If you're one for an impromptu cocktail, at home, then let these bar cart ideas inspire your next happy hour. Easy and super stylish decor at its best

Everyone needs a bar cart at home right now, and while filling yours with alcohol is the way to go, how you style and decorate yours is really important too. We've pulled together our favorite bar cart ideas and inspiration to show you the best ways to put your liquor on show! 

With these gorgeous mini bar (usually on wheels) set ups, you can forget pushing yours into a quiet corner until next Thanksgiving, because you will want to have yours in full use – at all times! 

So, put down the Bud, and whatever mischievous cocktail or brew you're into, keep scrolling for our sweet ideas. Thinking of having yours in the lounge? Take a look at our living room ideas to inspire your complete set up.

No matter what your style is there is a bar cart to match. So before you start thinking about what barware will look best beside all those empty booze bottles you are only keeping because they look fancy, check out our roundup of the best bar carts to find the perfect one to suit your style and budget.

Gold Luxe Round drinks trolley from Audenza. 

So you’ve got the bar cart of your Mad Men dreams sorted, choosing the right placement comes next. It goes without saying that you should avoid placing it anywhere people will bump into it, even if you do want it to be the centre of attention. Keep it to the edge of a room, you can always roll it out when everyone wants a refill. 

Since the booze, sorry bar cart, will inevitably be a gathering spot you can also use its position to navigate people around different parts of your home. Avoid bottlenecks like the kitchen or the living room, and consider placing the bar cart in the hallway or foyer.

Hey lush, have fun, it’s the weekend 🍸🍹🍾🥂🍷🥃 this is an easy DIY updated IKEA bookcase turned primo bar cabinet perfect for storing bottles and glassware 👌 (tap for item sources!) Krys Melo / Melodrama

A photo posted by @melodrama on May 20, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT

If you are really on a budget, take inspiration from @melodrama’s awesome Ikea hack and fashion yourself a drinks' station from a bookshelf. Get creative and paint it in whatever colors you fancy and buy some separate metallic legs to add some glamor. 

'Lowell' table light and copper bar accessories from Debenhams. 

No we aren’t talking about the alcohol, but what you will need to make your drinks on the spot. Always be ready with a bowl of lemons and limes and keep a small chopping board, knife and squeezer on the cart so you can refresh drinks without missing out on the party.

I’ve been on the hunt for colourful retro inspired cocktail glasses for ages. Thanks Kmart for coming through with the reasonably priced goods again. Now who’s ready for an espresso martini (in 39 days)? | #kmartaus #kmartbyyou #kmartstyling #cocktailglasses #colourfuldecor #barcart #barcartstyling #retroinspired #absolutvodka #cocktailshaker #myhomevibe Isabelle

A photo posted by @cheaperthantherapy on Oct 18, 2018 at 10:37pm PDT

There are few things in life more beautiful that vintage glassware so trawl all the thrift stores (virtually) and Ebay for a few special pieces. Then you can mix and match them with your plain Ikea glasses. If you are struggling to find anything secondhand, Anthropologie make some gorgeous glassware and no one will ever know the difference. 

Bar cart and accessories from Oliver Bonas.

Bond did actually have a point. Most cocktails do need a good shaking not just a stir, so a cocktail shaker is a key part of any good bar cart set up. There are loads of great options out there, it just depends on whether you are after something that looks beautiful or is the best for the job? 

If you are after something more pro, you’ll want a Boston shaker – they are the ones made up of two parts that you will probably recognise from all those fancy cocktails bars. But if (like us) you are after something that just looks fabulous then this glorious pineapple number from Oliver Bonas is the one for you. 

I have Valentine’s Day on my mind already. What should I make on the blog this year? I’m thinking sweets, cocktails (duh), and something Galentine’s themed? This was my Everything’s Coming Up Rosé Cocktail from last year with gin, @lilletus rosé, blood orange, lemon, and hibiscus. Can’t wait to decorate the bar cart! Give me any reason to decorate with pink and we’ve got a deal! 💖 . . . . #ggathome #sodomino #mydomaine #theeverygirl #dslooking #abmathome #abmstyle #abmlifeiscolorful #homepolish #myoklstyle #instahome #apartmenttherapy #dsinterior #bhgstyle #howyouhome #pursuepretty #postitforaesthetic #myhousebeautiful #darlingdaily #thatsdarling #myhouzz #finditstyleit #pocketofmyhome #ggcocktailhour #abmholidayspirit #britstagram #valentinesday #ihavethisthingwithpink #barcartstyling #imbibegram Natalie Jacob

A photo posted by @arseniclace on Jan 18, 2018 at 1:44pm PST

When picking out accessories for your bar cart, think about what will look most striking when on show. Why go for a plain stainless steel bottle opener when you could have marble and gold one instead? Colorful napkins also make a nice touch, as do some pretty paper or metal straws (bye bye nasty plastic ones) and paper garlands. 

You could even stack up a few of your favorite cocktail recipe books – sure you have never actually made an Alabama Slammer or a French 75 but the spine looks lovely, and that’s all that matters right? 

Bar cart by Cranmore Home(find similar at Wayfair).

If you are more of a minimalist, only stock the essentials – gin, vodka, rum. Just kidding (kind of), but for a more simple, sophisticated look, all you need to keep on your bar cart is a nice simple set of glasses, a shaker or a decanter and a selection of aesthetically pleasing spirits. Steal some ideas from this trolley, and add a bit of a boho vibe with some palm leaves and rattan accessories. 

How nice was the weather on the weekend ☀️ I spent Saturday deep cleaning the house top to bottom... such a nice feeling when everything is spotless isn’t it? Shame it doesn’t last long! . . . . #interiorboom #interiorboom #styleithappy #myhomevibe #sassyhomestyle #howivintage #ekbbhome @ekbbmag #myhometrend #aflashofgold #colourmyhome #myspaceanddecor #mystylishspace #luxuryinteriorsonabudget #dailydecordetail #mygorgeousgaff #spotlightonmyhome #myinteriorstyletoday #interiormilk #howyouhome #pocketofmyhome #deliciousdarkdecor #stopandstaredecor #walltowallstyle #barcartstyling #interiordesigns #interiorinspo #interior123 #ombrewall #interior4all #interiorismo #myfabhome Lowri

A photo posted by @11_rose_cottage on Oct 21, 2018 at 9:36pm PDT

Every bar cart needs something living (or at least something that looks like it’s living), a potted succulent, some cascading house plants or a bunch of flowers will literally lift your spirits and throw a different texture into all that glass. 

Hi friends! Hope your weekend was a great one! I added a few fall touches to my bar cart area and we are ready for the BOOS. Get it?! 👻 Speaking of booze, what’s your drink of choice?🍷🍺🥃🍹🍸 . P.S. All of our fall tees are on sale for 50% off in our shop! Hurry before they are gone! #elleryhome . . . #barcart #myhousebeautiful #bhghome #thedesigntwinslovefall #falldecor #farmhousestyle #farmhousestyle #hobbylobbyfinds #makeitwithmichaels #target #drink #winestagram #abmlifeiscolorful #sodomino #drinkstation #spooky #halloweendecor #mycountryhome #countryliving #thatsgoodhousekeeping #fallfarmhouse #winenight #makehomeyours #magnolia #barcartstyling Michelle | Ellery Designs

A photo posted by @ellerydesigns on Oct 14, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT

And of course, around Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas is when the bar cart comes into its own. We’ve seen some glorious fall/Halloween offerings all over Instagram, you could go all out with spooky Halloween decorations but even just adding a collection of pumpkins and squashes to your bar cart will do for a seasonal switch up.

As the festive season is probably when you are going to get the most use out of your bar cart, dress it up to the nines. Check out our Christmas fairy light ideas, or the best Christmas candles and remember plenty of festive foliage. 

Did some holiday bar cart decorating yesterday with all my favorite spirits. What's your favorite thing on your bar cart? Mine is definitely my rose gold shaker from @ohjoy for @target! Natalie Jacob

A photo posted by @arseniclace on Dec 13, 2016 at 11:15am PST

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.

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