Welcome to the Blog

By Laura Carson Miller

Hey friends,

Like many of you, over the Covid 19 lockdown I found myself looking around our home and thinking about how to better use space. Something my husband and I have in common is we don’t like the look of a lot of stuff on the counters in the kitchen. I got the bright idea to bring in a bar cart to use as a coffee and tea station, and it not only looks great but it serves a very useful purpose – keeping our counters less cluttered.

I choose a gold tone model from Wayfair and we installed white floating shelves for easy access to the mugs and cups. I added a lovely green plant on the bottom shelf. I bought new white ceramic canisters with light wood tops to hold the coffee as well. This little makeover really pepped me up when I really needed some pepping!!

A bar cart is a stylish and functional piece of furniture, but its usefulness extends far beyond just serving drinks. There are countless ways to repurpose a bar cart to suit your needs. Here are some creative and practical ways to use a bar cart that have nothing to do with alcohol.

1. Coffee and Tea Station
Turn your bar cart into a chic coffee and tea station. Stock it with your favorite coffee beans, tea bags, mugs, a French press, an electric kettle, and any other accessories you need for your daily caffeine fix. Add some stylish canisters, like I did, for sugar, honey, and stirrers to complete the setup.

2. Baking Supply Cart
If you love to bake but struggle with storage space, a bar cart can serve as a mobile baking supply station. Store your flour, sugar, baking soda, measuring cups, mixing bowls, and other essentials in an easily accessible place. You can also keep a few cookbooks or recipe cards on display for inspiration.

3. Mobile Office or Workstation
Need a flexible workspace? A bar cart can be your answer! It hold office supplies like notebooks, pens, a laptop, and a printer. Plus, if you work from home, you can roll it from room to room for a change of scenery while keeping all your essentials in one spot. Now isn’t that genius??

4. Plant Display Stand
Use a bar cart as a stylish plant stand to create an indoor garden. Arrange potted plants, succulents, or herbs at different levels to add greenery to your space. This setup is particularly great for small apartments or rooms without a lot of shelf space. This is so practical and I’ve seen a lot of different styles of bar carts used as plant stands. Go with the one that speaks to you and don’t forget you will need trays or saucers under each plant if you are not removing them to a sink for watering!

5. Kids’ Craft or Homework Station
A bar cart can be transformed into a portable craft or homework station for kids. Stock it with art supplies, coloring books, glue, markers, and other essentials. Having everything organized and in one place makes cleanup easier and encourages creativity.

6. Bathroom Organizer

In a bathroom with limited storage, a bar cart can serve as a spa-like organizer for towels, toiletries, and beauty products. Keep rolled-up towels, scented candles, and bath salts on display to create a relaxing atmosphere. Again this is the perfect way to free up counter space in your bathroom. You can choose a cart the echos your bathroom style or completely change it up with something totally unexpected.

7. Bedroom Nightstand Alternative
For a unique twist on a traditional nightstand, use a bar cart beside your bed. Store books, a lamp, a glass of water, and personal items like a phone charger and alarm clock. The multiple tiers provide more storage than a standard bedside table. I love this idea for a guest room!

8. Entryway Catch-All Station
Use a bar cart in your entryway to store keys, mail, sunglasses, and bags. It can also double as a shoe rack or a place to keep a basket for gloves and scarves in colder months. You can find bar carts with one or two shelves or five, so there are plenty of options for using one for daily storage.

9. Picnic or Alfresco Entertaining Cart
Take your bar cart outside and use it as a serving station for picnics, BBQs, or outdoor gatherings. Load it with plates, napkins, utensils, and snacks to make hosting easier and more organized. Whether it’s a family dinner, a birthday party or the neighborhood pot luck, using a portable bar cart for cutlery and all the fixings is such a big help! Once you try this there is no going back!

10. Gift Wrapping/Resale/Pack + Ship Station
If you love wrapping gifts, use a bar cart to keep all your wrapping paper, ribbons, tape, scissors, and gift tags in one place. This way, you’ll always have everything you need for special occasions or holidays. This is also a great option if you sell a lot of resale items online or have a small business where you pack and ship items from your home.

A bar cart is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own. It can be as glam or as casual as you are! Whether you repurpose it for storage, organization, or decoration, there are countless ways to make it work for your lifestyle. Do you use a bar cart in a unique way? I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a line: [email protected].

Why Not Live Beautifully Each Day?

Photo via Pinterest. All rights revert to original owner.