17 Stunning Outdoor Bar Cart Ideas That Are Perfect for Summer Entertaining
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Not sure how to style your outdoor bar cart for the summer? Here are 17 borderline perfect outdoor bar cart ideas that are too perfect not to replicate in your own backyard.
If you have ever dreamed of hosting a summer evening on your patio with a beautifully styled bar cart front and center, you’re in the right place. Because it is way easier to pull off than you think – and will be the star of all of your summer gatherings and happy hours!
Whether you already have a bar cart and just need some styling inspiration, or you’re starting from scratch and have no idea where to begin, I’ve got you covered!
There is nothing that pulls your backyard or patio together quite like a well-styled bar cart, and these outdoor bar cart ideas prove that. So even if you don’t plan on being the “entertaining house” this summer, you’ll have a gorgeous setup to enjoy all summer long! 🙂
For more decor inspiration room by room, my complete home decor guide is a great next stop.
This post is all about the best outdoor bar cart ideas that will turn your backyard into a luxury resort.
How to Style Each Shelf
Before we give into the actual ideas, let’s talk about the thing that makes the biggest difference between having a styled cart that looks intentional, and one that looks like a pile of stuff.
The truth is, it all comes down to how you use each shelf. Once you know these tricks, styling your bar cart becomes so much easier!
The Top Shelf
I always call the top shelf of the bar cart the designated pretty shelf, because that’s essentially what it is. The top shelf is the one that people are going to see first, so this is where your most visually interesting pieces should go.
Think you drink dispenser, a pretty pitcher, a vase of fresh florals, your nicest glassware, and a decorative tray to anchor everything together.
The key here is to make sure it doesn’t feel too cluttered. That’s where having a hero item becomes helpful. Sticking to one dispenser or statement floral arrangement, and letting everything else support it, will help make sure your decor doesn’t turn into clutter.
The top shelf should make someone pause and say “okay that’s cute!”
The Middle Shelf
The middle shelf is the functional one where garnishes, small bowls of citrus slices or fresh herbs, or maybe some cocktail tools live. These are the things that you still want to keep on your bar cart, but might not be worth putting front and center like the more decorative pieces.
Essentially, this shelf makes your bar cart actually useful when you’re hosting instead of just pretty to look at. Keep it organized with a small tray or a bowl to keep it from looking disorganized.
The Bottom Shelf
Depending on what kind of bar cart you’re working with, you may or may not have a third (bottom) tier. But if you do, this is a great place to put extra baskets with backyard essentials, keep extra bottles, an ice bucket, mixers, napkins, or anything you know you’ll want close by.
Woven baskets or rattan trays are my go-to’s for the bottom level to keep everything contained and looking intentional. Even though it’s the shelf that people pay the least attention to, you still want to keep it looking somewhat nice so it doesn’t take away from the rest of the bar cart.
The Golden Rule
Top shelf is for pretty. Middle shelf is for function. Bottom shelf is for storage. When in doubt, if something is beautiful put it up top, if it’s useful put it in the middle, and if it’s just necessary put it on the bottom. Follow that and your bar cart will always look styled no matter what you put on it!
The Best Outdoor Bar Cart Ideas
1. Set Up a Breakfast Drink Bar Cart With Juice Carafes and Fresh Fruit Toppings for a Fun Weekend Brunch at Home
I love the idea of turning your bar cart into a signature drink station. There is something so classy about having a minimal setup with all of the fixings for a classic drink that everyone loves!
And when it comes to hosting brunch, a mimosa cart will be the thing that will have people complimenting your hosting skills non-stop!
It’s also just a fun way to spice up the traditional bar cart setup.
2. Use Oversized Hydrangea Stems as Your Bar Cart Centerpiece Instead of a Traditional Vase for a Lush Summer Look
Hydrangeas are the “it” flower of the summer. And the perfect place to put them on display, is your outdoor bar cart. If you’re only going to have one decor piece on your bar cart for the summer, let it be a bouquet of flowers.
Because I can promise you that it will make the biggest difference, and you’ll be glad you did it! It’s also a fun way to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral bar cart setup.
3. Turn Your Bar Cart Into a Non-Alcoholic Drink Station With All of the Fixings
Bar carts aren’t just for displaying alcohol. In fact, you could easily turn your bar cart into a non-alcoholic drink station.
Between diffused water and some bubbly options, this bar cart setup is the perfect way to keep everyone hydrated while enjoying your summer days outside.
And nothing accompanies a nice glass of sparkling water like some citrus that also doubles as bar cart decor. 😉
4. Make Your Outdoor Bar Cart a Full Bartending Station for Outdoor Gatherings
There’s a bar cart… and then there’s this arrangement. And while a quaint bar cart in the corner will always make your backyard look nice and put-together, if you’re serious about entertaining this summer, you might want something a little more spacious.
Talk about a nice bar setup in the backyard! You can also use the surface space to serve food and assemble the actual cocktails – like a multi-purpose space. It’s the ultimate summer entertaining setup!
5. Add Fun Touches Like Patterned Straws and a Tropical Towel for the Vacation Vibe
If you want to bring that fun, tropical vibe to your bar cart, adding some patterned straws and an on-theme summer towel will make sure it’s summer ready.
Don’t ask me why, but fun straws always make drinks taste better. Maybe not alcoholic drinks, but water and juices for sure!
And the towel is something easy you can switch out from season to season, but it’s a great way to decorate your bar cart in no time.
6. Style a Simple Teak Butler Tray With a Ceramic Jug and a Bowl of Limes for the Easiest Outdoor Bar Look
There is something so stylish about a butler’s tray. For one, it’s great if you’re working with a small space, since you could easily stick it in the corner. And for two, it’s the perfect piece to help create an entertaining-ready space.
You could definitely add some alcohol to this cart to make it a little more versatile. But if you’re looking for that simple and effortless style, adding a bowl of citrus, along with some sparkling waters and dishwater for serving will do the trick!
7. Use Your Outdoor Bar Cart as a Mobile Dessert Station
I don’t know why I never thought of this idea, but I’m definitely recreating this one in my own backyard this summer! And quite honestly, displaying desserts on your bar cart kind of seems like a better use of a bar cart anyways… but I’ll let you be the judge of that. 😉
So next time you have friends or family over for a nice summer gathering, try turning your bar cart into a dessert stand of sorts. It feels more original than your typical bar cart arrangement, and it will set the stage for a nice brunch or dinner in the backyard.
8. Use an Ice Bucket on Your Bar Cart to Keep Drinks Cold While Keeping Your Setup Looking Chic
We all know that the one thing keeping us from enjoying being in the backyard more is the heat. It feels nice at first, but it can quickly get to you.
So even if you don’t want to make any major changes to your bar cart this summer, adding an ice bucket will be a life saver! And it doesn’t have to detract from the decor either. A simple ice bucket won’t be an eye soar, but you’ll definitely be glad it’s there on those hot summer days!
9. Add Baskets at the Bottom of Your Bar Cart to Store All of the Summer Backyard Essentials
I think this idea is absolutely genius! It’s so simple, yet it’s something a lot of people don’t think to do, including myself.
I know it can take up a lot of space, but even one basket on the bottom or your bar cart will give you so much more extra storage for things like pool towels. It helps turn your bar cart into more of a multi-purpose space for all summer essentials, not just drinks.
10. Turn Your Bar Cart Into a Garden Party Setup
A garden party might be one of the best uses of an outdoor space during summer. As the weather warms up and the nights get longer, hosting your friends or family for an elevated gathering is the perfect way to take advantage of the season!
And if there’s one accessory you’re going to want by your side for a garden party, it’s a good bar cart setup. It’ll keep you from having to go back and forth to the kitchen to grab everything when you have your own little hub right by the outside table.
And besides being insanely practical, it only adds to the ambience!
11. Embrace Summer With Colorful Glassware and Bright Flower Arrangements
If you’re looking for more of a funky fun vibe for your bar cart this summer, adding colorful glassware and flower arrangements will get you there!
You’re probably not going to keep this same look year-round, but that’s what makes it fun. Switching things up to go with the seasons will keep things interesting, and make you excited to use your bar cart more.
Not to mention, the fun pops of colo will help turn your backyard into a tropical oasis!
12. Make Your Bar Cart a Serve-Yourself Station
Entertaining is fun, but when you feel the need to serve everyone all of the time, it gets to be a little more exhausting, and a little less enjoyable.
Whenever I’m having company over, I like to make sure my bar cart has everything guests need to make their own drinks and serve themselves.
A great way to do this is by having pre-made drinks in pitchers as an option just in case they don’t want to make a drink from scratch.
That way, I can just say “Feel free to make yourself a drink at the bar cart” instead of having to direct everyone where the glasses and accessories are, or end up just having to do it myself.
13. Use Your Wooden Potting Bench as a Multi-Purpose Space to Serve Up Drinks
Talk about being resourceful! Not only can you not really tell that this is a potting bench and not an actual bar cart, but this idea will make sure you’re not wasting any space in your backyard!
Because as much as I’m sure we would all love to have unlimited backyard space, that’s almost never the case. And when you have to be smart about how you use your space, furniture that can serve multiple purposes is such a game-changer!
When you’re doing some gardening, it can be your plant potting station. But when guests come over, it turns into your very own outdoor bar cart. Genius!
14. Add Bartending Supplies to Your Outdoor Bar Cart for a Polished Summer Hosting Touch
I feel like a lot of bar carts are missing the actual bartending supplies. But having a shaker and cocktail stirrer along with the alcohol just makes sense.
And that way, guests don’t have to go searching for the right tools to craft their drink. Not to mention, having a couple of bartending accessories on the cart doubles as chic decor. It just makes the whole bar cart look more put-together!
15. Choose a Bold Accent Color to Decorate Your Bar Cart With for a Fun Touch
Having an accent color is easily one of the best things you could do to decorate your bar cart! Because it doesn’t look too colorful to the point where it’s kind of tacky, but it’s also a little more interesting than a completely neutral bar cart.
Blue seems to be the accent color of the summer, and I think this idea proves it! Just adding a few touches of color here and there can do so much for your bar cart – and that’s why it looks like this bar cart came straight out of an interior design magazine. 😉
16. Turn a Stand-Alone Ice Bucket Into a Designated Drink Station
If you don’t have the space for the bar cart, or just want something a little more minimal, you can always turn a stand-alone ice bucket into your summer drink station.
I actually think this idea might be the way to go if you’re a bottled beverage person. It works as a holder for your drinks, while also making sure they stay ice cold. A pretty convenient setup if you ask me!
17. Add An Infused Water Dispenser for a Refreshing Option
I genuinely think all summer bar carts should have an infused water dispenser. Just in case someone wants something refreshing and light – it’s there!
And nothing tastes better than a cold glass of mint and lemon water while you’re basking in the summer heat of your backyard. I’m telling you, this is one of the best ways to upgrade your current bar cart situation. And you won’t be disappointed!
This post was all about the best outdoor bar cart ideas that will turn your backyard into a luxury resort.
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