drinks trolley
LMC Interiors Save Email Choose clever fixtures Seek out bar trolleys that make life easier for you. For instance, this beautiful retro design not only holds an ice bucket and decanter, but has a neat, built-in wine rack and suspended storage for glasses on the underside of the top tier. This makes more room for all your other party paraphernalia.
Give it a new role You don’t have to use your trolley just for drinks and barware. These petite, portable pieces of furniture are very versatile and work well all over the house. Use yours as an occasional table in the living room for stacking books and displaying the odd ornament, or wheel your trolley into the bedroom, where it can become the perfect perch for a lamp, a glass of water and your favourite book
Add extra tiers If you like to have a good selection of your favourite drinks at the ready, be sure to go for a bar trolley with an additional tier to provide more storage for the same footprint. A three-tier drinks station like this one will offer more than enough room for decanters, a tray of spirits, cocktail shakers and plenty of glassware – perfect for getting the party started!
Go for bottom-heavy There are no hard and fast rules for this, but generally, it’s wise to keep bulky bottles, ice buckets and decanters on the bottom tier of your trolley and display lighter, more delicate glassware on top. So it can be a good idea to choose a trolley with a large space underneath. This will help the weight distribution and balance of the trolley as you move it from room to room. It also means transparent glasses on the top shelf won’t obscure or clash with any artwork or photographs hanging on the wall above. Eclectic Dining Room by Design Manifest Design Manifest Save Email Make it work harder Your bar trolley doesn’t have to be dedicated solely to drinks and glasses – it can also be handy for stacking plates, bowls, cups and saucers for guests all in one place while you’re entertaining. This is also a great dinner party trick, as all of your crockery can be wheeled out to the table in one fell swoop.
Set up a self-serve drinks station Let your guests mix, shake and stir their own drinks to sip on throughout the night. Before your party, stock up your station with all the main spirits and liqueurs, such as vodka, rum, gin, whisky, Amaretto, Kahlua and Baileys. Make sure you also have plenty of mixers (like sodas, juices and cordials) for cocktails – or mocktails for the designated drivers and non-drinkers in your group.
1. Drinks trolley With the 1970s supposedly back in vogue, now might be the time to unleash your inner Margo Leadbetter (the kaftan-sporting neighbour from 1970s sitcom The Good Life) and invest in a drinks trolley. These wheeled units for beverages and snacks can add vintage personality to living rooms and are a great excuse for an evening martini. No wonder one high street retro model is reportedly selling like hot cakes. See also vintage drinks cabinets for those Mad Men moments.
Clean up an original piece If you find yourself a regular at your local antiques shop, or like to scour garage sales for your favourite finds, keep a look out for an antique wooden bar trolley. If it looks a bit the worse for wear, don’t worry. Treat it to a good buff, polish and wax to bring back its original lustre. And don’t forget, you can always hide any scratches or marks with a beautiful vintage tray and a couple of sturdy decanters.
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