In the expanses of the post-Soviet countries, there are still a large number of so-called Khrushchevs - small-sized apartments that were built since the 60s of the last century. Initially, they were intended for the resettlement of communal apartments and were considered temporary housing. However, they are still preserved. We will talk about how to equip such an apartment and make Khrushchev’s design modern, stylish, beautiful and functional, later in this article.
General recommendations
Before starting a global repair, it is necessary to conduct an audit of all existing cabinets and closets, and then throw away unnecessary and unnecessary things. Surely there will be much more space in them, and some furniture will be unnecessary. If you get rid of it, the space will expand significantly. In this case, it is advisable to use all the niches that are only available in the apartment, including those hidden behind the doors. They are suitable for the installation of cabinets and shelves.
Do not get carried away at once with several ideas of Khrushchev's design, which include furnishing the premises with materials that radically differ from each other in color or texture. You can add variety with the help of original and bright accessories.
Hallway Design Tips
Usually the area of this smallest room in an apartment does not exceed 4 m². That is why it is not worth cluttering up such a small space with unnecessary decorative details. Most often, residents of such apartments use open hangers for outerwear, which creates a feeling of chaos and disorder.
The best option for the design of the hall in Khrushchev is built-in furniture. Often in such a room there’s nowhere to put a mirror. How to be? One of the solutions could be a sliding wardrobe with mirrored sliding doors and a shoe rack. This option will solve several problems at once: it will save space and even visually expand it, allow you to hide outer clothing and neatly place it, and also decorate the interior.
The shelves that can be hung on the walls will add functionality to the design of the hall in Khrushchev. They are useful for storing bags, hats and gloves. And if you nail them in an empty, unused corner, then you can put on them some small figurines or pots with indoor flowers. This will greatly complement and enliven the interior.
Ideas for placing furniture in a small kitchen
Most often this is a room with a width of not more than 5 meters. Kitchen design in Khrushchev from this becomes a real problem, and especially with regard to the placement of furniture. Being in a similar room to two family members at the same time becomes an insoluble problem, not to mention cooking. However, even such a small space can be equipped with maximum efficiency.
In order to harmoniously include in the Khrushchev’s design such necessary household appliances as a dishwasher and washing machine, you will have to abandon the floor cabinets where dishes and products were previously stored, and move them to the hinged structures. It is also necessary to maximize the use of the corner areas of the kitchen. They can accommodate the most bulky items, which include a refrigerator and a dining table. As for the latter, it does not have to be classic. It will help to save space in the center of the room folding table, which can be folded at any time. It can be placed either in the corner or at the window.
Styles for living room design
In Khrushchev, to visually expand the boundaries of the room, experts advise using light colors and pastel shades. However, so that the interior is not associated with the hospital ward, it is necessary to bring a few bright accents into it.
For the interior of small rooms, modular furniture is perfect. It folds and slides easily when needed. Furniture should harmoniously fit into the overall design of the living room. In Khrushchev, experts most often recommend designing such rooms either in the Art Nouveau style or in the classic, a little less often offer high-tech. Provence and country are also suitable for small spaces.
But what designers do not advise is the Empire and Shabby Chic styles, because their characteristic feature is a large number of decorative elements that will clutter up the already small living room. To create a stylish and modern design in Khrushchev, it is enough to use details such as mirror inserts of various shapes and shiny surfaces in the interior decoration, which, by the way, can also be decorated with furniture.
Bedroom Design Guidelines
In Khrushchev, small and often narrow rooms. However, do not immediately dwell on minimalism, as retro and country are styles that involve the use of various colorful and unusual elements, which include mirrors, paintings and lamps. In addition, wallpaper and upholstery fabrics with an original pattern and texture will perfectly fit into such an interior.
The design of the bedroom in Khrushchev's hi-tech style fits perfectly into a small room, and modular furniture will save space. Such an interior will surely appeal to young people. It can be supplemented with unusual details, as well as decorate the ceiling and walls with painting.
The classic is suitable for older people with already established taste and habits. It involves the use of traditional finishes, concise forms and their corresponding furniture. The design of the bedroom should be the embodiment of only one style. Do not get too carried away filling the narrow space with unnecessary things or too complicated decor.
Tips for arranging a bathroom
To make the design of small Khrushchev as comfortable and beautiful as possible is not an easy task. This is especially true of the bathroom. The pattern and color of the finishing materials, as well as the size of the plumbing, play a key role here. Here are some tips for choosing them:
- The room can be visually expanded if the walls, ceiling and floor are bright.
- A large mirror without a frame will visually increase the space.
- Solid or dull screens reduce the room, so you need to choose translucent. If the bathroom is combined, then in this case it is better to delimit the space with an opaque curtain or a partition made of drywall or corrugated glass.
- Plumbing, if possible, should choose a miniature one. Also, in specialized stores you can buy elegant glass sinks with the same countertops. They are good because they seem to be lost against the background of the finish.
- If the choice was made in favor of a dark design, the room, in addition to the upper light, should also have additional side lighting.
Studio apartment: what can and cannot be done
For the comfortable arrangement of a small apartment, they often resort to combining all the rooms into one room. In this case, only the bathroom is an exception. All changes made to the layout of the apartment must be coordinated with the relevant supervisory authorities, otherwise problems may arise during its sale.
During the redevelopment and implementation of the new design of both Khrushchev and other apartments, it is strictly forbidden to remove the load-bearing walls. The only thing that is allowed is to break through a new door in it, having previously strengthened the opening with a reliable metal profile. But experimenting with lightweight partitions is quite possible.
In addition, in no case should you move the bathroom to another place. It is also forbidden to lay ventilation ducts and openings. This will inevitably lead to a malfunction of the hood throughout the riser. In this case, the neighbors will begin to express their displeasure and even complain to the relevant organizations. In any case, you have to restore everything at your own expense.
Tips for choosing curtains
One of the distinguishing features of small-sized apartments built during the Soviet period is a small ceiling height not exceeding 2.5 meters. Therefore, the design of Khrushchev, including the right choice of curtains, is a separate issue.
First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the windows, since in houses built in different years, their size is not the same. With such ceilings, it is better to hang the cornice as high as possible. It is also recommended to use curtains sewn from a plain fabric that does not have vertical refractions. In this case, the ceiling will seem higher. You should not purchase wide massive cornices, "eating" the space.
Not the last role in the design of the Khrushchev is played by the material from which the curtains are sewn. Dark or heavy fabrics should not be chosen for this purpose. It is better to give preference to lighter shades. And the use of natural textiles in the interior will add authenticity to it.
The importance of lighting in the design of Khrushchev
According to experts, it should not be dull, much less color, otherwise it will emphasize the already small size of the premises. This is especially true for the bathroom. If in the living room or bedroom the dim light adds coziness, then in a small bathroom you need to focus on bright and high-quality lighting.
Such narrow and long rooms, such as a corridor or an entrance hall, can be visually expanded with lamps, the light from which will fall on the walls. As for the kitchen, diversity will be appropriate here: contour lighting located around the entire perimeter, as well as bright - above the work surface and spot - over the dining table.