4 Unexpected Bar Cart Hacks to Use This Holiday Season!

Branch out from single-use bar cart ideas! This multifunctional home essential can offer hidden functionality for you and your family—all it takes is just a bit of creativity. Thankfully, we’ve come up with 4 fail-proof bar cart hacks (and a BONUS bachelor chest idea) that will keep your guests wondering how you managed to decorate the home in a functional AND gorgeous way! Seriously. From a make-shift nightstand to a gift-wrapping station and an upgraded cookie center for Santa (and more!)—we’ve got some great ideas that will undoubtedly help you rethink bar cart functionality. Grab a seat and get ready to be inspired this holiday season with these tips straight from the iNSPIRE Q Design Team!

This image captures all the iNSPIRE Q Unexpected Bar Cart Hacks. Four bar carts of various finishes each store different items to show the different uses a bar cart could have. A lit up white Christmas tree sits in the background to celebrate the holiday season.

Tip #1: Turn your bar cart into a makeshift nightstand

Last-minute guests and holiday gatherings certainly seem to go hand in hand, don’t they? Thankfully, a bar cart can be used to keep unexpected guests comfortable (even when they’re stuck on the couch!) Here’s how:

This gold-finished bar cart is used as a makeshift nightstand. The glass top shelf has a clock, a glass of water, and a decorative vase. The glass bottom shelf has a basket containing a robe, soap, and other bathing items.
  • In addition to blankets and pillows on your makeshift bed (couch), add a basket with essential toiletries similar to what you would offer if the guest were staying in a spare room. For example, include towels, Febreze, lotion, hand sanitizer, and tissues. Items like these will help them feel right at home without having to ask you where the linen closet is.
  • We ‘spruced’ this idea up by adding simple décor elements such as a vase with friendly faux plants, and a clock!
  • If you can, another idea is to add an empty pitcher, glass, and coaster are great options to ensure your guest can grab some water overnight if they need!
  • Go above and beyond by providing a small notebook and pen for your guests during their stay.

Not only are they stylish, but this simple bar cart hack is a GREAT quick fix for overnight guests in an apartment with no spare bedroom or a crowded house! Since our bar cart is mobile, it can travel with your guest to be as near (or far) from their makeshift bed as they please.

Tip #2: Wrap it up with a makeshift gift station!

This chrome-finished bar cart is used as gift wrapping station. The mirrored top and bottom shelves both feature various wrapped presents for the holidays.

Where do you wrap your presents?
2 votes · 2 answers

Get creative and use this idea to suit your needs:

  • Use your bar cart to hold wrapping supplies near you while you wrap at a table/upright countertop to keep the clutter off of your workspace!
  • Stock up your cart with wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, boxes, gift bags, and tissue paper to keep your gifting essentials close by! Because this cart is mobile, it can travel with you wherever you decide to wrap.
  • Your cart can also be used as a ‘travel tray’ to move your gifts from one area of the home to under the tree. Say goodbye to multiple trips and hello to stylish functionality!

Tip #3: Turn your cart into a sweet station!

This other chrome-finished bar cart holds cookies and milk for Santa.

Leaving a plate of cookies for Santa just got upgraded! Here are some tips to style your cart for Santa (and your guests!):

  • We added a bit of flair to the traditional offering of a single plate of cookies by turning a tiered tray into a stylish space to showcase your treats!
  • Looking for a trendy way to serve sweets to your guests? Add some subtle holiday décor to your cart (we added a gold wreath!) and use holiday mugs, plates, napkins and the like to transform this simple idea into a fun holiday treat cart!

Tip #4: Have a drink!

Since this is an article about bar cart hacks, here’s a great holiday sangria recipe to serve at a gathering! Check it out:

Ingredients:

  • 1 Granny Smith apple 
  • 1 Gala Apple
  • 1 cup of fresh cranberries 
  • 6 sprigs of fresh rosemary 
  • 1 bottle of Pinot Grigio 
  • 1/2 cup of white grape juice
  • 1- 12oz can of club soda
  • 1/2 cup of powder sugar
Pictured here are the ingredients for holiday sangria. This includes apples, white wine, club soda, cranberries, rosemary, white grape juice, and powdered sugar.

Directions

1. Chop apples into small cubes.

This image shows are apples diced accordingly to the recipe for the sangria.

2. Next, place apples, cranberries, and 1 large powder frosted sprig of rosemary in a large glass pitcher.
3. To frost the rosemary, dampen sprigs. Then shake off excess water and roll in powdered sugar
.

This image is four cranberries paired with sprigs of rosemary. The sprigs are dusted with powdered sugar.

4. After that, add wine, 12 oz. of club soda, and 1/2 cup of white grape juice.

A gif displaying a glass pitcher. The pitcher has each of the ingredients added to it one by one: first the diced apples, the cranberries, the rosemary, and then filled with white wine.

5. Finally, stir gently and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

6. Before serving, garnish the wine glasses with a frosted sprig of
rosemary and a few cranberries.

An image displaying the finished sangria in a glass pitcher. It shows the layers of wine, apples, cranberries, and romsemary.

BONUS TIP #5: Turn a bachelor’s chest into a mini bar!

No bar cart? No problem! Despite the fact that this article is about bar carts, these ideas can be replicated in a plethora of different ways. For instance, turn a simple entryway table or dresser into a minibar with these simple tips and tricks from the iNSPIRE Q Design Team:

Our final bar cart hack is for a bachelor's chest! We made a bachelor's chest a bar cart. In this image, we see the top portion of a black and gold 3-drawer chest. The top of the chest features winter-themed decor and a couple of bottles of liquor. The open top drawer holds additional bottles of liquor as well as napkins and tools like bottle openers.
  • We decided to dress this bachelor’s chest up into a classy minibar with a subtle masculine vibe. Our holiday touches such as the gold-accented ornaments, napkins, and cocktail shaker (used to bring out the gold tones naturally found in the chest), as well as subtle touches of winter foliage, add the holiday charm needed to dress up this unique idea.
  • Since a bachelor’s chest has drawers, use them to your advantage! We’ve stocked our chest with a bottle opener and various cocktail supplies as well as napkins! Nevertheless, no matter what you do, be sure to use your imagination to stock your chest with wine stoppers, shot glasses, or coasters!

Love the look? Shop all our bar carts now!

We certainly hope you’ve enjoyed our bar cart hacks to upgrade your home for the holiday season! Be sure to comment below which tip is your favorite!

But don’t just take our word for it; see what the Seattle Times has to say for our bar carts!

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