successful bar cart staging… use trays to add texture and height. 
Up on the upper level of the cart I used this marble lazy susan to add another element of texture and color.
I also used a wood cake stand to elevate some of the items and bring in some rich wood tones. By adding in each of these trays and stands it raises some of the elements to a different level.
The next key is to bring in some color! My house is fairly neutral, but I love using pops of bold colors to liven everything up. These faux limes also came from Pier 1 and are a fun drink element compared to everything else in bottles.
I also brought some color to the vignette with these bottles of San Pelligrino.
After they’re used up they’d even make nice vases to throw a stem or two of flowers into!
This little vintage cocktail guide was a dime at an estate sale! There’s just something about making “vintage” cocktails that makes the whole bar cart even more fun! 
These tall shot glasses came in a pack of four. I absolutely LOVE the one with the vintage starburst pattern.
These paper napkins are a cheap and fun way to be able to frequently switch things up! 
Recently we jumped on the “Moscow Mule” bandwagon and purchased a couple of these adorable mule mugs. They’re just so adorable and I think the copper adds such a fun element!
The “make a toast” coasters were another fun Pier 1 find. I feel like every space needs some solid black to help ground it. I also think that coasters are a necessary bar cart element if you want your guests to remember to use them!
My next bar cart staging tip is to bring in some texture to contrast all of the glass. I did this by hanging a woven hanging above the cart. I also added a circular woven charger and woven tray to bring more texture in. These also double as an added element to bring some varying height to the display.
No good bar cart is complete without some liquor right? Even though you want a bar cart to be functional, I think it’s important to stick to a few of your favorite liquors, to keep it from being overwhelmed by bottles.
My next bar cart styling tip is to make it fit the style of the rest of your house. When you look at this pulled back dining room shot you see that the modern elements of brass, black, and wood are repeated throughout the house. The same goes for the pops of green and coral. I don’t want everything in my house to match, but I do want it all to be cohesive. Often when I’m buying something for a specific space I ask myself if it would also work in the other spaces throughout my house. If I can answer yes then it’s usually a good buy.
When shopping for pieces for this bar cart I first shopped throughout my house, this is where I found the basket, the lime basket, and the ice bucket. Then I headed to Pier 1 where I was able to fill in the rest of the pieces. The main things that I looked for were pieces that would add texture and height, along with bring functionality. 
Right now anything with brass, marble, soapstone, or copper is very “on trend”.  Although they’re currently hot, I also can see solid pieces like these sticking around for a long time. Whether you’re hoping to give your bar cart a traditional look or modern look, Pier 1 had a huge assortment of options. 
Just to recap, here are my key points on how to style a modern bar cart:
- Bring life to the cart with fake or real flowers, succulents, or greenery.
- Utilize trays and cake stands to add height to the cart.
- Use wall hangings, placemats, or trays to bring in texture.
- Bring color in with flowers, fruit, or colored glass.
- Provide coasters so that your guests will use them!
- Limit the alcohol assortment, to keep from overwhelming the cart with liquor.
Obviously there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to style a bar cart, but I hope these tips will help you create a vignette that you love!
Having a styled bar cart in your home also might just inspire a love for mixing up some vintage cocktails! Next on my list is to try and re-create the famous mai-tai’s that my husband’s families restaurant serves!
Even if liquor and cocktails aren’t your thing, many of these staging tips can apply to staging any vignette in your home! I hope this post inspired you to stage your home in a functional way that you love!
Can you please tell me where you found your beautiful woven wall hanging? I love it!
Thank you so much! It was from Target in their constantly changing Threshold decor section. I did see one new different one in their art section recently though. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
Love your bar cart style! Where did you purchase yours? I have been searching and can’t seem to find the perfect cart for my home and this one would be great.
This is from Pier 1 a few years back. They seem to have gorgeous ones often though!