There are plenty of ways to step up your hostess game, from stocking your fridge and pantry with food, wine, and accoutrements that will cater to everyone's tastes to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with your home decor that will make your guests feel welcome and comfortable. While that can often mean spending a pretty penny, there's no reason to blow your budget in your desire to become the party-throwing goddess you've always envisioned yourself to be. Case in point, there are loads of affordable bar carts on the market that will help you entertain in style — and even leave you with enough to splurge on a few bottles of the good stuff.
Lately, it seems like no truly stylish, modern home is complete without a bar cart, and their popularity can be attributed in no small part to their size and accessibility — meaning, you don't have to have a huge space to feel like a modern version of Joan Holloway, whipping up a martini at a moment's notice. Bar carts can be wheeled in when you need 'em and tucked away when you don't, so they're great for rentals and homes where a built-in bar just isn't an option. That said, not every cart is created equally, and there are some that are decidedly more budget-friendly than others.
When you think about it, putting together your very own home bar can add up quickly, considering that once you've found the cart of your dreams you'll want to stock it with mixologist-approved essentials and stylish supplies to be able to craft everything from a simple nightcap to festive holiday cocktails — not to mention the wine, beer, and booze! That said, keeping the cost of your cart under $100 will enable you to save enough to also fill it with all of your favorite things.
Thanks to some of the tried-and-true affordable retailers for shopping home goods (like Target, Amazon, and Wayfair to name a few), finding a bar cart under $100 isn't an impossible feat. In fact, once you determine your needs and know where to look, you can actually take your pick of styles that suit any kind of home decor — from vintage-inspired to modern and minimalist. So whether you're in the market for a rustic wood, industrial metal, or glamorous gold model, there's a bar cart waiting for you in your price range.
Also, if you're not one to stock a ton of alcohol in your home, but still desire some storage, fear not. There are smaller, more discreet bar carts that fit nicely in a quiet corner and won't take up too much space in a living room, dining area, or kitchen. Heck, you might be able to double it up as a nice side table for those times you just don't have or need the booze to stock it with.
Ready to take the plunge? Ahead, find 10 carts that will help you entertain like pros, regardless of your home's decor or alcohol inventory. And the best part, they'll cost you less than a bottle of Dom Perignon.
