Everything You Need to Set Up a Festive Bar Cart

AD It YourselfEverything You Need to Set Up a Festive DIY Bar CartNo space for a proper bar cart? Don’t let that stop you from creating a great setup for your next holiday partyDecember 1, 2021

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After being stuck at home for the past year, unable to go out and enjoy the nightlife at the local watering hole, many of us have upgraded our home bar setups. We asked four designers to share how to deck out your home bar for holiday celebrations, even if you don’t have a proper bar cart.

“Entertaining is all about the experience, especially for the holidays,” says designer Beth Diana Smith, who follows a three-step formula when prepping a bar cart: “Set the stage, deliver on drinkware, and accessorize.”

Take notes from Corey Damen Jenkinss own bar cart.

Take notes from Corey Damen Jenkins’s own bar cart.

Photo: Werner Straube

“Think about what would delight you at a party,” offers Hattie Collins, owner of design firm Hattie Sparks. “The small details—fresh flowers, holiday party poppers, personalized place cards, good music, and the glow of candles—matter much more than having a full bar cart setup.”

The number-one essential element for creating the perfect party-ready bar cart is a decorative tray, as any area can be designated your bar with an appropriate piece to delineate and contain all the elements. According to designer Corey Damen Jenkins, “Space can be a premium—especially for those of us living in apartments—and a literal bar cart may not be possible. So why not go for a decorative tray that can easily live day-to-day on the kitchen counter or a console? Consider capturing something vintage from an antique store, flea market, or auction, or perhaps nab one that’s been in your family for years. That way you have a special story to share when you bring it out to serve your guests.”

Collins agrees. “Anything looks more festive and elegant when served on a tray,” she says. “Try finding an antique silver tray and surround your glasses and bottles with some greenery and sprigs of red berries.”

Likewise, designer and luxury home decor expert Kim Seybert always includes a tray or two in her home bar. “I have a collection of trays in various colors and sizes and coordinate them with the theme and color of my tablescape,” she says. “I complete my bar setup with a nod to the holiday we are celebrating—[such as] a fall arrangement in a small bud vase or a few Christmas decorations.”

And although Seybert reveals she does not own a bar cart, a waist-high storage chest with a mirror behind it in her living room serves as her bar when she entertains. “The liquor, wine, and ice buckets, mixers, and garnishes sit on one side of the chest; an assortment of glasses, cocktail napkins, and straws sit on the other,” she says. “Bringing the bar to the party area allows me to serve and refresh drinks seamlessly while entertaining.”

Similarly, Smith suggests creating a base for cocktail essentials using a glass or lacquer tray or oversized placemats. Or she offers one of her favorite hosting hacks: “DIY a bar cart by stacking cake stands with at least six-inch legs for a tiered effect” that you can use to display various drink accoutrements, she explains. “This will create a thoughtful and organized drink station.”

With your bar cart outfitted with a decorative tray, what are the other essentials for entertaining for the holidays? “The perfect bare-bones bar includes a great bourbon, tequila, vodka, and mixers. You need a wine key, metal stirring sticks, cocktail napkins, and at least four rocks glasses. Pretty decanters to house your liquor or to pour wine into are a nice touch,” explains Collins, who says that really good wine glasses in a pop of color add a chic and festive detail. “I particularly love Estelle colored stemware. The pink shade is my favorite,” she says. Collins adds a few more elements to complete the bar setup: “For the tabletop, definitely candlesticks with ivory tapers. If you keep that element classic, you can get a little funkier with the other decorative pieces. For serving items, a crystal pitcher of water elevates the tablescape.”

A lucite bar cart in a project by Hattie Collins.

Hattie Collins suggests stocking up on the best liquors.

Photo: Andrew Giammarco

Kim Seybert says she always has the classic liquors on hand: gin, vodka, tequila, and bourbon. “If I know my guests favor a type of liquor, I make sure to stock it,” she says, “along with fresh-squeezed juices, soda water, tonic, and freshly cut lemons. And I keep one or two non-alcoholic beverage options chilled.” But she urges, “Keep it simple; do not overextend yourself. Serve one red wine, one white wine, and two mixed drinks. Choose a great wine glass for red or white, or purchase a versatile double old-fashioned glass for mixed drinks or wine. Use a wine bucket so the bottle can chill without putting it back in the fridge.”

Smith opts to create a signature cocktail for guests, “especially for holiday gatherings,” she says. “Once I have my drink recipe in mind, I go on the hunt for unique glassware that complements the drink itself. For example, if it’s Coquito, I’ll put it in milk jars with red paper straws and cinnamon sticks.”

And Smith adds that accessorizing really elevates the bar cart landscape. “Use decor like glass pitchers with candy cane stirrers, reindeer glasses with a bowl of cherries next to it, or even a pampas grass garland above your drink station help to create a memorable aesthetic. For non-alcoholic drinks, I always include a festive garnish like cranberries, mint sprigs, or a colorful themed straw. Just because it’s non-alcoholic doesn’t mean it has to look it.”

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Originally posted on: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/diy-bar-cart