One Bar Cart, Three Ways to Entertain

Topped with liquor and pretty glassware, a bar cart is one of the best ways to present cocktail hour. But clear its shelves of alcohol, and it can still bring the party. The proof? From tea trolley to sweet chariot, here are just a few of the ways we’re using our favorite drink trundler (The Chloe) to entertain this winter.

1. The Party on Wheels

The quickest way to liven up a room full of people? Parlor games and good tunes. Place a turntable and portable speakers on the cart’s top shelf, then stock the bottom with an assortment of vinyl records and let your guests play DJ. As for games, keep with your cart's overall old-fashioned vibe and stick with classic wooden board games that can easily be played in large or small groups. (Think: Tic-Tac-Toe and Shut the Box.) When guests arrive, wheel in your entertainment station, hit play, and let the games begin.

2. The Sweet Spot

A throwback hospitality flourish, dessert-topped carts are making a sweet return to restaurants—and they’re a trend you can easily roll out at home. First, create a focal point with your main dessert. Simply set your dish on a raised cake plate, center it on the top shelf, then surround it with a smattering of sweets in smaller serving dishes of varying heights. On your bottom shelf, add stacks of pretty pastel plates, fun cocktail napkins, and tumblers filled with dessert forks and spoons. 

3. The Caffeination Station

It’s the perfect place to start mornings and when rolled out for guests, end brunch. To start, clear your cabinets of all tea-and-coffee essentials (hello, extra storage) and place your brewer of choice (coffeemaker, kettle, or French press) on the top shelf. Extras (beans, tea bags, and sugars) should be arranged in coordinating canisters nearby, while mugs can go below, or hung along the top rail using s-hooks. As for your palette, crisp black and white accents will temper the cart’s inherent glam-factor for a look that feels clean and organized.