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

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

How to Make a Trendy Wine Holder Out of a Vintage Trunk

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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.

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

Clean the trunk and remove the lining:

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

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On what will be the bottom of the bar cart, attach small wheels for easy moving.
Add peel-and-stick wallpaper:

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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.
Insert wine bottle rack:

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

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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.
Install wine glass rack:

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Insert the wine glass rack and drill it into place.