Bar Carts Steal Hearts

Don't drink? Doesn't matter. Bar carts are classic and surprisingly versatile serving pieces for small homes.

Back when my partner and I were collaborating with a company that built modular backyard sheds, we went back and forth on some of the interior design elements that would inspire purchase. Media cabinet, or wall mount for TV? Loveseat + chair, or one small couch? Sometimes we agreed, sometimes disagreed, but we were in lock step when it came to a beverage cart.

There’s something swanky about maintaining a little bar in your own home. It sends out an inviting vibe to your guests, whether they drink or not. (Photo: Houzz)

A pretty useful little thing

As it is in the she shed, so it is with the small home. Bar carts are small, mobile, and offer the holy grail of small-space living: shelves. But more symbolically, a bar cart signifies connection. It is a deeply social instrument on which rests the timeless ritual of offering drink to a thirsty visitor.

These things used to be in everyone’s house. They abounded during the heyday of dinner parties and backyard barbecues of the 50s and 60s. By the 80s, bar carts hit the skids as mixed drinks and the whole cocktail culture became a quaint thing of the past.

I thought the built-in ice bucket and expansive U-shaped wineglass rack was genius on this curvy wood and metal cart. (Photo: Safavieh)

But their usefulness not only as mobile bars but as added display and/or bev prep workspace brought the classic bar cart right back up on the It list. I mean, how many other pieces of furniture can you literally wheel around to the place you need it most?

This bar cart was originally teak so it took a lot of courage to paint it pink. I think it turned out kinda girly but still really cute. It has a lightness to it that feels at home in the garden, primed for mixing G&Ts or Arnold Palmers. (Photo: Maxine Brady)

Bar carts are artfully shaped and very graceful. They let the objects on their shelves do the talking. There’s a lot out there on “styling” the bar cart, where mixing beverages is almost an afterthought. Yet despite the enthusiasm there are still some holdouts who consider the bar cart as nothing more than a pretentious dust catcher.

I found a funny debate from two editors at House Beautiful, both of them expounding on why (or why not) they think the bar cart thing is over.

“To me, a bar cart is as necessary as a couch when it comes to decorating your home,” the pro-cart editor declares.

This gorgeous cart turns a cramped corner into a very usable bar area, especially with a couple of floating marble shelves overhead. (Photo: SwoonWorthy)

The con-cart editor claims that serving beverages from a rolling bar cart is clumsy and impractical. She also argues that most wine and liquor we commonly serve is not pretty enough to show off. “With the small exception of those who enjoy their liquor neat (with a hint of dust), the bar cart serves no one.”

The great news about bar carts is that you have so many to choose from, both new and vintage. This Liona Twisted Bar Cart is new but made with real wood and mortise-and-tenon joinery. (Photo: GreenRow)

They were equally adamant in their differing claims that a bar cart was either a space saver or a space waster. I think that both can be true depending on whether (or not) you integrate the bar cart into your living pattern.

If you entertain frequently, then I would say the bar cart is a must-have and will serve you well. It has a great advantage of keeping people out of the kitchen who are searching simply for a glass or water. (“Oh, please help yourself from the bar cart, darling. Flat or sparkling, up to you!”) If you entertain sporadically or not at all, then consider the bar cart as a kitchen helper or as spillover space for your prettier kitchen/dining items.

Leave it to the artisans at RH to come up with this over-the-top Bistro Bar Cart (Photo: RH)

Making a statement with your bar cart

While I think interesting bottles of wine, liquor, and sodas are the best décor for the bar cart, other items do lend a picturesque assist. Kimberly at Swoonworthy actually breaks down her styling into eight elements for “the perfect bar cart” (see photo above). They include interesting bottles, glassware, something quirky, flowers, art, ice bucket, and oh yeah, a cocktail shaker.

I found out that the art one installs above the bar cart is a thing unto itself. Google “bar cart art” and you will see.

An exquisite 1940s neoclassical style bar cart (Photo: Chairish)

This little bar cart is almost a full bar. I might pare it down and add a shaker + small vase of flowers. One trick to keep in mind is to make sure all the bottles are facing front. (Photo: Houzz)

I’m a little fearful for the snowy carpet but boy, nothing gets the party started like a fabulously appointed bar cart. (Photo: Houzz)

In between entertaining, your bar cart can be re-purposed as a sideboard or a bookshelf. Use it to roll out dinner plates to the living room when it’s movie night. It makes a fine catchall for organizing mail and handling car keys in the foyer. On Christmas Eve, stock it with mugs, toppings, and small plates for a hot chocolate gathering.

To start your search try Pottery Barn, West Elm, Chairish, Houzz, eBay, Etsy, Wayfair, and Amazon. Don’t forget about the antiques stores, either. You could easily find a treasure there.