Tis the season for decorating the halls – and your bar cart. Popular interior designer Shea McGee (of Studio McGee) just put together an essential guide for decorating your dining room this year, whether you're looking to decorate your dining room for the season or make it easier to serve holiday guests.
Before you start styling, you'll need the cart itself: McGee chooses one with wheels, which makes it easy to transport from room to room. Since you can set up a drink station in the kitchen or move the party to the living room later in the evening, a rolling bar cart is a smart way to make sure you have all of your supplies at your fingertips.
Bar cart style by Shea McGee
So what does McGee put on her bar cart? She stocks her shelf with essentials like wine glasses, a carafe, and a set of coasters on the top shelf. You'll also find other essentials like a serving bowl for snacks, a set of small dessert plates, and an ice bucket to keep bottles cold throughout the night.
The lower shelf offers space for additional glasses and of course the drinks themselves can also be stored there.
Studio McGee
The drinks you serve will depend on the type of party, but it's always a good idea to have a small selection of common spirits. You may also want to add a bottle or two of wine or champagne. And don't forget a non-alcoholic option that's easy to achieve if guests prefer these types of libations. Add a few mixers and you're ready to go.
McGee also keeps a small stack of mixology books on the base of her bar cart. These not only serve as decoration, but are also practical if you want to cook a recipe. Don't forget to pick up a few cocktail books of your own this season so you can easily make whatever drinks your guests want.
If you want to serve drinks like pitcher cocktails, place them on top of the bar cart for easy access. This allows you to turn the top of your cart into a mini drinks station, with glasses, coasters and drinks for your guests to choose from.
Don’t forget to store any barware you may need on the cart, too. For example, cocktail stirrers, shot glasses and shakers might come in handy. For an extra festive touch, you can also add a small selection of cocktail garnishes.
Studio McGee
McGee leaves some room on both the top and bottom shelves of her bar cart for a few Christmas decorations. On top, lit candles add elegance and shimmer, and an artificial potted tree is reminiscent of the wreaths and greenery she displayed in her dining room. On the bottom there are gifts wrapped in neutral wrapping paper, adding a touch of festive cheer.
If you'd like to see more of McGee's bar carts (and maybe snag some of their bar cart products for your own space), you can find all the details at studio-mcgee.com.