How Your Bar Cart Can Do Double Duty

We look forward to holiday entertaining all year long—and when the holidays roll around, we want our homes to be ready to receive guests at any time. We've partnered with Sauder to share ideas for how to make your home guest-ready at a moment's notice by using all your furniture to your entertaining advantage.

Entertaining guests from a fully stocked bar cart elicits a kind of old Hollywood, Gene Kelley-like allure. But did you know the bar cart was originally used as a tea trolley? During the Victorian Era it was used to serve high tea; the shelves would be stocked with teapots, serving ware, and accompaniments like biscuits, butter, and jam. Today, the bar cart has continued to evolve its uses and has remained popular for so many reasons. With some creativity, you can also use your cart to host with more ease this holiday season.

Bar carts are incredibly versatile and act as the perfect accent within any area for entertaining. Whether you host a tree trimming party, a night of cookie decorating, or a wreath-making fete, let your bar cart do the heavy lifting and station all your refereshments in one place. To get you bar cart-ing in style, here are a few ways to simplify entertaining by creating an inviting bar cart display. Done right, guests will be cued in to serve themselves—which means less fuss for you and more time to enjoy your company. Win-win.

A Clear Vision

Sometimes being offered a bar's-worth of drink options can be overwhelming: not everyone’s a mixologist, and others might be confused about what goes with what. Make life easier for your friends and limit any guessing by refining your offerings to one or two options. Instead of placing several bottles out, whip up a few big batch drinks and serve them in beautiful pitchers alongside a few of your favorite snacks. Organize your bar cart into zones by grouping essentials together, like placing drinks with glassware, and napkins by any snacky treats. Have your cart well-stocked with anything guests might need to serve themselves, from tongs for ice to stirring spoons to a knife for cutting wedges of lemon or lime.

All In The Details

Draw guests over to your bar cart set-up with eye-catching details—colorful accents, interesting accessories, and vibrant flower displays are all ways you can entice your company while reflecting your taste. A simple way to elevate any occasion is by incorporating a few fancy objects, like glass straws, copper drink stirrers, or cloth napkins (instead of their paper and plastic counterparts). For a personal touch, showcase unique objects like the vintage bottle opener you found at your favorite flea market or that handsome ice bucket you're always looking for a reason to use. Complete your display with a lush plant or a seasonal flower arrangement for added height and texture, or light a few candles to imbue a warm ambiance. Little details like these can make a big impact in making your gathering feel extra special.

Keep Rollin' With It

Remember, bar carts don’t only have to be for booze! Create a wintery hot cocoa spread complete with homemade marshmallows; or have an ice cream sundae bar layered with all kinds of sweets and topping options; or use it as a trolley for the next time someone wants breakfast in bed.

And think about all the ways you can put a bar cart to use beyond food and drink, too! A bar cart can be used as a record player and music station, a plant stand, a living room side table, or as a curated place to highlight collectibles and art objects— your imagination’s the limit.

How do you like to enlist your bar cart for holiday entertaining, and after? Tell us in the comments!

We look forward to holiday entertaining all year long—and when the holidays roll around, we want our homes to be ready to receive guests at any time. We've partnered with Sauder to share ideas for how to make your home guest-ready at a moment's notice by using all your furniture to your entertaining advantage. A glam (and affordable!) bar cart, like the International Lux Bar Cart from Sauder, is just the thing for entertaining in easy style.