The drinks trolley is back: partly thanks to Don Draper and the hit series Mad Men with its cocktail culture and partly because we’re increasingly entertaining more at home. People are looking for stylish storage ideas which also serve as a contemporary piece of furniture.

Drinks trolleys, or bar carts as you may also know them are perfect for serving drinks and adding a touch of the 1960s to your home. There are plenty available to buy in all sorts of great stores from Graham & Green to Etsy, both old and new. I recently picked one up at a second-hand furniture shop and although it had had its day, after a touch of paint, it now adds a touch of glamour to my home.

Here are some top picks from the high street:

Or you can upcycle a drinks trolley for half the price in 4 easy steps. I can’t begin to explain how easy it was to upcycle this trolley.

Second-hand drinks trolley picked up from a junk shop

1. Give the trolley a good clean with sugar soap or similar to remove any dirt and residue. I used Autentico Omniclean which is great for cleaning and preparing your surfaces thoroughly in preparation for painting.

2. Ensure you cover any areas you don’t want to paint (like the wheels) with masking tape.

3. Once dry, spray your trolley. I used a Rust-Oleum metallic spray paint in bright gold which is touch dry in 20 minutes. I applied three coats, allowing each coat to dry before starting the next one.