Bar carts sure had a good run, didn’t they? They quickly became the must-have piece of furniture that had everyone searching estate sales, discount furniture stores and even online marketplaces for a hidden gem to display their favorite booze and barware. And then, the novelty wore off, and well, you’re not alone if your bar cart is gathering dust in a corner.
But you’re in luck, because there are plenty of ways to transform that once chic cart and use it in other places in your home. Here are a dozen fantastic bar cart ideas from Forbes that have nothing to do with booze.
1. Snack Cart
No room in your pantry for all of those extra snacks? Or are you hosting a party and want to leave out yummy treats for your guests? Give your bar cart a snack cart makeover so everyone can grab the goods and go. Use the top of the cart for coffee and drink supplies, and fill cupboards or drawers with coordinating baskets to hold the snacks.
2. Crafting Cart
Whether the supplies belong to you or your kids, corral all of the craft supplies in one place in your former bar cart. Using different sized containers, baskets and bins, you’ll be able to keep all of your craft supplies organized, and if your cart is small enough to move around your space, you can move the cart to wherever you feel inspired to get artsy.
3. Bathroom Cart
Sure you could toss all of your bathroom essentials into a cupboard, but parking your bar cart in your bathroom gives any space an instant storage upgrade. If the current colors of your cart clash with your bathroom decor, a few coats of paint can easily fix that problem. Use the top of the cart to hold your makeup and skincare, and use the other shelves and drawers to store items like towels, shower supplies or extra rolls of toilet paper.
4. Office Cart
Make working from home a little easier by stacking items like office supplies and a bulky printer onto the cart. This cart can also double as a homework cart for kids. Using a few small containers, load up on all the supplies kids will need to get the job done: pencils, pens, markers, crayons, construction paper, scissors and don’t forget a few fun items like stickers and stamps pads.
5. Guest Room Cart
Be the host with the most by rolling a special cart into your guest room that is filled with personalized items for your guests. Need a few ideas? A single serve coffee maker is a great choice–no need to get out of bed for a cup of joe. Treat your guests to extra towels that are luxurious and soft. Create your own version of a turn down service by leaving bottles of water and a few sweet treats on the cart, and finish with a great scented candle or a book for your guests to read. A cart this great will ensure your guests never want to leave, and you’ll want to move this cart into your room instead.
6. Changing Station
From the life of the party to the baby’s room. If you’ve got a gorgeous piece of furniture–a bar cart–and you’re no longer using it, repurpose it to another room–like your baby’s nursery. Leave all of the supplies for diaper duty on the cart, or use it to display beautiful keepsakes. As your little one grows, the cart can be repurposed again to display their favorite treasures, games or plush toys.
7. Kitchen Storage
The one place there never seems to be enough storage is the kitchen. A bar cart is the perfect spot to load up your pots and pans, small appliances or to store your servingware. If you’ve got a small corner in your kitchen, you can move the cart in and out so that whatever you have stored on the cart, you can always grab it when needed.
8. Party Buffet
From brunch to holiday meals, the bar cart will come in handy when you’re serving up delicious meals to friends and family. Keep the cart festive by adding pops of color in your serving pieces or draping linen napkins over the cart to keep up with the color scheme. When it’s time to eat, push the cart closer to the table so everyone can help themselves.
9. End Table
A small cart works perfectly as an end table or a night stand. If you have a small space, and you don’t have room for furniture with a large footprint, a small bar cart is the perfect spot to set down your coffee cup, stack a few books or display a few of your favorite small pieces of decor. If you need more room, simply roll the cart away.
10. Outdoor Furniture
Head into the great outdoors–also known as your backyard– and take your bar cart with you. Outside, the cart can double as an end table, a place to hold food when you dine al fresco, or become part of the decor that creates a cozy vibe in your outdoor space. If your cart is on wheels, you can follow the party and take your cart to any part of your patio or yard.
11. Library Cart
Turn your favorite collection of books into a gorgeous display on your bar cart. Add some height with lamps, plenty of color from the book jackets and some texture with accent pieces as bookends. Looking for a more consistent vibe? Cover the books so that all of the book jackets are the same color. This easy DIY is inexpensive, but has a big impact on the aesthetic
12. Flower Cart
Work on your green thumb and use the bar cart as your work space and as a display for all of your plants. Park the cart on a patio or deck to work outside, using the shelves and drawers to hold your gardening supplies, or display your greenery inside on the cart with coordinating pots that match your decor. If your plants need a little more sunlight, simply roll the cart in front of a window with natural light.
—
Photo Credit: Photology1971 / Shutterstock.com