Everyone Owned One In The 60s –– Upcycle A Vintage Bar Cart To Give It A Modern Look

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There are a lot of funky '60s gadgets that could deserve a return to our interiors. Some of them, like a hostess trolley or bar cart, could serve both as a decorative and functional piece of furniture when upcycled. This is one vintage find to never leave at the thrift store as it'll always be in style. Carts and trolleys can be a versatile piece in your home, whether used as a bar or a storage shelf. The trouble with some vintage carts is that they are worn down, missing pieces, or downright ugly by today's modern standards. Thankfully, you can repair and flip these pieces to make them work in your space.

Many '60s bar carts were originally intended for holding food and drinks during dinner parties. The cart could be wheeled to the entertainment space for easy access. And some hostess trolleys had warming compartments so the cart could be plugged in to keep food toasty. Today, these compartments may not be necessary, and some folks who thrift these vintage trolleys find the compartments have been removed. Still, warming trays or not, vintage trolleys and bar carts can be flipped to become a great side table, bar cart, or storage unit. There are several clever ways to repurpose a cart around the house and garden. Turn yours into a coffee bar, dry bar, use it to hold your microwave, or make it a mini kitchen island with storage shelves.

Start by sourcing this '60s household staple, which you could find at the thrift store or on resale sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Once you have your cart, give it a good clean before upcycling it. Additionally, if your cart has any original plugs or warming compartments, you may want to clean or remove them from the cart if they are beyond repair. Disassemble the cart as needed for cleaning. If metal components on the cart are rusted, you can use something like Metal Rescue gel rust remover to help bring back the original shine. 

If your cart has holes from where the warming compartments once were, you may need to replace the top with a new board. One DIYer used a ¼-inch underlayment, which is typically used for flooring, for a lightweight and more affordable alternative to other wood boards. To uplift the look, you could use a vinyl or paper sheet with your desired pattern. Simply add a spray adhesive and lay your sheet on the wood, smoothing out air bubbles as you go. It's also possible that you may need to recreate wooden edges or sides on the cart to ensure a snug and similar fit to the original if you choose to replace the wood. Finally, reassemble your cart and add a custom glass piece or a proper sealant so the surface is easy to wipe down later and to prevent stains or chipping.