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Hi there!

Hope your holidays were fab and filled with love, where ever it was and whoever it was with!

While we're all breathing a collective exhale and taking a minute to re-collect ourselves, there's still New Year's celebrations to think of and I'm here today to talk all about bar carts - everything from the carts themselves to how to stock and style everything.

The beauty of a bar cart is that they're very versatile and can easily fit in whether you live in an apartment or a house. They're especially handy if you don't have a butler's pantry or wet-bar area, but even if you do have those, bar carts are still something you might want to add to your decor. They're great to visually anchor the corner or a dining room while adding a little utility. Not really a drinker? Read on to see some bonus (aka non bar-related) ways to utilize a bar cart!

1. How to Choose a Bar Cart

Here are some of my selections, and you'll see they range in price from $120-$600 so there's sure to be something to suit your budget.

The first consideration is the type of surface you'd prefer. Mirror or glass may require more frequent dusting and wiping to keep it looking spic and span. On the other hand, with wood or marble surfaces you'll want to make sure to stay on top of spills to prevent damaging the wood or staining/etching the marble. With a wood top you'll want to make sure any ice buckets used are insulated ones to avoid condensation from causing any warping. Also consider incorporating a tray for the main "work area" to catch drips from cocktail shakers and open wine bottles.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

Another question is how you feel about the built in feature for hanging stemware, like in option 8 from World Market and option 11 from West Elm. I think both are terrific if you're an avid wine drinker as it makes it super easy to keep everything together in one tidy little package. But these offerings also may not be as flexible if you're likely to use the piece for purposes other then just setting up a bar (more on that below), although the hanging slots on option 11 are pretty subtle.

Most options have a guard rail or recessed tray, but option 5 forgoes it altogether, while options 6 and 7 are hybrid. I find the X-style on option 5 from World Market to be very attractive, but if you're clumsy you might want to think twice (of course you could set a tray on top). As the name implies, most bar carts have wheels but you'll notice that it's not always the case. If you do choose one with wheels, double check it has the option to lock the wheels.

Most options are also 2-tiered but might you enjoy a 3-tier setup? I think option 11 from West Elm is an really interesting offering that gives the visual interest of a third tier while leaving sufficient vertical room for bottles, glassware and other tall items. Option 12 from World Market might not have enough height on the bottom 2 tiers for those taller bottles (looking at you, Grey Goose) so that could be a bit limiting. On the other hand the additional level brings extra storage space without taking up any additional real estate so this could be the winning choice for a smaller apartment.

2. How to Stock a Bar Cart

A well-stocked bar cart is the tell-tale sign of an avid entertainer. Whether you only entertain occasionally or are in the running for hostess-with-the-mostess status, the essentials to any bar are:

• Vodka
• London Dry-Style Gin
• Tequila
• Scotch
• Bourbon
• Sparkling wine
• Red & white wines
• Club soda

And the basic "tools" to start out with:

• Set of DOF glasses
• Set of wine glasses: stemless ones are flexible enough for everyday use too and can elevate a simple glass of water or OJ
• Bottle opener
• Jig
• Cocktail shaker

Once you have the above covered, consider layering on some additional ingredients:

• Bitters: Angostura is sort of the flagship of this category, but also orange, rhubarb and many many more
• Apertifs: Campari is essential for Negronis, and Aperol is another key offering
• Juices: lemon and lime to start, but also consider OJ, cranberry, and pineapple
• Syrup: simple syrup, and flavor-infused syrups
• Citrus wedges: elevate a cocktail with a quick squeeze of juice or twist to get the peel oils
• Fresh fruit: a couple raspberries are a nice finishing touch to a glass of prosecco or spritzer while a few slices of orange are a nice garnish to the classic old-fashioned
• Fresh herbs: caipirinha with fresh mint, anyone?

And some additional tools and accessories to step it up a bit:

• Straws, swizzle sticks & cocktail picks
• Cocktail napkins
• Ice bucket & scoop
• Muddler
• Decanter

3. Styling a Bar Cart

Now that you've got all the supplies, and the cart, it's time to put it all together!

Generally you'll want to keep things a edited to avoid a cluttered look. For everyday, you'll want to keep the just a few of your personal favorites out and a few corresponding glassware pieces.

When hosting a smaller gathering, set on the top shelf a few bottles of wine, a few of the foundation spirits, and some glassware. On the bottom shelf, stash the additional foundation spirits and maybe a small bucket of ice with a few chilled beers.

If you're hosting a thematic party or have a signature drink, feature that on the top shelf and move the foundation items to the bottom shelf.

Drape a bar towel (or tie a simple knot in a corner) so it's ready to go for easy wiping, and a good stack of napkins will always be well-utilized.

Photo via Real Simple

I also encourage adding a small floral element - you can never go wrong incorporating an organic shape! A simple single branch or a small cluster of flowers is enough (those petite bouquets from Whole Foods are a great grab-and-go for this).

Photo via Domaine

4. Beyond the Bar

In addition to starring in your holiday parties, picture using a bar cart to display yummy baked goods for a baby shower or even a girls' tea party.

And to really push the limits, you could even use a bar cart in a bathroom for a little extra storage! I might sound crazy, but imagine using it to stash beauty supplies for a teen girl's space. How glam would that be? Certainly much more elevated than a crummy plastic cart. 

So what do you think? Will you be adding a bar cart to your decor? I'd love to see what you create! Tag me on Instagram and show me your style!

Have a safe and happy new year's celebration! If organization is on your list of resolutions, you'll want to follow me on Instagram. To help kick off 2018, I'll be sharing all sorts of tips to get your physical and digital life in order!

Until next time - cheers!