small-space alternatives to the bar cart

The at-home bar cart has existed for decades, but never has it seemed so ubiquitous and stylish as in recent years. Whether perusing Pinterest, shelter magazines, or

home decor blogs

, you’re bound to come across a plethora of gorgeous bar cart options and styling tips. Unfortunately, not all spaces are large enough to accommodate a full sized bar cart. If this is the case in your home, not to worry – with a little creativity, you can fashion a tabletop bar no matter what your square footage. Here are some stylish examples to get the inspiration flowing.

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Emily Schuman

created a stylish tabletop bar in her home office above. A lucite tray looks especially appealing and modern, and can be large enough to accommodate glassware.

Michelle Adams created a casual tabletop bar in the dining room of her NYC apartment by using a small vanity tray atop a vintage dresser. Typically such a tray would hold jewelry or perfume, but it can easily be repurposed to hold small bottles of spirits for a surprising and different look.

Jane Herman brilliantly covered up that trademark eyesore of NYC apartments, the radiator, with a cleverly placed tabletop – a trick which she learned from Domino! This created a perfect space on which to fashion a well-stocked bar tray.

Katherine Vo created an especially glamorous bar setup by coordinating her glassware and liquor bottles with the already existing decor pieces. She also placed pretty glasses atop a pile of books, for an unexpected and stylish look! Creating a tabletop bar couldn’t be simpler. All you need to get started is a gorgeous tray, and a tabletop! How easy is that? Once those two elements are in place you can have fun filling your tray with gorgeous glassware, some pretty liquor bottles, and accessories like coasters, a bottle opener, napkins, cute straws…whatever you love. So if a bar cart won’t fit into your current floor plan, not to worry. The tabletop bar is an attractive and budget-friendly alternative!