Turn an Old Trunk Into a Bar Cart With This DIY Project

Give a vintage trunk a second life as an entertaining staple.

It's not uncommon to come across old steamer trunks at thrift stores, or even find them hiding out in an attic. Repurpose these sturdy treasures into something that will delight for years to come: a bar cart. Whether you intend to keep it for yourself or give it as a unique gift, turning an old trunk into a bar cart is a beautiful way to give life to something old while having a one-of-a-kind entertaining item at your disposal.

Follow along with our tutorial to learn how to create your own bar cart out of a vintage trunk.

trunk into bar cart

Martha Stewart

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Screw driver
  • Utility knife
  • Measuring tape
  • Drill

Materials

  • Old trunk
  • Peel and stick wall paper
  • Wood dividers
  • Wine bottle rack
  • Wine glass rack
  • Wood glue
  • Small wheels
  • Shelf supports

Instructions

  1. Clean the trunk and remove the lining:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    Dust both the interior and exterior of the trunk. Remove any old lining inside the trunk.

  2. Add wheels:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    On what will be the bottom of the bar cart, attach small wheels for easy moving.

  3. Add peel-and-stick wallpaper:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    Add sheets of peel-and-stick wallpaper inside the trunk with the old lining removed, smoothing it down as you go. Use your utility knife to trim extra wallpaper.

  4. Insert wine bottle rack:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    Measure the inside of the trunk to make sure your bottle rack will fit. Slide it into the bottom of the trunk.

  5. Install inner shelf:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    Drill small shelf supports into the inside of the trunk, then fit in small wooden shelf. If the lid of the trunk is extra deep, you can install extra shelves with wood glue.

  6. Install wine glass rack:

    trunk into bar cart

    Martha Stewart

    Insert the wine glass rack and drill it into place.

Related Articles