Bar Trolleys: Let the Good Times Roll!
These portable pieces of furniture are so versatile, and retro-cool too. So seek one out and let the celebrations begin
Lara Sargent
11 November 2015
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a teeny splash of your favourite tipple at the end of a hard day, and it can taste all the sweeter if it’s prepared on a chic drinks trolley. You’ll notice that these glamorous accessories have been popping up more and more on Houzz recently, and with good reason.
Whether vintage or modern in style, trolleys can double up as a side table, snack tray or magazine rack if you’re not after a drinks station. But their real beauty is that they can be moved from room to room, serving different functions as they go. With the festive season just around the corner, there’s no better time to stock up your beautiful bar trolley and invite over your nearest and dearest for a great night in. So check out this collection to find a style that suits you.
Whether vintage or modern in style, trolleys can double up as a side table, snack tray or magazine rack if you’re not after a drinks station. But their real beauty is that they can be moved from room to room, serving different functions as they go. With the festive season just around the corner, there’s no better time to stock up your beautiful bar trolley and invite over your nearest and dearest for a great night in. So check out this collection to find a style that suits you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keep it light
Because bar trolleys are such beautiful objects in their own right, it’s a shame to clutter them with too much paraphernalia. On top of that, you don’t want glasses and bottles slipping off if you decide to wheel it around, so try not to overload them.
So your style is: retro
Because bar trolleys are such beautiful objects in their own right, it’s a shame to clutter them with too much paraphernalia. On top of that, you don’t want glasses and bottles slipping off if you decide to wheel it around, so try not to overload them.
So your style is: retro
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!
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!
Upcycle an old find
Give a wooden trolley that may well have seen better days a quick lick of paint, and your upcycled treasure will quickly become your number one accessory for every kind of get-together.
Sand back the wood and remember to use a primer before finishing with a few layers of tough, hard-wearing gloss or satinwood paint, both of which can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Chalky paint would also work a treat, and can be applied straight to the surface.
10 great upcycling projects
Give a wooden trolley that may well have seen better days a quick lick of paint, and your upcycled treasure will quickly become your number one accessory for every kind of get-together.
Sand back the wood and remember to use a primer before finishing with a few layers of tough, hard-wearing gloss or satinwood paint, both of which can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Chalky paint would also work a treat, and can be applied straight to the surface.
10 great upcycling projects
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. Or why not give it a home in the bathroom, where it would make a great surface for make-up and toiletries.
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. Or why not give it a home in the bathroom, where it would make a great surface for make-up and toiletries.
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.
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.
Channel all-out glamour
If it’s cocktail hour, there’s nothing quite like your very own drinks trolley to add a touch of effortless elegance to the event. A curvaceous gilt design will conjure up a little slice of Gatsby chic that will have guests enthralled.
If you really want to up the glamour, make sure yours is stocked with a little of everything: bourbon, champers and a good selection of aperitifs, as well as beautiful crystal glassware, old-fashioned decanters and shiny ice buckets.
Infuse your home with Hollywood-style glamour
If it’s cocktail hour, there’s nothing quite like your very own drinks trolley to add a touch of effortless elegance to the event. A curvaceous gilt design will conjure up a little slice of Gatsby chic that will have guests enthralled.
If you really want to up the glamour, make sure yours is stocked with a little of everything: bourbon, champers and a good selection of aperitifs, as well as beautiful crystal glassware, old-fashioned decanters and shiny ice buckets.
Infuse your home with Hollywood-style glamour
Revel in retro
There’s something rather old-school about a bar trolley anyway, but team it with vintage glassware and stand it under the right artwork and you can really bring out the mid-century charm.
There’s something rather old-school about a bar trolley anyway, but team it with vintage glassware and stand it under the right artwork and you can really bring out the mid-century charm.
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.
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.
Try a tray table
If you haven’t managed to track down a bar trolley you love, a simple foldaway tray table can work just as well. As it’s not on wheels, it will be more difficult to move around, so position it carefully, and you’ll soon have a cool focal point for your parties.
TELL US
Have you bagged yourself a beautiful bar trolley? Share your stories, ideas and photos in the Comments section below.
MORE
Raise Your Glass to Home Bars in All Shapes and Sizes
New Year’s Party Ideas That May Even Trump the Sydney Fireworks
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If you haven’t managed to track down a bar trolley you love, a simple foldaway tray table can work just as well. As it’s not on wheels, it will be more difficult to move around, so position it carefully, and you’ll soon have a cool focal point for your parties.
TELL US
Have you bagged yourself a beautiful bar trolley? Share your stories, ideas and photos in the Comments section below.
MORE
Raise Your Glass to Home Bars in All Shapes and Sizes
New Year’s Party Ideas That May Even Trump the Sydney Fireworks
10 Household Additions You Never Knew You’d Love
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Lovely article Lara. Thank you for featuring one of my pictures.
www.eleanorbainesphotography.co.uk