Run To The Thrift Store & Find Everything You Need For A DIY Bar Cart

Bar carts are one of those things that, for whatever reason, should look old. Perhaps we associate the bar cart with "Mad Men"-era excesses or mid-century modern style (or both). No matter the case, vintage feels like the right aesthetic for a DIY bar cart ... and the shortest route there is to start with vintage as well. While there are people who repurpose their bar carts and convert them into tables and storage units, some are also likely to get rid of them altogether, offloading them to thrift stores where they sit gathering dust until someone chances upon them. If you can't find a used bar cart at a Goodwill, don't worry — there are other options for assembling a bar cart yourself.

There are a few baseline things to keep in mind. When repurposing thrift store finds, you will, of course, want to make sure everything is clean and all the surfaces are food-safe. Start with a piece that needs as little work as possible, or one that needs work you feel comfortable repairing or modifying yourself. If you're trying to assemble a fabulous outdoor bar cart for summer, that has a lot of requirements for design and materials. And remember — thrifting and DIY projects are supposed to be fun. If you get mired in the process and details, keep in mind that you can jettison the whole idea and get one of the many great bar carts available new for under $100.

Given the seemingly infinite variety of bar cart sizes, styles, and materials, it might seem strange to think of a bar cart as having requirements. And, sure, you don't have to do anything you don't want to; if you want a bar cart that holds a single bottle of tequila and a red telephone, you do you. But it's good to think through the things other people put on their carts, and how they expect a cart to work. Let's start with what might go on a bar cart ... liquor, certainly, in its many forms, but at least the staples. And some wine. You can also commonly find mixers, cocktail books, fruit and garnishes, specialty glassware and decanters, a shaker and other barware, trays or chargers, and wine glass hangers. Maybe a blender or juice press, if you have a surfeit of room. Which will be requirements for you?

Now think through what most people expect a bar cart to do. For example, while it's certainly not a necessity, it's often sensible to have a bar cart that rolls. This implies a certain amount of stability, the ability to accommodate wheels or casters, and maybe some rails to keep things from sliding off. You'll also usually need something for things to slide off of, so shelves ... generally at least two. Glass or mirrors are classic, but use whatever shelving suits you. And you'll probably benefit from some amount of waterproofing.

With all that in mind, it's time to consider what you might be able to make your bar cart out of. Envision everything your cart will hold and do, because it might affect your decision when standing in a thrift or antique store eyeballing a spindly-legged phone stand. Will it hold enough? Can you attach casters to it? Many bar carts started life as phone stands or some other kind of stand or cart ... kitchen/utility carts, typewriter carts, plant stands, and tea carts are all prime candidates for a makeover. Other types of carts, like rolling tool carts, meet many of the requirements without modification, but might need some style updates.

Again, a vintage vibe is a shortcut to classic looks, whether your piece is an actual bar cart or a rolling office cart you're repurposing. Metal ... maybe especially rusty and distressed metal ... seems to have a jump start on more flawless pieces when it comes to cultivating a vintage vibe. A good example is the metal office cart converted by Scavenger Chic. But don't get hung up on metal, because you can work wonders with a wood antique, a sewing machine table, a rattan console table, or even a bookcase (in fact, bookcase bar carts seem to be fairly common). You might even get inventive with a bar cart crafted from a changing table, ironing board, stack of pallets, or a dining chair on wheels. Just make it your own.