A bar cart with various cocktail glasses, shakers, bottles of liquor, and a bowl of lemons and limes. Behind the cart are two framed signs with cocktail illustrations and a clock showing 5 o'clock.
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Ikea Bar Cart Hack with Faux Cement Tile

ByLisa

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! Because I love you all, I have added some new printables to my library which are all featured in today’s post! I have been dying to add a bar cart to our decor for a while now, but I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on it, especially since we have a wet bar. But on a recent trip to Ikea, I saw the Sniglar Changing Table and a light bulb went off in my head. Not only was it the perfect size, but I had Ikea store credit to spend!A bar cart repurposed from a changing table, featuring cocktail glasses, bottles of liquor, and mixers. A stylish clock and signs reading "Open Bar" and "Neat or Dirty" decorate the cart. Lemons and limes add a colorful touch.This post contains affiliate links.

In addition to wanting to add a bar cart, I have been searching for a chance to use cement tile for something and this bar cart seemed like the perfect something! I found some great tile options but after calculating how much I needed, not only was the cost adding up, but so was the weight. Then I saw some pictures on Instagram from Cutting Edge Stencil. This was the perfect solution to my design! I ordered the Jewel Tile stencil in the small size. The entire project technically only cost me $25 because I had Ikea credit, but had I not, it still would have been under $65 which is much less than the bar carts I was eyeing for $200. So I will call that a win.A bar cart with a black and white patterned top holds various barware, including cocktail glasses, a shaker, citrus fruits, and bottles. Framed art features a clock and cocktail motifs, with "Neat" and "Dirty" labels displayed on the cart.

So how did I do it? First, I am going to encourage you to read this if you want to create your own, because let’s just say I learned a few lessons on this one.

Step 1 – Purchase the Ikea changing table. You could re-purpose an old one your kids have outgrown or even find it used on Craig’s List.A wooden craft table with two levels is partially painted. The top surface is covered with black paint and green masking tape around the edges. The background shows a cluttered workshop with various tools and materials.

Step 2 – Prep the changing table for paint. I must admit, I put my changing table together first and then painted it. DO NOT DO THIS! I spent a bunch of time taping off the inside of the changing table tray only to find out I needed to prime the white part of the tray in order for the paint to adhere. I did think about this in the beginning, but I convinced myself I could make it work. FAIL. I painted mine and then had to take it apart. See….A partially assembled black metal table frame lies upside down on a tarp in a garage. Surrounding the frame are disassembled wooden panels and tools, suggesting ongoing construction or assembly.

Step 3 – Paint the changing table. I used Deep Onyx by Glidden. I ordinarily buy a higher quality paint which normally means thicker but I knew I was going to use our paint sprayer which requires the paint to be thinned so there was no point in wasting money on a higher quality paint. Remember, I painted mine assembled. I DO NOT recommend this.A small, dark green, two-tier metal cart with a wooden base sits in a garage. The garage has a concrete floor, and there's a cloth spread on the ground.

Step 4 – Prime the panel inserts for the changing table tray. I used ceiling paint because we didn’t have any primer and this was the only flat paint we had. It actually worked really well though because our ceiling paint is the kind that goes on pink and dries white so you can see where you have painted already, which really helped on the white background.A garage workspace with two sawhorses holding a large piece of plywood, covered partially with three white boards. A drop cloth is spread on the floor underneath, suggesting preparation for painting or a project.

Step 5 – Once the inserts are dry, lay out the stencil. I started in the middle and worked my way out. On the first panel I used the same paint I used on the frame and a foam roller.A square, transparent stencil with star patterns taped to a white surface using green tape. A roll of green tape and part of a metal object are visible nearby. A paint roller with black paint rests on a white paper plate. The plate is on a black plastic-covered surface, next to a white sheet or canvas. The roller is partially dipped in black paint.

After stenciling the first few squares, I was definitely a little disappointed. The lines were not as crisp as I was hoping and I was having a hard time lining them up.A black star pattern is stenciled on a white canvas, featuring a series of repeated star shapes arranged in a geometric grid.

A canvas featuring a black geometric pattern resembling stars and cross shapes on a white background. Part of the canvas is painted, with two sections left blank. A paint roller and paint tray are visible in the background.It looked fine when the entire panel was done, but I decided to use a different method for the next panel. On the second one I used a foam craft brush and black craft paint. I also washed the stencil off between each square. I’m not going to lie, this took about three times longer to do, but it turned out SO much better. An art setup on a white surface with a stencil in the center, surrounded by a paintbrush, a bottle of navy blue acrylic paint, a green tape roll, and a paint palette with black paint. Green tape secures the stencil at the corners. A white canvas with a vertical strip of black stencil design featuring repeating stars and geometric patterns in the center.A white rectangular sheet with a repeating pattern of black geometric stars and diamonds, set against a dark surface.

Step 6 – Fearful my paint would chip on the tray portion of the table, I coated each of the panels with a thin layer of polyurethane. This did tone down the bright white a bit making it more of a cream color. Just for a comparison, the left side has poly and the right doesn’t. A table is covered with stenciled tiles featuring a black starburst pattern on a white background. A can of Minwax polyurethane and a paintbrush are placed on the table. A metal chair is partially visible.

Step 7 – Once the polly is 100% dry, (I let mine dry over night) assemble the changing table. Be very careful not to damage the stenciled finish when sliding the panels into the tray.A two-tiered, black metal utility cart against a plain wall. Each shelf has a decorative white and black geometric pattern. The floor is dark brown wood. A chair is partially visible on the left.

Step 8 – Add wheels. I have to be honest, I skiped this step for two reasons. A) I am not a tall person, 5’1″, so the table was already the perfect height for me. B) After all the fun mishaps with doing this in the wrong order and the stencil taking longer than anticipated, I didn’t want to risk messing it up at this point. So I decided my cart would be stationary 🙂A table with a black frame features a white surface decorated with a geometric star pattern in black. The lower shelf matches the design. The floor is wooden.

Step 9 – Style your cart! This was my favorite part 🙂 I added all of the essentials plus four new bar themed printables. Sign up now to get yours free!

A small bar cart with cocktail glasses, a shaker, liquor bottles, and citrus fruits. A framed picture of a clock and signs reading "Neat" and "Dirty" are on top. The bottom shelf holds more bottles and a decanter. A sign says "Open Bar.

Now, I have a completely custom bar cart for a fraction of what it would have cost to buy!A bar shelf displays cocktail shakers, martini glasses, and a framed minimalist clock print showing 5 o'clock. Signs labeled "Neat" and "Dirty" are on either side of the print. A lime is placed in front of the frame.A stylish bar cart features glasses, bottles of liquor, a wine bottle, a shaker, and a framed clock print. There's a bowl of lemons and limes, along with a sign that says "Open Bar". The surface has a geometric black and white pattern.A whiskey decanter and glasses sit on a star-patterned surface. Nearby, a framed sign reads "Neat" with a glass illustration. A white bowl contains green and yellow citrus fruits. A bar setup with whiskey and vodka bottles, a cocktail shaker, lemons, and a lime on a patterned black and white table. Four glasses are arranged around the table. Wall signs read "Neat" and "Dirty" with cocktail illustrations. A cocktail setup on a patterned surface featuring a shaker, a glass decanter, cocktail glasses, and a framed "Dirty" martini sign. A bowl of lemons and limes adds a pop of color.

Shop the look with these similar products

Whiskey Decanter | Martini Shaker & Jigger | Rocks Glasses | Martini Glasses | Decanter Labels | Fruit Bowl | Art | Large Frame | Small Frames

A bar setup with two wine bottles, a wine decanter, two empty glasses, an ice bucket, and a sign reading "Open Bar." There are also wine corks and a small decorative box on a patterned tray.A black tray holds two wine bottles, a wine cork opener, and a clear container filled with wine corks. The tray has a white and black geometric pattern. A bottle of red wine and empty glasses are arranged on a patterned tabletop. A sign reading "Open Bar" is framed in the background, with a wine cooler and a container of corks nearby.

Shop the look with these similar products 

Wine Decanter | Stemless Wine Glasses | Art | Wine Opener | Monogram Wine Stopper | Rectangle Glass Vase | Wine Chiller | Small Frame

A stylish home bar cart with cocktail glasses, liquor bottles, a shaker, and citrus fruits. Framed images of a clock and martini glasses are displayed on the top shelf, with a sign reading "Open Bar" on the lower shelf. A stylish bar cart with a patterned black-and-white top, featuring a framed clock print, glasses, a cocktail shaker, bottles, and a bowl of lemons and limes. Neat and Dirty martini-themed art decorates the corner.A bar cart with wine bottles, a decanter, glassware, and a small sign that reads "Open Bar" on a patterned shelf.A stylish black bar cart features a glass decanter, cocktail shaker, martini glasses, and a bowl of lemons and limes. Decorative signs saying "Neat" and "Dirty" are displayed, with a framed image showing a clock set at 5 o'clock.Bar cart with star-patterned surface holding four empty glasses, a dish with yellow lemons and green limes, a metal cocktail shaker, a decanter, and a jar of cocktail cherries. A framed print with a clock design and the number "5" is on a patterned table. In front, there's a bowl with lemons and limes, a cocktail shaker, sunglasses, and two glasses.A bar cart with various cocktail glasses, shakers, bottles of liquor, and a bowl of lemons and limes. Behind the cart are two framed signs with cocktail illustrations and a clock showing 5 o'clock. A stylish bar cart with various glasses, bottles of wine, a shaker, and a wine cooler. Decorative signs and a clock are displayed on top. Lemons and limes add a pop of color. The lower shelf features an "Open Bar" sign.

If you enjoyed this Ikea hack, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! You can also follow me on Instagram to get sneak peeks before they hit the blog 🙂

Love new ideas? Sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a project! Plus you will get exclusive access to my free printables including all the bar themed art featured in today’s post!

Collage with a bar cart theme featuring bottles, glasses, cocktail shakers, lemons, limes, and framed prints. Text overlay reads "Free Bar Cart Printable Art.

This post, Ikea Bar Cart Hack with Faux Cement Tile, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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