Hi, friends, and welcome back to Stylishly Good Vibes! I’m so happy that you’re here. Today on the blog, I wanted to share a little home decor inspiration, more specifically, How to Build a Bar Cart! Now, my bar cart isn’t actually a bar cart, it’s a cabinet, BUT I’m going to refer to it as a bar cart for the purpose of this blog post.
Let’s get started!
When I moved into my new apartment, I knew I wanted to have some sort of bar set-up, but I didn’t want an actual cart. Prior to moving, I struggled to find a cart that was reasonably priced and well-made, so I decided to use something that I already had! This cabinet was a lucky find two years ago at Home Goods. It was under $200 and it is sturdy as sh*t, so it will last a lifetime!
What I love most about this cabinet is that it’s multipurpose, so I can use it as a makeshift bar cart and fill it with other knick knacks that need a home. Two for one, people!!!
Designing the Surface of Your Bar Cart
Let’s talk about the bar top of my cabinet. I wanted this space to reflect my personal style, while still being functional. I’ll be real with you guys: I’m not really a big drinker, so I when I was designing this surface, I wasn’t too concerned about having tons of space on top to clutter with bar-related sh*t. I tried to keep it as minimal as I could.
The marble cutting board is a cute little touch that I got as a gift from my aunt for Christmas. I figured it would be practical to use it as a surface for my candles, since I’m always worried they’re going to damage the top of the cabinet!
Also, I want to have a short rant real quick: I’m really picky about candles and for good reason. FYI, friends, most candles that you’ll come across at your favorite stores are made with TONS OF CHEMICALS. Chemicals that you will be breathing in for as long as you are burning it. Talk about unhealthy and kind of unsafe!
I stick to candles made with natural-based waxes and essential oils. My favorite places to buy non-toxic candles include Coven in Cleveland, Aware Marketplace, and Follain.
The Bar Tray
This little tray is the space on my bar cart where I throw most of my small knick knacks. So there’s a bottle opener, a wine opener, and a deck of cards. Gotta be prepared for everything!
The Barware
I am absolutely obsessed with the set of glasses I have on my bar cart. I found them at All Things for You, which is a vintage and antique store in Cleveland. Seriously, if you haven’t been yet, I don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s one of my favorite places to buy home decor because the selection changes so much every time I stop in!
The Final Touches
This multicolored glass bottle is another fun item I got at All Things for You. I filled it with some dried lavender that I found this past summer. I love it because it adds a little bit of height to the surface of the bar cart.
The Topo Chico bottle is an homage to my trip to Austin this past fall. All I did while I was there was drink Topo Chico waters, so I thought it would be a fun way to bring a little Texas back to Cleveland!
The wine bottle on display is one of my favorites, plus the design of the bottle is so detailed. On the label, it says “She wasn’t waiting for a knight, she was waiting for a sword.” I was like YES, GIRL POWER, OKAY.
Plus, I also have some adorable appetizer plates that a former coworker gave me from her days as a single lady. I thought it was the sweetest gift and I absolutely love how each plate has a different cocktail on it. She also gifted me the martini glasses, which I have yet to use because I don’t know how to even make a martini! I will learn!
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the artwork above my bar cart. The vintage postcards of Paris and Venice were from Auntie’s Antique Mall— it’s a HUGE warehouse of vintage goodies. The other two pieces of artwork are from Folk & Flora Design Co. and Little Limbo in ATX. The picture frames are from Marshalls and World Market, which are my two fave places to buy reasonably-priced frames.
Well, there you have it—all the fun things that make up my bar cart! I hope that you were able to gain a little inspiration from this post!
Until next time!
Alicia