As the festive period draws to an end, I’m sure many of us are beginning to wonder how we managed to acquire such a vast collection of snacks, chocolates, and, if it hasn’t already disappeared, booze.

Now, it's within my personal opinion that bottles of alcohol are, within themselves, not good examples of luxury home decor (particularly empty ones). However, when given a purpose and displayed correctly, they can really elevate your home and your entertainment space. I’ve created a short guide on displaying your evening refreshments in a way that feels both classy and timeless.

The image depicts a person pouring a drink from a beverage cart. Taken from www.pexels.com

1. Where to Place Your Bar Cart

Only you know which area of your home an alcohol tray/bar cart would serve you best. I would recommend placing it in the room you host/entertain the most, which would not encourage daily bad habits. If you have an open-plan space and host people in the kitchen, a small space on the kitchen side or the island may work for you.

Equally, if you have smaller rooms and like to host in different rooms, then a bar cart with wheels that you can move from room to room would be more ideal. In the following steps, I will list solutions for rooms of different sizes. For now, decide where a bar area would best suit your home.

The image depicts a decorated bar cart placed against a wall. Taken from www.pinterest.com

2. Starting small with a bar tray: It’s the little things, always.

A bar tray offers a small but impactful way to introduce an expressive, intentional display. You don't need to start big or dedicate a lot of space for this, just a few bottles of your favourite drinks, and a tray that fits your aesthetics.

Once you know the size, make sure the tray matches the style of your home. Maybe you have a metal running through your house that you could incorporate, or a pattern, or colour. Ultimately, don’t run to B&M and choose a tray that looks nice on the shelf. Like everything you purchase for your home, this small item can only add character if it reflects who you are.

Designer Tips

When purchasing a tray, consider its size and shape to ensure it fits the available surface area. A round table suits a circular or softly rounded tray, while a long, rectangular surface pairs well with something more angular.

3. To Bar Cart or not to Bar Cart?

If you are lucky enough to have space for a bar cart in your home, keep reading. Before you commit to a fully stocked cart in your home, as a responsible designer, I have a few questions I have to ask you first.

Question one: Are you good at dusting? Do you regularly dust your home? Bar carts, if not used, are dust traps. The bottles, the accessories, the glass, the coasters... I will not pretend that this is not a high-maintenance addition to your home, so if the answer is no, maybe a bar tray would suit you better.

Question two: Do you have young, curious children who can access the room? If so, consider a tray that you can keep on a higher shelf, or opt for a lockable cabinet instead.

Finally, question 3: Are you actually going to utilise this piece? As an interior designer, one of my jobs is to ensure the items that go into your home are practical for your lifestyle. Do you see yourself using and valuing a bar cart, or do you like the idea? Every item in your home should serve a purpose deeper than aesthetics. After all, it's 2026; there’s no need to keep up with the Joneses.

Designer tip

Don’t be afraid of negative space!
Negative space is your friend, and a little breathing room makes your bar cart look intentional rather than cluttered.

If you have read all these points and still want a bar cart in your home, let me help you shop for one. As with bar trays, shape and size are especially important, especially given the scale of your room and other furnishings. The bigger the space, the bigger the cart can be. Also consider the items you have and the space you need. Personally, I love a tiered bar cart, especially with alcohol stored on the bottom tier and glassware organised on the top.

4. Size Matters, But Only If It Fits

If you’re lucky enough to have high ceilings, a cabinet may be the best option. Cabinets typically take up as much floor space as a lower bar cart, but they require a bit more commitment to using wall space. Cabinets are great for multiple reasons: they typically require less dusting, can be locked away from younger family members, and hold a lot more alcohol. My favourite feature of an alcohol cabinet, however, is the ability to close away the visual clutter and really enjoy the features in moments where they matter.

Typically, cabinets are much more expensive and more complicated to find in a wide array of styles that suit a broader range of aesthetics, but they are definitely investment pieces worth the search. When buying a cabinet, I would consider the longevity of the materials it's made of, the reality of transporting it to your home, and how it will be delivered to your home.

5. Time to Decant(er)

As I said previously, I do not recommend using bottled beverages as decor, and let’s face it, not all of our favourite beverages come in pretty packaging. If you wish to elevate the way you display your alcohol, without your home feeling like an ad for alcohol, I would recommend introducing decanters into your space.

For a more luxurious look, I would source crystal glass decanters. You’ll be amazed at how cheap they are to purchase, but how much they elevate your space. I would also recommend avoiding gimmicky decanters, where possible (unless you have a quirky, fun space that would complement them!).

Decanters are not limited to storing alcohol either. In the summer, you can use a decanter for fresh juice at afternoon tea, indoors or on the patio. You could also store 0% alcohol, whiskey, especially, to look at a full bar cart, without needing to bring alcohol into your home.

6. It’s Decorating Time

Ok, so you have your beverages, you have your decanter and your tray/cart/cabinet, now what? Now we can decorate. I have listed the extras in order of importance, ranging from necessity to luxury. Feel free to rearrange these suggestions to what best serves you, and use this as a loose guide for decorating your bar cart.

Glassware
Coasters
Napkins
Cocktail shaker/tin
Cocktail tool kit
Cocktail Books/Drink recipes
Ice bucket
Vase with flowers

Everything on this list is fully customisable to your personal style, and you should select every piece intentionally. If you drink whiskey and like vintage aesthetics, opt for short whiskey glasses with ornate glass details. If you only drink champagne and prefer minimalist decor, a couple of champagne flutes on a small tray may suit you best. This small list is a way to build your bar, whilst staying practical to the space you have and the items you need.

7. Time to sit back, relax and enjoy

Hopefully, this blog post has helped you decide what type of bar centre would work best for your home and has given you some styling inspiration. If you would like further guidance and more personalised advice, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can find a list of my interior design services here.

Here’s to elevated living and creating with intention!

Geo Morgan x

To Bar Cart or not to Bar Cart?