Imagine with me, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven, and then sitting in your cozy home, enjoying the treats while having the best conversation with your closest friends. I think Starbucks might have just pulled up in your driveway; I can almost smell the aroma from here. LOL! I’m here to help you create such a sweet coffee bar design so your home will be like a mini-Starbucks, only better. How can it be “better,” you ask? Because YOU will be there.
We decided to style two separate coffee bar design layouts to help give you an idea of what each would look like in your home. One is on a shiny silver bar cart, and the other one is designed and displayed, countertop style. That way, if you don’t have a bar cart, you can still use the same concept on your kitchen counter or tabletop. It’s nice to have options.
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Dani Mar Coffee Bar Cart
Styling a bar cart as a coffee bar was a favorite of mine. Bar carts are so versatile and come in handy when entertaining for any gathering. You can design it to match the décor for any holiday, dinner party theme, or celebration. They really are the perfect side table and “second pair of hands.” If you are curious about what is trending in the bar cart market, click here to see the list of beauties we’ve compiled.
Many coffee bar styles I see have more of a farmhouse look to them. They are beautiful, but I wanted to highlight one with a different flare. The goal for this style was classic chic which included white, silver, and gold tones.
Dani Mar Coffee Bar Cart Products
We started with the life of the party, the Mueller pod coffee maker, and added it first to the bar cart design. I like its neutral white and silver colors; it flows well with our light and airy color scheme. We have had this coffee maker for a few years now and LOVE it.
The clear glass jars are simple Threshold vases from Target, where we tucked in the delicious almond dark chocolate biscotti treats and coffee pods. These vases come in multiple shapes and sizes and were the perfect addition to the coffee bar design with their open tops.
Don’t these chocolate chip cookies look amazing? They are housed inside the sweetest dessert stand that we found at Homegoods. I feel like this little bundle could be art. Grab your picture frames. LOL! Feel free to incorporate any of your favorite cookies, or desserts for that matter, into your coffee bar design.
When you have a coffee bar, you HAVE TO incorporate toppings. You can go as elaborate as you want.
For ours, we kept it simple with some delicious flavored whipped cream, dark chocolate and caramel sauces, and traditional half and half creamer.
Other fun topping ideas you can add in are chocolate chips, sprinkles, cinnamon, mini-M&Ms, crunched-up peppermint candies or toffee, tiny marshmallows, butter (for those keto lovers), and if you want to go extra fancy, ICE CREAM. 😋
The sweet string of pearls plant, a T.J. Maxx find, added the green this space was asking for to soften the look of mixed metals. If you layer in a real or faux plant, it will add “life” to your design.
We used clear glass coffee mugs, which are Dollar Tree essentials, and placed them on top of two ceramic platters, to give a layered look of intentionality.
The ceramic dessert plates, another Dollar Tree find, were added on the bottom layer of the bar cart, along with a few embellishments to add more warmth and fill the space. Adding in more sparkly glass items, the cloche and tiny mercury glass candle votives, gives another layer of classy chic while providing warmth to the bar cart design.
Feel free to add your own coffee sign by typing, printing, and fitting it into a coordinating picture frame. My daughter, Avery, came up with this cute phrase, “Dani Mar Coffee Bar.” It had a fun ring to it so we made it come alive in the design.
Dani Mar Coffee Counter Bar
If you don’t have a bar cart, but want to display a similar design, you can take these pieces, or similar items, and place them strategically on your countertop, side, or kitchen table. We added all of the supplies from the bar cart (except a couple of votives) and one extra element for some height, Target’s Project 62 Marble Serving Stand. It’s so pretty and exactly what we needed to make this countertop coffee bar design complete.
Thank you for joining the reveal of our coffee bar design. You can stage it however YOU see fit, via bar cart, kitchen countertop, dining room table, or side table. Make good use of the supplies that you have, and feel free to add in some new treasures when you can. Enjoy the sweet aromas of what you have warming up in your kitchen, and always remember to savor your time with family and friends.
P.S. A Note of Encouragement
When you can, use what you have. I remember for so many years, having the desire to host parties but finances or supplies just wouldn’t let me. In order to see these dreams come to life in my heart, I had to get creative with how to make it happen. If you are there, this post is to encourage you.
Let me tell you a couple of little secrets of mine. Borrow, borrow, borrow! If you know your mom, sister, or friend has supplies, ask to borrow for your gathering. And, when you return them, slide in a little thank you card and chocolate bar to show your appreciation.
Shop at garage sales in the summertime for entertaining items. Always look at the Dollar Tree dishes section for their new products. Shop at retail stores after the season for supplies to get HUGE discounts. Keep your eyes open at places such as Ollies, Big Lots, Target’s dollar spot section, and thrift stores for some great bargains. And, ask God to bless your hunting. If you have the desire to share your home with people, I believe this desire came from Him. Invite Him into your process and see what kind of little “miracles” He will do when you step out in faith.