New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and with it come some of the biggest parties of the year. If you’re planning to host, you’ll want to stock up on drinks and treats for family and friends – and you’ll need a bar cart that’s just as gorgeous to look at as it is functional. But how {and where} do you begin? What are the essentials and how should everything be displayed? Below are five tips for styling the ultimate bar cart just in time for your fabulous New Year’s Eve fête.
1. Stock up on champagne.
No New Year’s party is complete without champagne on hand {and let’s be honest, you’ll need lots of it!}. Since this will be the star drink of the night, place a few bottles on the top shelf of the cart so friends know what’s available, and keep plenty of extra bottles chilled in the fridge to swap in when necessary. If you’d rather not be pouring all night long, a fun alternative to full bottles is to offer guests individual Mini Sophia Blanc de Blancs, which come in adorable pink cans and can be sipped with straws. Simple enough, delicious, and they look just as good on display as they do in your hand.
2. Divide your cart into zones.
The key to being a great hostess is staying organized – especially when you have a house full of family and friends all night long. Dividing your bar cart into specific zones will ensure that you have everything you need to easily serve {and will keep you in check as the night goes on and you’ve had a few drinks yourself…}. You might want to dedicate the top shelf of your cart to champagne {think bottles, flutes, and garnishes} and the bottom level to mixed drink essentials {barware, mixers, and the hard stuff}. It’s also helpful to cluster different types of stemware together, such as wine glasses, goblets, or highballs. Doing so helps to keep everything looking stylish and organized.
^Adele, anyone?
3. Accessorize and garnish.
You can accessorize your bar cart, just as you would your party dress. Show off a favorite piece of artwork or photograph by propping it up at the back of the cart. It’ll give your bar a unique look and can also serve as a conversation piece. Placing candles {like this gorgeous pineapple candle from Anthropologie} is another great way to accessorize and can really help to set the ambiance of the room when lit. If you have a collection of books that you’d like to display {my personal favorites feature mixed drink recipes}, grab a few with attractive covers and stack them at the bottom of the cart with a bowl of colorful lemons or limes on top.
4. Keep it simple.
Decide in advance what you’ll be serving guests and choose a few bottles in multiples {such as champagne or sparkling water} to display. While it’s a good idea to have other ingredients on hand, edit the items that you display so everything can be easily seen. This will keep your bar cart looking clean and visually pleasing to guests.
5. Don’t forget that it’s a party!
New Year’s Eve is one of the most special nights of the year, so make it feel that way! Tossing some confetti across the cart helps to bring the look and feel of Times Square into your home {without the hassle of standing out in the cold for fourteen hours with one million strangers}. Displaying pretty straws and dropping fresh raspberries into the bottoms of champagne flutes make drinks extra pretty and even more special for your guests. Infuse your own unique style by adding playful decorations that reflect your personality or the theme of the party you’re throwing. Nothing is off limits!
A few great spots to help with your bar cart decorations and design {in Hoboken}:
- Washington General Store {adorable home decor items}
- Modern Retro Finds {you never know if you’ll find a bar cart hanging around this furniture store}
- Hudson Paperie {super cute entertaining ideas and paper goods – we have a feeling they have confetti, too!}
- Sobsey’s Produce {locally-sourced produce – so you can get those limes and raspberries}
If you’re hosting a party this year, let us know how you’re styling your bar cart by tweeting us your pics {@HobokenGirlBlog}! And for more design inspiration, check out Michelle’s design blog at GirlontheHudson.com.
Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year’s Eve!
