How to make a glamorous bar cart from an old side table

Serve up your cocktails and mocktails in style with this stylish drinks trolley

Anna-Lisa De'Ath

Published: February 22, 2022 at 11:29 am

Bar carts are this year's must-have accessory and will add a touch of glitz and glamour to your dinner parties. They’re lots of fun to revamp, so try your hand at making your own from an old trolley or side table.

This trolley is also perfect for taking food and drink out into the garden during summer parties.

To make this gold bar cart you will need;

Old side table with wheels
Pencil
Tape measure
Saw
Sanding block
4 x 97.8cm lengths of Louli scalloped edge moulding, £13.50 each, Camilla Hampton Interiors
Grab adhesive
Panel pins
Hammer
Artisan Gold Bright Effect spray paint, £11.30 for 400ml, Craig & Rose
D-C Fix Reflective gloss mirrored-effect self-adhesive film, £10 for 1.5m x 45cm, B&Q
Craft knife
Old credit card or small squeegee
5 x WATT T-bar handles, £17.95 each, Plank Hardware
Screwdriver

How to make your own drinks trolley

Step 1

Sand the surface of the table to remove old varnish and to give a key to the surface. Wipe away dust and debris with warm soapy water. Leave to dry thoroughly.

Step 2

Using a pencil and tape measure, measure the length of each side of the table’s lower shelf. Mark each side inconspicuously in pencil from 1 to 4.

Measure and cut four lengths of scalloped trim to the length of the four side measurements and mark them with the corresponding side number. Vintage tables can vary in size by millimetres on each side, so by numbering the lengths of trim you won’t mix them up and will ensure they fit their corresponding sides perfectly. Attach each length of trim to the sides of the lower shelf using grab adhesive. Hammer a panel pin in at each end to ensure a tight adhesion. Leave for a couple of hours to allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

Step 3

Working in a well-ventilated area, ideally outside, give the table at least four coats of paint all over. Pay attention to areas such as the inside of the legs to ensure they are as evenly coated as the outer, more visible surfaces. Work in slow, even strokes to avoid runs or drips and allow the paint to dry thoroughly between each coat.

Step 4

Once the paint is dry, measure and cut a piece of mirror film to fit on the top surface of the table. Peel away the white paper film to reveal the sticky surface, while smoothing the film into position using your other hand. Gently glide an old credit card over the surface to remove air bubbles. Leave the protective top on the mirror film.

Step 5

Measure up for the side bars. Place the bar handles on each side of the top surface of the table. Use a pencil and tape measure to mark where you need to drill holes for the screws to affix the handles. Using the correct size drill bit, drill the holes through the tabletop. Working from the underside of the tabletop, attach the screws to the bar handles.

Step 6

Measure for the side handle. Place the remaining bar handle on the side of the table, below the tabletop. Use a pencil and tape measure to mark where you need to drill holes for the screws to go in. Drill the holes through the side of the table and attach the screws to the bar handle. Remove the protective top film to finish.

Anna-Lisa De'Ath

Anna-Lisa De’Ath is a freelance magazine editor and journalist specialising in homes & interiors, gardening and crafts. She has worked on Prima, Good Housekeeping, Woman & Home, Woman and Woman’s Own. Most recently she was Editor-in-Chief for Your Home and HomeStyle magazines. Anna-Lisa also runs The Crafty Country Fox craft workshops from her Somerset studio. Follow her on instagram @mycraftycountrylife.