Bar Cart Styling Tips – Make Every Day Feel Like Vacation!

Even though most of us aren’t traveling yet, there’s no reason you can’t make your home feel like an escape.  One thing you can do is freshen up a small space in your home…like a bar cart.   Today, I’m sharing some of my tropical bar cart styling tips so every day can feel like a vacation…for you and your guests!

*For your convenience, please note that this post may contain affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking my links below, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Bar Cart Styling Tips – Choose a Location:

Who says your bar cart has to sit in the same spot all the time?  Move it around to give it a new look!  For the past few years, I’ve displayed my bar cart in the dining room and I felt like I needed a change.  Since we spend more time in my living room on these long summer days, I decided to roll my bar cart in there for a fresh look.

Once I moved my bar cart into the living room, it took on a whole new life!  By placing it between the plantation shuttered windows and the seagrass chairs, I turned my bar cart into a new focal point in my living room.  I can’t believe I never thought to put it there before.  In the past, I’ve set up an afternoon tea in the same spot…so why not a bar cart?

Plus, it’s nice for guests to have easy access to beverages.  Doesn’t this look like a relaxing place to enjoy an afternoon cocktail?

Bar Cart Styling Tips – Choose a Theme:

When you choose a theme, it makes decorating a bar cart so much easier.  Since my living room already had a tropical British Colonial vibe going on, it made sense to decorate a tropical bar cart!

For the accessories, I gathered up green, blue and white island style items for a light a breezy feel.

On top of the bar cart, I repurposed a white planter as an ice bucket.  By adding the trellis print napkin, I carried over the green from the palm leaves in the cane vase.  (You could also use a piece of fabric the same way.)  If you like the texture on the vase, learn about how I made the cane wrapped vase.  

For touches of blue, I displayed my seagrass glasses and a blue and white candle.  Of course, a bottle of wine, wine glasses, a corkscrew and cocktail napkins made it all happy hour ready!

Shop the Look:

Bar Cart Styling Tips – Keep the Colors Consistent:

Since I used white, blue and green on the top of the bar cart, I carried those colors to the bottom shelf.  Once again, I went with just a touch of blue…which is hard for me because I love adding blue to my decor!  I think I was able to restrain myself though…

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Bar Cart Styling Tips – Variety of Beverages:

Sure, it’s fun to style a bar cart with decorative accessories but don’t forget the beverages!  Be sure to set up your bar cart with the basics – wine and a few of your favorite liquors.  If you’re looking for even more drink options, pop over to read my refreshing summer beverage ideas.

For guests who prefer water over a cocktail, I added some Pellegrino bottles in a basket.  In addition to being practical, they helped to carry over the green and textures from the rest of the bar cart.

Plus Pelligrino bottles make great decorating accessories too!  This spring, I used them in a table centerpiece.

Carry the Decor Around the Room:

Since my living room already had a tropical vibe, it was easy to add a few island inspired touches to my coffee table…

You can’t go wrong with a few shells and pretty coffee table books for summer!

Shop the Look:

Do you feel like you’re on vacation yet?

Hopefully, we’ll all be traveling again real soon.  For now, I’ll just have to enjoy making my home feel like a vacation!  Maybe you’ll feel like doing the same!

I hope you enjoyed my bar cart styling tips with an island twist!  Who else is excited to entertain again?  Cheers!

By the way, I’m also sharing my tropical bar cart ideas at this week’s Welcome Home Saturday!  Be sure to stop over and see all the lovely summer projects the other ladies are sharing!

Do you have any bar cart styling tips you’d like to share?

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