In this weekly column, I'm bringing you chic home décor products and ideas that won't break the bank! This week, I’m sharing 5 tips for achieving the perfectly styled bar cart. For more home décor inspiration, visit my blog, A Vintage Splendor.
The bar cart is likely the most popular home accessory right now. Despite the influx of beautifully inspired bar carts on the web, I still get calls and emails from friends and readers asking for help to style their bar carts. I have two bar carts and they serve stylish and functional pieces in the home. One is used as a mobile bar, of course, while the other is used in lieu of the boring old display case in our guest room. “But I don’t want to spend a fortune!” is the first thing I hear from friends. I agree, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Your best bet to snag a great cart is at the local thrift store, but for those of you who prefer shopping glamorously a la Target, you have affordable and stylish options from accessories to libations to the bar cart itself.
I love shopping and styling bar carts because they definitely speak my high-style, low-price language. A bar cart elevates the style of your home and adds a cultured and refined flavor. Your guests will ooh and aah when they see your bar cart and you can smile to yourself knowing it didn’t cost a fortune.
I’m not prone to calling myself an expert, but after helping a dozen of friends and readers with styling a bar cart, I can come up with a 5-step plan that will help you achieve the well-styled bar cart.
1. Plan: Just like when you're designing a space in your home, a well-styled and functional bar cart begins with a plan. Will you use the cart for entertaining or do you want to dress up your entry way? Both are great ideas, but require some planning on your part.
2. Budget: How much do you want to spend? This, in my opinion is the easy step as you should walk into this adventure knowing your budget. The good news is that you can find what you need to style within any budget! Identify the most important components of the cart and work your way down the list. If you’re a vodka martini gal, then don’t spend time or money shopping for the perfect cognac. Or if you want to light up your entryway, you can focus on a bright lamp, as opposed to frame and other décor items that can fill in the gaps.
3. Display: Your bar cart is begging to display your favorite and unique items whether it is glassware or tchotchkes from your travels! The beauty of bar carts is that anything, anything looks good on it so don’t be shy and display to your heart’s content.
4. Mix: For those of you sharing a space with a mister or friends, mix up the décor to showcase hints of masculine and feminine or traditional and regency. The bar cart is designed to show off personality and style.
5. Layer: Just like other spaces in your home, layering color, textures and patterns is key. For an entertaining cart, add color with fun straws and coasters and texture with a tray and glassware. For the entryway, mix in a variety of patterns in storage boxes, objects, and a lamp.
With these 5 steps in mind, here are two ways to style a bar cart - one for the entryway, and one for entertaining!
The bar cart for the entryway
1. Stoneware Frame (set of 3), $29
2. Serving Cart, $186
3. Flocked Lamp Shade, $19
4. Gourd Lamp Base, $18
5. Elephant Trinket Tray, $10
6. Ranunculus in pot, $15
7. Marble Clock, $38
8. Wooden Box, $24
The bar cart for entertaining
1. Chrome Bar Cart, $179
2. Bone Frame, $21
3. Round Studded Tray, $14
4. High-baller Glasses (set of 4), $30
5. Gold Candle Holder, $9
6. Old Fashioned Glasses (set of 6), $44
7. Bar Set, $29
8. Ice Bucket, $24
9. Glass Pitcher, $5
For even more home décor inspiration, visit my blog, A Vintage Splendor.
I’m not prone to calling myself an expert, but after helping a dozen of friends and readers with styling a bar cart, I can come up with a 5-step plan that will help you achieve the well-styled bar cart.
1. Plan: Just like when you're designing a space in your home, a well-styled and functional bar cart begins with a plan. Will you use the cart for entertaining or do you want to dress up your entry way? Both are great ideas, but require some planning on your part.
2. Budget: How much do you want to spend? This, in my opinion is the easy step as you should walk into this adventure knowing your budget. The good news is that you can find what you need to style within any budget! Identify the most important components of the cart and work your way down the list. If you’re a vodka martini gal, then don’t spend time or money shopping for the perfect cognac. Or if you want to light up your entryway, you can focus on a bright lamp, as opposed to frame and other décor items that can fill in the gaps.
3. Display: Your bar cart is begging to display your favorite and unique items whether it is glassware or tchotchkes from your travels! The beauty of bar carts is that anything, anything looks good on it so don’t be shy and display to your heart’s content.
4. Mix: For those of you sharing a space with a mister or friends, mix up the décor to showcase hints of masculine and feminine or traditional and regency. The bar cart is designed to show off personality and style.
5. Layer: Just like other spaces in your home, layering color, textures and patterns is key. For an entertaining cart, add color with fun straws and coasters and texture with a tray and glassware. For the entryway, mix in a variety of patterns in storage boxes, objects, and a lamp.
With these 5 steps in mind, here are two ways to style a bar cart - one for the entryway, and one for entertaining!
The bar cart for the entryway
1. Stoneware Frame (set of 3), $29
2. Serving Cart, $186
3. Flocked Lamp Shade, $19
4. Gourd Lamp Base, $18
5. Elephant Trinket Tray, $10
6. Ranunculus in pot, $15
7. Marble Clock, $38
8. Wooden Box, $24
The bar cart for entertaining
1. Chrome Bar Cart, $179
2. Bone Frame, $21
3. Round Studded Tray, $14
4. High-baller Glasses (set of 4), $30
5. Gold Candle Holder, $9
6. Old Fashioned Glasses (set of 6), $44
7. Bar Set, $29
8. Ice Bucket, $24
9. Glass Pitcher, $5
For even more home décor inspiration, visit my blog, A Vintage Splendor.