Bar Cart Ideas That’ll Make You Say “Cheers”
Darby Mulligan
2.20.2025 Lifestyle
While a bar cart does function to hold your liquor, it’s more than just that. It can fill that empty space in your room, elevate your hosting, and offer the perfect opportunity to show your personal aesthetic. Whether you’re an experienced mixologist, casual drinker, or just want to have a stylish piece in your place, we have several bar cart ideas for stocking, styling, and everything in between. Perfect for hosting a nightcap at your rental home in Glendale, AZ, a pre-game in your apartment in Jersey City, NJ, or mocktail making at your Indianapolis, IN home, just follow our recipe to craft your ideal home bar cart.
Bar cart ideas: Stocking your cart
With so many options, it’s easy to have choice paralysis when shopping to stock your cart but don’t worry, we have you covered. While we’ll get into the liquids, it’s important to have the necessities.
Stock your cart with the essentials
“The real game-changer is having the right tools within arm’s reach. A proper shaker, jigger, and strainer not only elevate the quality of your cocktails, but also save you from that all-too-familiar scramble when someone asks for a proper margarita or old fashioned,” says Sean Krueger, founder of Bartend Long Island. He also suggests “keeping fresh citrus, herbs like mint or rosemary, and a few garnishes on display which not only look beautiful but encourages guests to get hands-on and craft drinks to their liking — turning your home bar into an experience, not just a station.”
photo courtesy of Wild Artifact
Pick out your most loved liquors
“When stocking a bar cart, you are aiming for quality over quantity, so try and choose spirits and products that are highly versatile and can be used for a wide range of cocktails,” says Jordan Hughes of High Proof Preacher. “For example, Combier Orange Liqueur can be used to brighten up all sorts of classic cocktails from margaritas and cosmos, to more spirit-forward nightcaps like the Manhattan,” he continues.
“When it comes to base spirits like whiskey, rum, tequila, etc. try and find options that are affordable enough to justify using in a cocktail, while still being complex and balanced to enjoy on their own,” says Jordan. “Pair those with go-to mixers — club soda, tonic, and fresh citrus — ingredients we’ve found ourselves reaching for time and time again behind the bar,” adds Sean.
Another way to pick your alcohol is to “Find recipes and learn how to make three cocktails with varied flavor profiles,” suggests Kat Wolle, owner of Wild Artifact. With this method, “You will have an option for generally 90% of guests and then the pleasure of being the expert to craft the drinks that are in your wheelhouse,” she continues. “With that in mind, once you become familiar with those drinks it is easy to add in various adaptations, other mixers, spirits, bitters, etc., to gain more range,” Kat adds.
Add some non-alcoholic options
Not everyone drinks alcohol, so it’s important to stock your cart with several different options. Whether you want to be a top-tier host or just prefer a mocktail, it’s a good idea to be inclusive and include a variety of delicious-tasting drinks. “From mainstream alcoholic options to a plethora of ready-to-drink adult alternatives, nowadays there is something for everyone,” says Bryttany Hyde, founder and CEO of The Little Sober Bar.
“My favorite addition to any bar cart is a thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic spirits to quickly whip up an elevated alcohol-free cocktail for guests,” says Sam at Third Place Bar. “A strong non-alcoholic amaro such as The Pathfinder is excellent sipped neat or as a highball with club soda,” recommends Sam.
If you’re looking for other n/a options, Bryttany recommends “Shimmerwood Beverages on hand for crafting the perfect infused cocktail or Per Se’s beautiful line of zero-proof cocktails and hibiscus margarita.” Another option is wine like The Mindful Drinking Co.’s non-alcoholic naughty rouge syrah. If you’re new to n/a beverages or are just a little indecisive, they even offer a quiz to help you determine which drink best aligns with your taste along with what health-conscious premium products you need to make it.
When stocking your bar with alcohol, non-alcoholic, or a mix of both, “Whatever you do, keep in mind that everyone is on a different journey and it feels good to feel seen,” reminds Bryttany.
Bar cart styling ideas
The ways to style your bar cart are endless. With just the cart itself there are so many designs to choose from, but remember to pick and style your cart according to your personal aesthetic and taste.
In fact, “Here’s a dirty little secret about bar carts: Nobody actually makes drinks on them,” says Crafty Bartending. “While you may imagine yourself whipping up a cocktail at your new bar cart, you’ll likely do the crafting in your kitchen. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a bar cart… far from it. Bar carts can be an amazing way to store your tools and liquor in an attractive and functional way,” they continue.
Whether or not you’re doing your crafting in your kitchen, Bartending License Help reminds us that “The most important thing in regards to a bar cart is cleanliness. Once you’ve got cleanliness covered, now comes the fun part: style. Your bar cart is a statement piece and you should treat it as such.” That being said, we have some styling ideas and tips to help you out.
Pick out your dream cart
First things first, you need to pick your cart. “Choosing the right bar cart starts with considering the drinks you’ll be making. A little planning ensures you have enough storage for all the necessary supplies,” says Annie Itin, managing director at Bar A La Cart. Think about your needs, for example, if you’re an avid mixologist and host a ton, consider a bar cart with lots of storage for all your necessary supplies.
Annie recommends “a cart with a counter height between 35″ and 43″, plus ample storage underneath to keep your workspace clear.” If you need more storage, “consider a drop-leaf counter that extends when needed,” suggests Annie.
When selecting a cart, also think about its various uses and storage capabilities. A cart with multiple shelves makes not only a great place to mix drinks but can double as storage. Stylist and art director CJ Lancione recommends sectioning out the various shelves of your bar cart to maximize space as “The most successful bar carts are equal parts utilitarian and decorative.” She suggests using “The top shelf is convenient for daily routines [like a home coffee bar]: a French press or teapot, some decorative mugs, and a cream and sugar set will wake up your morning in style. Cocktail glasses and an ice bucket are easily accessible from the middle shelf for happy hour and heavier items such as liquor bottles, mixers, and cocktail books tuck away nicely on the bottom shelf.”
Prioritize organization
It’s easy for a bar cart to become cluttered with all of your spirits, mixers, tools, and decor, so it’s important to stay organized.
“Adding a lazy susan to a bar cart is the ideal way to store what you need on hand in a functional way,” suggests Styled To Sparkle’s Carlee Krtolica. There’s lots of options like Ikea’s wooden “SNUDDA,” or Carlee’s favorite strain-resistant matte black option from Crate & Barrel. The larger lazy susans help to maximize space and storage by “allowing you to store larger sized bottles or additional small bottles without feeling cluttered,” says Carlee. Alongside the bottles, Carlee also suggests adding “a spare shot glass to store small toothpicks for citrus wedges,” for both organization and drink-making ease.
Another option is to pick a bar cart with “an under-mount drawer for a sleek way of hiding essentials like napkins, garnishes, bar knives, cutting boards, and clear ice,” suggests Jordan Webb, co-owner of Norseman Distillery. Speaking of ice, she also recommends “opting for vacuum-insulated ice bins for drip-free and long-lasting ice storage.”
Add some elevated surfaces
While you may not be dancing on elevated surfaces out at the bar, consider bringing this element of height to your home bar cart. Similar to a lazy susan, utilizing height can help maximize storage.
“Display your finest bottles at varying heights using acrylic risers or metallic tiered stands,” recommends Lior Manelis, managing director of Nationwide Liquor. “This not only adds visual interest but makes labels easily readable,” he continues. “For a finishing touch, include proper glassware and tools arranged by cocktail type, making it both beautiful and functional for entertaining,” adds Lior.
Similarly, Juniper Gardens 417’s Mandi Young recommends “elevating your cart display by clustering items of varying heights in odd numbers of 3 or 5.” On these surfaces, consider adding “functional pieces of art that can be great conversation starters like vintage or handmade items such as vintage whiskey decanters or blown glass cocktail glasses to make your bar cart one-of-a-kind,” suggests Mandi.
Utilize lighting
Another element to think about when styling your bar cart is lighting. “Lighting is key to elevating your home bar cart. A dimmable table lamp, such as Flowerpot VP9, nearby can create a cozy, inviting atmosphere, while LED strip lights added to the wall-facing side of the bar cart provide soft, ambient lighting,” says Johannes at Boo Lighting.
Another option is to “cover the top surface of your bar cart with a sheet of plexiglass and placing a LED light chain underneath it to produce a stunning, glowing effect that enhances the mood,” suggests Johannes. For a more lowkey and interchangeable option, consider string lights, specifically the novelty ones to match any style or season.
Add finish touches to make it yours
Beyond the storage, surfaces, and lighting, adding decor can really help elevate and personalize your bar cart.
When stocking your with alcohol, glassware, and necessary tools, it helps to think about the aesthetics as well. While there are so many different types of glasses and decanters to feature, try to “avoid too much glass that does not add enough visual interest,” suggests Brooke Adler of Brook Adler Interiors.
“Once you’ve got the essentials, let your bar cart tell your story. We’ve seen hosts add their personality with vintage glassware they’ve collected, a sleek decanter, or even a bold cocktail shaker that becomes a conversation starter,” says Sean. “Others incorporate framed photos, fresh flowers, or custom cocktail napkins — it’s those thoughtful touches that make the bar feel like a natural extension of their home,” continues Sean.
One way to add personal style is by adding greenery. Brooke also thinks that “Every bar cart needs some ‘life’ like an interesting plant.” Another option to spice up your cart is to use aesthetically pleasing books; here Brooke suggests using “ones that go with the bar theme to add to authenticity.”
Your bar cart can “also be a great place to display small travel souvenirs and photos,” says Mandi. Consider accessorizing your cart with “some of your favorite travel keepsakes: a teapot sweater from Ireland, a coaster set from Paris, or handmade mugs from Italy,” suggests CJ. Adding your travel mementos is a great way to store your items and personalize your cart.
Whatever decor you choose, remember that “With any styling, it is best to add in visual interest such as color, texture, and varying heights,” says Brooke. Make the cart something that you not only enjoy looking at but are also excited to use.
Darby works as a Content Marketing Coordinator on Redfin’s impressive Content Marketing team. Her experience includes media advertising, graphic design, and a B.A. in business leadership with a concentration in marketing and communication studies. She currently resides in Seattle, WA, and can be found crafting with her friends and sipping on a chai latte at Gasworks Park. Her dream home is either a cream cottage in Madrona, WA, or a brownstone in the West Village.
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