Entertainment season is upon us, and whether you’re looking to serve up some spiked libations, thirst-quenching mocktails, or hot cocoa, you may want to spruce up your bar cart or beverage station for the holidays. Here are some quick tips and tricks to deck out your holiday bar cart (and if you don’t have one already, they’ve become quite the trendy décor item – so you’re likely to find one at most furniture and home retailers!).
1. Make Sure It’s Stocked With Essentials
While it might be a given, not all of us know what we may need to craft a drink. Some quintessential bar accessories include a cocktail shaker, jigger, glasses, bitters or mixers, a muddler, and a strainer. If you are starting to prep your holiday grocery list, add the base “liquids” you’ll need for classic and seasonal beverages. And make sure they’re non-perishable, as anything needing refrigeration can be brought out moments before your party begins. Not sure what else you’ll need? Check out this bar cart essentials list.
And not all carts need to revolve around cocktails! Instead, these multi-purpose stands can be used to serve hot chocolate and accouterments, coffees and teas, and even just desserts. And who doesn’t love a sweet bar filled with gingerbread, mint, and chocolate delights during this season?
2. Add Some Bling With Garland, A Wreath, & Fairy Lights
Garland is a fantastic addition to the edge of your cart – or any table you use to prep your drinks. Since the railing of most carts is quite small, we recommend using thin garland with not a lot of bulk. There are many options, too, including retro-inspired, metallic tinsel garland and the quintessential faux evergreen. This artificial boxwood option is simplistic yet eye-catching.
One of the best things about entertaining with a bar cart is that most are on wheels, so they can easily be moved around and follow the party wherever it may go. So, choose lights that have a battery pack. That way you do not have to search for an outlet.
3. Or Add A Holiday-Inspired Banner
If garland isn’t your thing, string a festive banner from handle to handle. Etsy is chock-full of affordable options. One of our favorites? A gold banner that simply says “Cheers” – a lovely word that isn’t holiday specific, so it can stay up from Halloween through the new year!
Drink carts aren’t just for the December holidays! Take a peek at this cart adorned with pumpkins, gourds, and a Thanksgiving-inspired banner.
4. Spruce Up Your Glasses With Ornament Drink Holders
Glass or plastic fillable ornaments, designed specifically to hold liquid, can make any bar cart instantly festive. Fill up the ornaments with any leftover liquid or mixer (or just use water and red or green food coloring) and put them in a fitting glass sitting on your cart. We adore how they look in martini, coupe, and margarita saucer glasses.
If you have extra sphere ornaments lying around and want a liquid-free option, those work as well, too!
5. Get Your Glasses in the Holiday Spirit
First things first: make sure your bar cart is equipped with the proper drinkware. Determine what you’re planning to serve, and make sure you have the right glasses handy. If you’re planning on making holiday mocktails, you might not want to serve them in mugs. Right?
A good rule of thumb? Keep some highball, lowball, and wine glasses readily available. We also love to personalize our parties – and holiday-themed drink cups with initials or names are great for non-alcoholic options.
For the holidays, we love to choose simple, gold-rimmed glasses for our cart. Again, since they aren’t specific to any holiday, they can be kept on the cart for many months (or the entire year). Some other standout options include frosted glasses with etched holiday motifs or hand-painted glasses with winter scenes. If you’re feeling crafty, take a look at these holiday-themed painted wine glass tutorials.
6. Opt for Holiday-Themed Swizzle Sticks & Straws
Most of your favorite party supply stores (as well as online retailers!) are sure to carry holiday-themed swizzle sticks or an array of paper straws in decadent colors and patterns. Discount retailers, like Marshalls and HomeGoods, are known to have many paper and plastic products throughout the year that are on point for each season.
If you’re feeling in the mood to make your own, simply glue small bottle brush trees on top of plain wooden swizzle sticks. Add a ribbon to your glasses for an extra flourish.
For the day of a get-together, use fresh ingredients to deck out your drinks. Pepper sticks, candy canes, and even a rosemary garnish add a fun, festive feel.
7. Fill in the Gaps With Bottle Brush Trees, Metallic Deer, & More
Traditionally, the bottom shelf of your bar cart will hold the necessary items to make your choice of beverages. The top shelf would include your beverage-making essentials (and even an ice bucket), a number of glasses, and decorative elements. So, suffice it to say you might have some empty space that needs some love on the top shelf.
Some ideas to fill in the gaps include:
- Decanters
- Gingerbread Houses, especially for a hot chocolate station
- Clear jars filled with small ornaments, pinecones, or lights
- Festive cocktail napkins
- Your “Elf on the Shelf” (if he’s looking for a new hiding place!)
- A festive floral arrangement
- Bottle brush trees in an array of sizes – which can be an extremely affordable option!
Whether it’s getting all dressed up for a family dinner, trimming the tree, or setting up the dining room table with your grandmother’s China, the holidays are all about the vibe. And that can include your bar cart or beverage station! If you’re wondering how to go about storing all your holiday décor once January rolls around, check out our 10 tips for packing holiday decorations.
And if you need more holiday storage space than your basement, garage, or closet has to offer, check out a Prime Storage facility! We have a variety of different self storage units near you, including climate controlled storage. So take a look at the storage unit options we have available in your area, and begin your rental online now!
