Design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev: ideas for redevelopment. Redevelopment of a two-room Khrushchev building Design of a two-room apartment in a Khrushchev building 45 m

“Khrushchevkas” are the first houses of mass construction with small-sized apartments, low ceilings and poor sound insulation. They were actively built from the 60s to the 90s of the last century throughout the country, and many Russian families at that time acquired their own housing for the first time.

Those who today live in these small apartments, for example, with an area of 43 square meters. m, they are increasingly asking the question: how to draw up a design project for a two-room “Khrushchev” apartment? And what interior design ideas are there?

Layout features

“Khrushchevka” is easy to recognize among other apartments by its characteristic features, for example, wide double-leaf windows in the shape of a square. Or along small windows on the edge of the end panel in the kitchen.

What else distinguishes this type of apartment from the same “Stalin” apartments and other options:

Availability of a passage room.
Small kitchen - from 4-5 to 6 square meters. m.

Combined bathroom: toilet and bathroom are located in the same room. A Khrushchev-era bathroom is usually so small that it cannot accommodate a standard bathtub 150-180 cm long.
In Khrushchev's kitchens, housewives cooked on gas stoves.
Many apartments have a balcony and a storage room, the latter being no different in size from an ordinary room in houses of this type. There are no balconies only in apartments that are located on the first floor of the building.

If we talk about the house in general terms, it has centralized heating, there is no garbage chute and there is no elevator. Such buildings usually have 5 or 7 floors, less often - 9 or 3-4. According to the layout, all apartments in the Khrushchev block face one side, except for the corner ones - their windows face the opposite direction overlooking the courtyard.

“Khrushchev”, from the point of view of planning, has advantages and disadvantages, but it is impossible to judge them objectively.

Among the advantages of such apartments are noted:

Availability of a balcony and storage room.
Typical layout: small corridor and kitchen, two approximately identical rooms.
A passage room that often borders the kitchen and leads to a second room.
The shared bathroom is another plus. It saves space in the apartment.

The disadvantages of the “Khrushchev” apartment include:

low sound insulation or too thin walls;
low ceilings - only 2.55 meters (some buildings have ceilings of 2.70 meters);
a cramped hallway or its literal absence;
small area of the apartment as a whole: a standard two-room apartment in a Khrushchev building has an area of no more than 43, 44, 46 square meters;

small area of the room - bedroom or nursery;
lack of a balcony on the ground floor - there are practically no “Khrushchev” buildings with a loggia on the ground floor;
a walk-through kitchen, which is combined with the living room and is so small that the equipment only fits a gas stove and a short countertop.

“Khrushchevka” can be located in a brick or large-panel house.

“Kopeck apartments” may differ slightly in area and layout:

"Book" they call a Khrushchev house with rooms in a row - a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom and a total area of 42-43 square meters. m.
"Tram"– a two-room apartment with an area of almost 47 sq. m and adjacent rooms, one of which is a corner one.

"Improved"– a layout without a walk-through room, a separate bathroom and a tiny kitchen. The total area of such an apartment is usually 43-45 square meters. meters.
"Butterfly"– an apartment with a kitchen in the middle and two rooms at its edges. The area of such a “Khrushchev” building is usually 46 square meters. meters. It has a separate bathroom almost in the kitchen.

The “book” layout is good because it has adjacent rooms that can easily be combined into one or the entire apartment - into a full-fledged studio. However, the disadvantage of this layout is that no matter what the redevelopment is, one of the rooms will remain a walk-through room. Only if you don’t put up a partition and create a corridor leading to the next room.

Regardless of the “original” layout, the “Khrushchev” can be changed and made functional - to combine rooms or increase the space of one of them.

Redevelopment options

The great advantage of a “Khrushchev” apartment is that it is easy to redesign: “move” walls or combine rooms to create more space. At least visually. Internal walls or partitions in a Khrushchev building are not load-bearing, which means they can be removed and the space of the room can be changed in agreement with government agencies.

Redevelopment of a Khrushchev building begins not only with the owner’s desire to remodel it, but also with obtaining permission for this procedure from the state. It is easy to obtain, provided that the living rooms and kitchen remain in their places, only the location of the walls themselves will change. Once the state gives the go-ahead to change the configuration of the space, we can begin.

Option number 1

All Khrushchev apartments have small kitchens and bathrooms. One of the solutions that redevelopment can provide is increasing the kitchen area. Owners often remove the wall between the kitchen and the adjacent room (usually it is a passage room) and create modern kitchen-living rooms.

Classic “Khrushchev” kitchen 5 sq. m becomes a spacious living room with a cooking area with a total area of up to 23 squares, if the passage room is completely given over to the hall.

Such an apartment can be called a euro-“one-room apartment”: housing with an isolated full bedroom and a spacious kitchen-living room. The resulting "odnushka" is attractive in that it becomes more spacious - the "extra" wall disappears, additional space is freed up for furniture.

Option No. 2

A modest “kopeck piece” can be turned into a full-fledged studio if the internal partitions are completely removed. With the exception of the bathroom - bath and toilet, these two rooms need to be isolated.

A modern studio can be zoned– divide into functional zones using partitions or cosmetic repairs. Owners often use these two combinations: they create artificial thin walls between the sleeping area and the relaxation area - the living room. They “play” with the shade of the walls and the material of the floor: they lay tiles in the hallway and kitchen, and laminate in the living room and bedroom. This technique not only divides the space, but also visually expands it.

A studio apartment is suitable for a young family without children or a couple who prefer one large area together with small but isolated rooms. However, such a redevelopment is not suitable for a family with at least one child.

Option #3

The next option for redevelopment of the Khrushchev-era building involves moving the walls and preserving 2 isolated rooms. For example, you can expand the kitchen area from 5 square meters to 15 square meters (more or less, depending on the area of the apartment and the location of the rooms). To do this, you will have to demolish the existing wall and build a new one in a new place, moving its boundaries.

Option No. 4

The “improved” layout of a 2-room “Khrushchev” apartment can be made even more functional if you combine the kitchen with a walk-through room and divide the larger room in half. This redevelopment is suitable for a family with one child who likes to receive guests. And those will have a place to stay - in a spacious hall with a dining table.

Zoning

Regardless of how large-scale the redevelopment was in the “Khrushchev”, it is still possible and necessary to use zoning techniques.

Zoning the kitchen-living room

If the walk-through room and the kitchen have become a single space, it’s time to divide it – visually. In the cooking area, equip a classic kitchen. If the width of the wall along which the cooking area will be located is not enough, extend it to a perpendicular wall and place it in a counter.

Thus, the rack will divide two functional areas both visually and in reality.

If the area of the kitchen-living room remains small even after planning, a tabletop can be replaced with a full-fledged dining table. You can separate the cooking area from the living room with a sofa if you place it with its back against the wall along which the countertop with oven and stove runs. Or place a thin partition made of metal, glass, or wood between them. Install a shelving unit with shelves up to the ceiling. Or you can abandon this idea altogether and visually divide the kitchen-living room with the color and texture of finishing materials.

A good solution is to place floor tiles in the cooking area, in the living room - laminate or parquet. The texture of the floor will already divide the two combined rooms, even if the color of the walls in them is not different.

Living room zoning

If during the redevelopment of the “Khrushchev” building the number of rooms remained the same, and it was decided to give one of them as a living room-bedroom, then zoning cannot be avoided. Let’s say a family with children lives in such an apartment; the children were given a larger room, and the parents settled in the living room.

One solution is to divide the room with a thin partition., “hide” the double bed from prying eyes in the back of the room, near the window. In the area closer to the door, place a small sofa and dressing table, hang the TV and storage items on the wall, thereby maintaining free space for movement.

To get even more space in a Khrushchev apartment, you can choose a folding sofa instead of a bed and leave the room unchanged. During the day it will be a living room and receive guests; at night it will become a full-fledged bedroom with a disassembled sofa instead of a bed.

If parents are not ready to sacrifice a full bed in the name of preserving free space, they will especially like the following solution. In a small bedroom-living room you can install a folding bed, which during the day is “retracted” into the wall bed, and in the evening “reclines” to form a full-fledged sleeping place.

Popular styles

Choosing an interior design for a small-sized Khrushchev apartment is another headache for the owner.

High tech

A modern interior solution based on technological innovation, high functionality and prestige in its current interpretation. High-tech is characterized by plastic, glass and metal in furniture and decoration materials. If we talk about colors, they are calm, muted and monochromatic - white, black, all shades of beige and gray.

This interior style uses a suspended ceiling, but in a “Khrushchev” it may be inappropriate - the ceilings in the apartment are already low, and such a design will make them even lower.

It is better to pay special attention to the walls. Turn one of them into an accent one: decorate it with plastic, wood, stone or other panels. The accent will be created by contrasting wallpapers, but not colorful ones - they are of no use in high-tech.

Scandinavian

Think of the Ikea store with rational and, at first glance, simple furnishing options. This is the Scandinavian style. It is distinguished by environmental friendliness - materials of furniture and decoration, practicality - a variety of hinged and multifunctional storage structures.

The Scandinavian interior is dominated by light shades - white and beige, gray and brown. The emphasis is often on details – textiles and accessories.

Empire style

Luxurious style in the interior, which is characterized by large areas of both rooms, windows, doors, and high ceilings. Empire style is unlikely to be suitable for decorating a “Khrushchev” building, but some of its elements can be introduced into the decoration of your home. For example, ornaments: in furniture upholstery or on kitchen facades, in textiles or on a wall, but only one. An accent wall with royal-style patterns would be appropriate in a classic interior, which we will talk about later.

Classical

Classics are appropriate for “Khrushchev” - laconic furniture made of wood with elements of natural stone, restrained shades and textiles in a single range. A classic interior is not only beautiful, but also practical.

In a small bedroom or corridor of a “Khrushchev” building you can install tall cabinets– up to the ceiling, with facades in the color of the walls. They will not overload the already cramped space and will accommodate the maximum possible. If we talk about the color of furniture fronts, give preference to light shades - beige, white, light brown, gray, olive. Save dark colors for details - frames, chair frames and a small bookcase or shelving unit, if there is room for it.

A true classic interior is characterized by stucco. But in “Khrushchev” buildings it is unlikely to be appropriate. The maximum is a ceiling plinth, provided that the ceiling in the house is at least 2.70 m.

Country

It is dominated by natural shades - brown, green, olive, yellow.

It could be a kind of French Provence with aged furniture or an American direction - comfortable furniture, an abundance of natural materials in the decoration.

Room decoration

The standard design of rooms in a Khrushchev building is a European renovation with functional cabinet furniture. Regardless of whether it is an economy class renovation or an expensive designer one, it is easy to make a small apartment stylish - just choose the same style for all rooms in the house.

Kitchen. In a standard “Khrushchev” kitchen of 5-6 square meters only a kitchen set will fit. To make it even more functional, choose wall cabinets that go up to the ceiling - they will fit more dishes and kitchen utensils.

If the kitchen and living room occupy one room, then this is a great opportunity to make the interior even more stylish. The first rule is a single style and a single color scheme of the room. Light shades of walls and furniture will visually make it more spacious and lighter, and will be especially useful if the ceilings in the house are low - 2.55 m.

For a modest kitchen-living room, Provence is especially suitable - a rustic style with an abundance of wooden elements. Light wooden kitchen fronts can be combined with a dining table in shade and material. The contrast will be created by the overall luxurious chandelier, stonework in the cooking area and checkered textiles.

Bedroom. The area of \u200b\u200bthe usual "Khrushchev" bedroom can vary - from 8-9 to 19 square meters. m. If the room is small but isolated, it is worth placing a full bed in it. A good night's sleep is more important than any interior madness, so give preference to a bed instead of a sofa.

Storage space can be organized along one of the walls or in a niche of the room - install a wardrobe up to the ceiling. Even in a modest bedroom of 9 square meters there is room for a double bed and a closet covering the entire wall. The dressing table can be replaced with a functional headboard or hanging shelves above the head or on the sides.

Children's room. Under it, the largest room is usually assigned. To save free space in the nursery, do not neglect wall cabinets - they are convenient for storing things that are not used often.

A mandatory element of a child's room is a bed: a full-size one, a design bed or an ottoman. And a wardrobe, preferably a wardrobe, so that the child can find his own things on his own. For the nursery, choose calm shades, leaving bright ones for accents - interior details or toys.

If there are two children in one room, then choose a bunk bed: it will save space for games and activities, and maybe other furniture - a desk, a shelf for books and toys.

Often, repairs and redevelopment in “Khrushchev” buildings begin at the moment when it becomes impossible to live in the apartment: communications, floors and walls are worn out. The latter may not be able to withstand cosmetic repairs, and the idea of redevelopment arises.

Don't be afraid to redesign. It will allow you to increase the space of the corridor or bathroom if you sacrifice 2-3 square meters of another part of the apartment - one of the living rooms or the kitchen. With the help of redevelopment, it is easy to enlarge the kitchen if you combine it with a walk-through room. Or keep two isolated rooms, but reduce the area of one of them for the sake of the kitchen.

Buildings related to functionalist architecture, erected as temporary housing for the working class in the USSR, began to be called “Khrushchev buildings” from the time of their construction. Most apartments in such buildings are one- or two-room. Their key features are the absence of architectural frills and the small area of the rooms. In Soviet times, the owners of such apartments practically did not experiment with design or possible alterations. But today, thanks to the improvement of construction and design technologies, it is possible to turn a standard, small-sized two-room Khrushchev apartment into a work of interior art.

Most owners of small old apartments put off home renovations for fear of destroying already fragile surfaces (side surfaces, ceilings). Fear can also suppress the desire for possible changes in the interior: what can be made cozy and attractive from this? But, using the advice of specialists - architects, designers, you can transform the “Khrushchev” premises beyond recognition.

The first thing you need to do is create a plan for future work, from dismantling old coatings and structures to decoration. You can do this yourself or with the help of a designer. The designer's help will also be needed when choosing the style of the rooms. Then you need to calculate the amount of construction and finishing materials, buy them and begin remodeling.

Think ahead

Make a plan first

The main disadvantage of apartments built in the “Khrushchev era” is cramped space and disproportion of geometric shapes. But, all imperfections are corrected. This can be done through drastic changes or visual effects. To free up space, you can use one or more design solutions.

Combining the kitchen with the living room; you can separate the kitchen area with a bar counter.

Combining the bathroom (if it is separate).

Replacing swing interior doors with sliding structures.

Dismantling pantries, upper shelves under the ceiling.

Replacing standard cabinets with one large sliding wardrobe.

The trick with household appliances is that in the kitchen it is better to use built-in appliances, and replace large TVs and computer monitors with flat screens.

Visual techniques are also used to free up the room. The room is expanded by light wallpaper on the side surfaces, a fully glass balcony door and proper zoning. During the renovation process, the owners of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings should refrain from complex structures on the ceilings and large cabinet furniture. Expanding doorways in height and width will help add space. At the same time, there is no need to use textiles made from dense, massive materials, especially for window curtains: instead of heavy curtains and lambrequins, you can decorate the windows with fabric blinds or thin tulle curtains.

White color can visually expand the boundaries of the room

To increase the space you can use visual techniques

Kitchen and dining room design

Owners of Khrushchev-era apartments face a difficult task during a major renovation of their housing - 5-6 sq.m. place a functional, cozy and spacious kitchen with a dining area. If a major remodel is not planned, then you can simply optimize the kitchen. For this you need:

Effectively use all horizontal surfaces; if there is a shortage of space, the dining table can be moved to the living room or a folding structure can be placed (the table leans against the wall and, if necessary, unfolds).

Use built-in household appliances.

Avoid sharp color contrasts on the walls or use wallpaper with small patterns.

Another trick is to use furniture made of transparent glass. When finishing and decorating a kitchen, you can use various color combinations. The most relevant and acceptable combinations are described in the table.

You can use transparent furniture, this will be a plus

Use free space effectively

Table 1. Color scheme for decorating a kitchen in Khrushchev.

Modern living room interior

The corner in the house, which is intended for receiving guests, family gatherings and friendly relaxation, should be spacious. In standard Khrushchev buildings this feature is missed, so during repairs you need to think about how to expand the site. To do this, you can use the following design techniques.

Fabric partitions instead of side surfaces.

Arches instead of interior doors and geometric structures (podium, steps).

Play of light using natural light and lighting fixtures.

Multifunctional cabinet furniture (for example, a sofa that transforms into a bed).

Visually they will add several square meters of mirrors in the cabinets. You should not use a lot of small decor in the living room - this will “split” the apartment. As an option, you can use blue color for surface finishing and decoration. The table shows shades that are harmonized with blue tones.

Blue color can make a room visually larger

Use multifunctional furniture, such as a sleeper sofa

Table 2. Living room in blue tones. Color combination options.

Design ideas for the bedroom

Rest, sleep, relaxation - most people associate the word “bedroom” with these words. Many people draw a parallel between cozy apartments and wide space, but in Khrushchev it is difficult to get a lot of free space. To arrange your bedroom comfortably and functionally, you can resort to different techniques.

White stretch ceiling with a glossy surface, which increases its height and diffuses light onto other surfaces.

The bed is located along the side surfaces - this will make it easier to move around the bedroom.

Textiles in light, solid colors or with small patterns.

Lighting fixtures should be limited to a small chandelier or a lampshade near the ceiling and wall sconces.

A bed on a podium - thanks to this solution, there will be a place to store bed linen and pillows (storage compartments can be built into a stand).

It is better to replace the standard wardrobe in the Khrushchev bedroom with a sliding wardrobe, tables and chests of drawers should be replaced with wall shelves. The table shows the best color combinations for a small bedroom where shades of pink are the key color.

White colors can visually expand the boundaries of the room

If the bed is high, you can store linen under it

Table 3. Pink base for bedroom decoration.

Three technologies that will help arrange the design of a two-room Khrushchev house

With the help of simple, low-budget techniques, you can transform a post-Soviet (in terms of room planning, furnishings) apartment into the most modern masterpiece of interior art. To do this, three technologies are used: radical redevelopment, increasing the functionality of the site and interior styles.

The living room and bedroom can be combined into one room

Kitchen and living room can be combined

Technology 1. About possible redevelopment. Rules that must not be broken

The desire to radically change the type of housing cannot be a key factor during renovation. Legislative prohibitions are what can stop the flight of fancy. According to the legislation of all countries of the former Soviet Union where Khrushchev buildings were built, it is prohibited in apartments:

Combine balconies, loggias with the living space, and move central heating radiators outside of it.

Remove load-bearing walls.

Expand non-residential premises (bathroom, storage room) at the expense of residential ones.

Make openings in the interfloor ceilings to combine apartments on subsequent floors.

Dismantle the outdated floor covering down to the interfloor slab, and compensate for its thickness using soundproofing materials.

Eliminate or block ventilation ducts.

The bedroom is separated from the living room by a curtain

The design of the living room is made in loft style

For such types of work you need to obtain a special permit. An exception is the removal of central heating radiators to a balcony or loggia. This cannot be done categorically, that is, it is impossible to obtain permission for such a modification. But there are some repair work that can be done without official permission. This list includes:

Increasing the size of the living room by reducing the area of the bathroom.

Making an opening in non-permanent partitions.

Clearing out the pantry.

Combination of toilet and bath.

Moving the door and dismantling window sills in cases where the wall is not load-bearing.

Therefore, we can conclude that almost all types of listed work are impossible in Khrushchev. For example, combining a bathroom is not suitable as an option for the reason that this has already been done in this type of building. It is also impossible to add living space by reducing the size of the dining room or bathroom. If you do this, you will have to cook food and perform water procedures outside the house. But, despite the impossibility of a radical restructuring, you can increase the functionality of the rooms.

White color can visually make a room larger

Ceiling lighting can make the room visually larger

Technology 2. Ways to increase the functionality of space. What can you come up with without redevelopment?

The first thing you can do to improve the environment is to expand the rooms. The sizes of the hallway and living room, kitchen area and living room, bath and toilet are often changed. In general, without focusing on one room, you can use universal techniques for residential and non-residential apartments:

Removing interior doors and replacing them with arched openings.

Installation of a closet for clothes and other personal items in the former storage room.

Painting the walls with matte paint and the ceilings with glossy paint.

The correct arrangement of furniture and household appliances will help make the kitchen more spacious. The work area should be located in the shape of a triangle: the sink is in one of the corners, the table (working surface) is between the stove and the sink, the refrigerator is in a corner far from the stove. A wide window sill can be replaced with a tabletop and used as a work area.

Design of a combined bedroom and kitchen

Some rooms can be combined into one

When remodeling a bathroom, the most commonly used option is combining a bathtub with a toilet. If they are connected to each other, but the bathroom is still cramped, you can move the washing machine to the kitchen area and install a corner shower instead of a bathtub. Alternatively, you can install the sink higher than normal, and place a laundry basket under it. In this case, detergents and cosmetics can be stored in a narrow cabinet hanging on the wall.

Technology 3. Which interior style to choose? Some design tricks

Thinking through the design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev is difficult only for amateurs in the field of design. Experienced craftsmen can transform an apartment, visually expand the area, based on the chosen style. The following interior styles will fit most harmoniously into a small space: minimalism, avant-garde and constructivism.

A space in a minimalist style is clear, concise and discreet. This subtype of design is compiled based on the following factors.

Zoning of rooms, rich multi-level lighting.

Simple shapes, geometric lines and a minimum of decor.

Freedom of space - only the most necessary furniture and accessories.

Light color scheme on the ceiling and walls, highlighted by classic black or gray.

There is a lot of light, including daylight, which is provided in large quantities due to wide window openings and the absence of massive window textiles.

The use of natural raw materials, several brutal elements - wood, stone, brick or rough rough plaster.

In minimalist housing there are only strict geometric shapes - rectangle, square, circle. The following materials are best suited for decorating the ceiling and walls: plaster without a pattern, liquid wallpaper, plastic panels. Textured wallpaper with a pattern or plaster can be used as a bright accent. Flooring in standard designs is represented by self-leveling flooring or parquet boards.

There should be a lot of light in the room

Only the most necessary furniture should be placed in the room

It is appropriate to use a plain carpet if we are talking about a living space (bedroom, living room, kitchen). Furniture in a minimalist room should have a clear geometric shape. Due to the shortage of decorative elements, upholstered furniture becomes an accent; the upholstery for it should be bright, made of plain fabric or leather.

Avant-garde is the complete opposite of classic. It is often chosen by creative people with an unconventional vision of the world to decorate their homes. The main feature of the style is the combination of incompatible materials, colors and objects. It is based on certain principles.

Color maximalism – pure primary tones (blue, red, black, white, yellow and green) are used.

Playing with volume and space - the walls are replaced by zoning (visual partitions), the interior is full of multi-level structures (arches, podiums, steps).

Light is a key element of style. This means that the rooms are full of daylight, artificial lighting. Moreover, not standard lamps with white or yellow rays are used, but ones glowing with bright colors.

The latest materials are used for finishing surfaces in avant-garde housing. it can be metallized, liquid or bamboo wallpaper, decorative textured plaster. As for furniture, it cannot be standard. In avant-garde bedrooms, living rooms, wardrobes, beds and even chairs must be original. A prerequisite is the absence of decorative excesses (carvings on wooden elements, ruffles on textiles). Windows in a modern non-standard room are covered with plain, bright textiles without a pattern. In such an environment, outdated household appliances, gloom and monotony are inappropriate.

You can make an accent wall in the room

Light is a key element of style, there should be enough of it

Constructivism is another current style subtype for transforming Khrushchev into modern living space. More constructive design of the site is based on imparting practical properties to each detail. It is based on several principles.

Freedom of movement - unnecessary partitions are dismantled and mobile modules are installed in their place, which quickly and easily change their location.

Wall niches instead of cabinets - they also provide seating areas.

Lack of decor and ornaments.

Clear lines, geometrically proportional details and straight planes are present in decoration, furniture and even household appliances.

Lighting in constructivism is used strictly for practical purposes. The color scheme is based on monochrome colors. Basic tones – white, gray, black. They are complemented by shades of a beige palette (vanilla, caramel, cinnamon). There may be inclusions of diluted (pastel) colors - blue, red, yellow or green. In general, everything in constructive housing - from walls to textiles on windows - should not be conspicuous, but should benefit the homeowners.

Advantages and disadvantages of redevelopment

The main negative factor that pushes people away from buying apartments in old buildings built during the Khrushchev era is cramped space and poorly thought out details. Once you become the owner of a tiny living space, you can “redraw” it from scratch, and this process has several advantages.

The interior becomes more cozy, residential, comfortable and homely warm.

The space is expanding.

By dismantling non-load-bearing walls, you can change the size of all rooms, for example, turning a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment by reducing the kitchen or bathroom.

If you carefully think through the details, select construction and finishing materials in accordance with the chosen style, you can create a modern, practical, cozy interior.

Living room design in a modern style

Bright colors in the kitchen can make it look bigger

If you approach the issue of dismantling correctly, you can make a modern and beautiful apartment

Possible redevelopment options, photo ideas

A radical change in the situation in a two-room Khrushchev house can be played out in several ways. The first option is to combine the living room with the kitchen. Photo 1 shows what is planned to be in the apartment.

In a room with a smaller area, you can remove the wall by 30-50 cm, leaving space only for the bed. You also need to remove the partition between the bathtub and toilet and install a shower stall. A similar design for a small two-room apartment in Khrushchev will help save space in the bathroom and install an automatic washing machine.

After dismantling the old coatings in the bathroom and toilet, you need to properly plan and move the engineering structures. Do not forget about high-quality waterproofing. A glossy ceiling can further expand the space in the bathroom.

When starting a renovation in a Khrushchev house consisting of two rooms, you first need to plan how the space will look after the renovation. When moving or expanding engineering structures (for example, for additional lighting), it is worth contacting specialists.

Video: Design of a two-room Khrushchev house

It is quite difficult to create a stylish interior design for rooms with a limited area, combining beauty and functionality. You will need to carefully design the design of 2-room Khrushchev apartments to achieve the desired result. The main disadvantage of the home is the inconvenient layout with broken room geometry. Standard options are often not suitable for comfortable living. The optimal solution in this case would be repair and redevelopment.

Modern design techniques presented in the photo allow you to create stylish and cozy interiors. In a two-room apartment building in Khrushchev it is important to take into account the area and geometry. The layout, popularly called a “book” with a total area of 42 square meters, has a plan with adjacent living rooms with one passage, considered the most unsuccessful. The rooms in the “tram” arrangement are also adjacent, but are more convenient for separation.

The layout of Khrushchev apartments in a nine-story building of 44 square meters is distinguished by an improved placement of rooms, but the minimum size of the kitchen will require taking drastic measures and drawing up a plan to expand the space. A layout project with a symmetrical arrangement of rooms with an area of 45 square meters with a small kitchen in the center is called a “butterfly” or “vest”.

Despite the comfortable isolation of the living space, the presented diagram and project confirm the need to enlarge the kitchen. Selling small-sized housing with a non-standard two-room layout is not the only way out of the situation.

Redevelopment methods

There are several basic subtleties of radical redevelopment, as in the photo during renovation, which will help make your home stylish and comfortable:

the creation of a two-room studio apartment on 45 square meters of total area involves the demolition of all partitions, while maintaining load-bearing walls. After this, original screens and partitions zone the entire space according to its functional purpose, embodying the most incredible ideas;
expanding the kitchen or living room by moving the bedroom partition will allow you to separate the recreation area, increasing the space of other rooms. In this case, only a bed, chest of drawers, or bedside tables are installed in the bedroom. The main furniture, the dining area, is transferred to the living room;
ideas for turning a balcony, loggia into a separate room, or combining them with a living space will require the installation of a new high-quality window and insulation of external surfaces. This economical plan will allow you to carry out repairs, after receiving several meters of space, and the sale will be canceled due to a lack of usable space;
creating a combined bathroom in an apartment of 45 square meters will increase the work space, allowing you to place a full-fledged washing machine, boiler, and necessary plumbing in the bathroom, while maintaining load-bearing partitions. The option is quite expensive and labor-intensive due to the redevelopment of the water supply system, replacement of pipes and sewerage.

The choice of a suitable redevelopment option should be based primarily on the features of the geometry and location of the rooms.

It is important to take into account personal preferences and the functional load of the interior. It is not at all necessary to sell a Khrushchev-era apartment, if there are a huge number of options for changing the layout.

Original stylistic solutions

The choice of stylistic solution for a two-room Khrushchev apartment, despite the complexity of the design, is quite large. There are a huge number of styles suitable for non-standard premises, the area of which is limited. Particularly popular for a standard area of 45 square meters is modern design in the Art Nouveau, high-tech, and minimalist styles. For lovers of oriental motifs, the Japanese style is suitable, for admirers of antiquity and classics - Provence, retro, or country.

Each style has its own characteristics and subtleties of design. Modern design is characterized by laconicism, strict lines, and the absence of unnecessary details. The result is a bright, spacious room. Japanese style will allow you to create zoning using original accessories with oriental notes. Cozy design options in retro style, Provence, will create a homely, warm atmosphere in the “vest” layout.

Space zoning methods

Zoning rooms in Khrushchev apartments is a prerequisite for creating a functional interior. The organization of space can be done using visual effects, or a project for radical changes to the layout as in the photo. The play of color and light is widely used as a visual expansion of space, unobtrusively, subtly highlighting the necessary areas. Furniture items can also be an advantageous zoning method. Bar counters and bookshelves will practically divide the floor plan according to their functional purpose.

Dramatic changes in the arrangement of rooms, or when creating a single interior of 43 square meters, will require careful consideration of smooth transitions, load-bearing partitions, and methods of demarcation at the renovation stage. A two-room premium class studio apartment, in contrast to the walk-through layout, looks more harmonious with the use of arched openings and decorative partitions. Design elements, accessories, and living plants are also used for visual differentiation. The size and location of the zones directly depend on the personal preferences and needs of the residents, due to which the sale of housing is cancelled.

Optimal furnishing options

Proper furnishing of a two-room Khrushchev apartment will ensure comfortable living, making the furnishing plan more functional. The color and shape of the furniture should be in harmony with the overall stylistic idea of the interior, corresponding to the color scheme of the decoration. Proven tips are based on basic stylistic techniques:

minimum number of furniture elements;
use of modular structures;
lightweight, folding options;
glass objects or mirror inserts;
compact corner and hanging furniture.

Selling modern bar counters, original screens and partitions will help divide the space without weighing it down. Furniture should be as practical and functional as possible. The design and furniture design options as in the photo when combining living quarters with a kitchen, or a walk-through plan, provide for the choice of items with durable upholstery, or a surface that is resistant to moisture and various influences. Elements should be selected taking into account ease of cleaning.

Subtleties of surface design in small rooms

Finishing and designing surfaces will help not only decorate the interior, but also create the desired effect of expanding the space. The contrasting design of a white ceiling with a slight gloss and a dark floor will be the optimal solution for a small living space of 44 square meters. Raising the floor, or combining different materials will organically emphasize the design and division of the room into zones.

It is better to carry out the plan for finishing work on the wall surface, starting from the ceiling itself, which will create a visual impression of the height of the plane.

Stones, liquid wallpaper, textured plaster, and stucco are used as finishing materials to decorate load-bearing walls. Selling modern textures and color variations of wallpaper makes it easy to create a beautiful design. Despite the low ceilings and non-standard floor plan, it is allowed to use tension and plasterboard ceiling structures. Organic transitions of multi-level options will help in zoning even a walk-through room. During DIY repairs, it is especially important to consider the practicality and quality of finishing materials.

Color variations

White color will undoubtedly act as an ideal basis for further decoration, visually expanding the space, creating the effect of comfort and cleanliness. Making the wall in a color that imitates the texture and tone of natural wood will help to add a touch of warmth and naturalness. The choice is especially relevant for eco-interiors.

The limited size of the Khrushchev-era kitchen does not allow it to be equipped with a full-fledged dining area. You can apply a contrasting combination of yellow and purple colors in the living room, in the area where the dining table and chairs are located, by doing the decoration yourself. Wallpaper with a small floral print or geographical pattern on the surface of the wall will have a positive effect on the perception of space, helping to make it wider and more spacious.

The technique of decorating one wall in a contrasting or bright vertical stripe photo is effectively used. Thus, you can highlight one of the zones, or visually delimit the space. Conciseness and simplicity should prevail in paints. It is recommended to choose three main interior colors, and then use a play of their shades for decoration. The color of the furniture should be organically combined with the overall design.

Correct lighting

Proper lighting in small apartment spaces, as in the photo, can act not only as a light source, but also as an original decorative element. It is important to consider the amount of natural light, supplementing the design with standard recommendations if necessary. The sale of built-in lamps will allow you to choose the best option for central lighting, design of niches, arches and partitions.

A central chandelier on the ceiling will look out of place and will make it lower; a replacement can be a lighting fixture pressed as closely as possible to the surface.

Additional lighting sources will include sconces, floor lamps, and original table lamps. A rather practical idea is to use the light flux to organically delimit zones, highlight a design area, part of a walk-through wall, or to highlight a stylish accessory. It is also beneficial to use lighting along the entire perimeter of the ceiling, filling the space with enough light to create a comfortable and cozy environment.

Design techniques for increasing space

Experienced decorators use only proven techniques and space-expanding design. A limited area should have maximum functionality, organically combining several zones. Particular care should be taken when considering the types of layouts and the number of dividing strips in Khrushchev-era apartments. Too many visual distinctions can overload the interior.

The proportional harmony of objects in the rooms will ensure the correct perception of space. It is recommended to give preference to medium-sized elements, abandoning bulky, heavy options. Replacing conventional interior doors with sliding options during an economical renovation, creating arched openings as in the photo are a win-win method of saving space.

Original decorative elements

It is not recommended to clutter the interior of rooms with an area of 44 square meters with many small objects. It is important to carefully study the plan, think through each decorative element, and arrange accessories correctly. Bulky carpets, bedspreads, heavy textiles on the windows, rugs, pillows and souvenirs will create a cluttered effect, reducing the already small space. You should also not allow small objects to be reflected in mirrored surfaces, which will visually multiply their number.

Light weightless fabrics in minimal quantities will add airy weightlessness to the space. Bright accents can be a few pillows, napkins, or towels in the kitchen. It is better to use photo frames and souvenirs in minimal quantities, giving preference to paintings made in the style of the interior. If you have a sufficiently large number of books, you can arrange hanging shelves. Wrapping books with paper in calm tones will help eliminate excessive variegation.

The principle of creating a comfortable environment for a two-room Khrushchev apartment is a minimum of items that do not carry a functional load. It is important to think about spacious, compact and ergonomic furniture storage systems at the renovation stage. Correct application of techniques will help create a beautiful and cozy interior design even in a small home area.

“People are like people. They love money, but this has always been the case... ordinary people... in general, they resemble the old ones... the housing problem only spoiled them...” (M. Bulgakov, “The Master and Margarita”).

At the end of the 50s of the last century, the relocation of city residents from communal apartments to separate apartments began, which today are contemptuously called “Khrushchevka”. Yes, they do not differ in quality, large area (kitchens in them are within 6 m²) and convenience, but it must be recalled that at one time it was a breakthrough. After all, the norm per Moscow resident was 4 m² of space; people huddled in communal apartments with a shared kitchen and bathroom. It is worth re-watching the film “Pokrovsky Gate”, in which the characters discuss in one of the scenes their upcoming move to new (separate!) apartments.

The first line for the production of such houses was purchased in France. By the way, all the largest countries built similar residential buildings. In the USSR, they stopped building houses of this type only with the start of perestroika in 1985, having managed to build almost 300 million m² by that time.

Here are several layouts of “Khrushchev” buildings (interestingly, our people came up with an unofficial name for each):

This apartment layout, nicknamed the “book”, has a total area of 41 m², adjacent rooms and is considered one of the most unfortunate.

The layout is nicknamed "tram". The total area of the apartment is 48 m², the rooms are adjacent, but during redevelopment they can be divided quite painlessly.

The layout of the apartment with a total area of 44.6 m² earned its nickname (“mini-improved”) because it practically replicates the layout of 9-story buildings. The designers have already made some conclusions. The rooms are isolated, but the size of the kitchen is confusing. However, when remodeling, the kitchen can be expanded to 8 m²

This layout of an apartment with a total area of 46 m² is quite rare. Nicknamed the “vest” or “butterfly”, the wings of which resemble two identical symmetrically located rooms. Both have a decent area and are isolated. The problem with this layout is the inability to expand the kitchen area without invading one of the rooms. Expanding the kitchen by combining a bathroom is a rather controversial decision, because the resulting minimal additional space is not worth the cost of redevelopment.

Redevelopment of the Khrushchev building. Where to start?

From a legal educational perspective. You should not think that, being the owner of a home, the owner has the right to do whatever he wants with this home. The law imposes responsibility on homeowners, which is enshrined in the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

Very important! The Housing Code defines the redevelopment and reconstruction of residential premises. The first term is a change in the configuration of the living space. By law, all changes must be made to the technical passport of the apartment. The second is the installation, replacement or relocation of utility networks, plumbing, electrical and other equipment. And also with changes to the technical passport of the residential premises. In the best case (for you), when selling or exchanging an apartment, you will still have to make changes to the registration certificate. You can “run into” a fine and an order to return everything to its original form. The list of possible troubles during unauthorized redevelopment does not end with this, and the consequences for the homeowner can be much more dire.

The procedure for obtaining permission for redevelopment is the subject of a separate article. If your plans do not include the demolition of supporting structures and moving the kitchen to the place of the living room, obtaining permission is not very difficult. The undoubted advantage of “Khrushchev” apartments is that the internal walls in them are mostly non-load-bearing and, after obtaining permission, they can be demolished, new doorways can be created, etc. This significantly expands the possibilities for redevelopment of such apartments. Such actions relate to the so-called simple redevelopment, they are easier to coordinate and to obtain permission there is no need to develop a project; it is enough to apply the planned changes to the floor plan received from the BTI.

Options for redevelopment of a two-room Khrushchev house

The main problems of Khrushchev apartments are the small area of the kitchen, bathroom, hallway, one of the rooms and low ceilings. These are the problems that apartment redevelopment is designed to solve.

The most radical option is to remove all non-load-bearing walls (except for the bathroom and bathtub) and zone one large room with various light partitions and design techniques. The result can be a very nice and comfortable studio apartment. However, this option is not suitable for every family; many need isolated rooms. In addition, according to the law, one room in the apartment must remain residential.

Options for combining a living room and kitchen or a bedroom and living room into one room deserve attention. Here everything will depend on the composition of the family and the need to allocate isolated rooms to family members.

Kitchen-living room design:

Bedroom-living room design:

In addition to the redevelopment option combining two rooms or a living room with a kitchen, you can combine a bathroom with a toilet. Here are examples of the design of a combined bathroom and the placement of plumbing fixtures:

Let's return to possible options for redevelopment of the Khrushchev building. Consider the “book” option. The main problem is the passage room.

The redevelopment made it possible to make both rooms isolated. The price is a reduction in the already small area of the second room. However, many will be willing to pay this price.

With this layout, the kitchen area can only be increased by combining the kitchen with the room. There are no other options.

But if it is not possible to add a few additional square meters to the area of the room, you can increase it visually. There are many techniques that will help expand a small room visually:

The most important is color. The use of light pastel colors visually expands the room. Any bright and saturated colors will “compress” it.
A small floral print on the wallpaper also helps to visually expand the room.
The ceiling should be light, preferably as close in color to white as possible. You can use stretch ceilings.
A multi-level plasterboard ceiling with additional lighting will “raise” the height of the room.
The flooring is light or colored in the color scheme chosen for the room. Colored flooring visually “pushes” the walls and “raises” the ceiling.
Furniture should not be the main character in the room; emphasis should not be placed on it. It’s good if the furniture is chosen to match the walls and curtains.
Mirrors will make the room brighter - they will reflect daylight and artificial light. But it is necessary to observe moderation in their use for interior decoration.

Here are examples of small rooms that don't seem like that:

Correctly selected photo wallpapers visually enlarge the room. They “work” somewhat differently than classic design techniques:

Redevelopment of a 2-room apartment with the offensive nickname “tram” allows you to make both rooms isolated. When you look at the original plan of such an apartment, you really remember the words of the tram conductor: “Don’t stop in the aisle, go to the end of the car!”

The obvious drawback of this apartment layout is the impossibility of expanding the kitchen without combining it with the room. And this is not always possible.

There will be losses in space, but they are partly compensated by a spacious wardrobe, for which there will be space in the space between the rooms.

The remaining area of the “cut down” room after the redevelopment remains quite comfortable.

In order to visually expand the room, we use design techniques already familiar to us:

A “mini-improvement” remodel will significantly increase the kitchen area. After the redevelopment, the kitchen area will be 8 m². This is achieved by dismantling the pantry (the pantry will be successfully replaced by a modern wardrobe) and moving a bathroom in its place, the place of which, in turn, is occupied by a bathroom:

Content:

The owner of this apartment is a young man, a DJ with an abundance of creative ideas. Therefore, the main requirement of the new interior was to create a free creative atmosphere, comfort and a sense of style.

The typical dull layout in this case was unacceptable, so the designer was faced with the task of creating a modern youth design for a two-room Khrushchev house of 45 square meters. m.

Design of a stylish modern living room on a budget - Photo

During the redevelopment, the architects managed to perform a small miracle. By combining the living room with a tiny kitchen, they got a spacious room that is great for hosting fun parties with music and wine.

The minimalist modern interior of the apartment is made using inexpensive materials. The basis of the project is rather clear lines and elegant simplicity.

Layout of a two-room Khrushchev house 45 sq. m. after renovation – Photo

Finishing work in the apartment

To maximize the space, a proven design move was used - to use white in the decoration of walls and ceilings. Painted in white, the perfectly smooth ceiling creates a feeling of spacious, elevated space.

And the floor made of laminated parquet in a graphite shade visually “grounds” the whole picture. Thus, the design of this apartment is woven from a combination of black and white colors, with rare but very appropriate splashes of yellow and mustard colors.

A bright spot of color in the living room is the back wall of the niche, which houses a rich collection of records and an audio system. This area is highlighted in a pleasant mustard color.
The same color will be repeated in the soft round pouffe chair located near the electric piano.

Living room interior for an active young man, typical layout - Photo

Budget decoration of a living room combined with a kitchen - Photo

Decor items

The middle of the living room is occupied by a carpet with a bright black and white geometric pattern.
Another advantage of white walls is that any decorative item stands out very brightly and graphically against its background. Thus, the designer was able to accurately place all the accents of the room.

Black vinyl records placed on the wall as decor wonderfully highlight the character of the owner.

Decorating the living room with vinyl records. Pistachio chair bag - Photo

A small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building was combined with a living room

Black, white, yellow. The constant play of these three colors sets a certain rhythm in the living room, captivates and really encourages relaxation and friendly fun.

The compact kitchen is extremely functional and convenient. The snow-white facades of cabinets and household appliances favorably emphasize the black wall shelf with a collection of wines.

The pear tabletop echoes the façade and countertop that separates the kitchen from the living room.

Small kitchen with a bar counter in Khrushchev. White color of household appliances - Photo

Bedroom: a cozy corner in the studio

In this case, it was necessary to create a design for a Khrushchev apartment building with a separate bedroom.
The isolated bedroom is made in warmer colors. The main wall is painted a soft gray color that echoes the color of the soft carpet. The wall above the head of the wide bed is decorated with a handmade panel, which is made up of rare records and envelopes that can be changed depending on the mood.

Part of the bedroom has been converted into a separate dressing room. This freed the apartment from a clutter of closets and chests of drawers, and allowed us to maintain the minimalist style to the end.

Design of a separate bedroom with a large bed. With a desk by the window - Photo

Combined bathroom with shower

The interior of the bathroom is also thought out to the utmost. It was decided to abandon the bathtub in favor of a shower stall, but as a result, the cramped room became spacious and multifunctional. The bathroom is tiled with white ceramic tiles, except for one wall, which is highlighted in the same black.

Combined bathroom 5, 6 sq.m. m. with shower - Photo

Since the most inexpensive materials and interior items were used in the creation of this modern studio apartment, the professionalism and sense of taste of the architects and designer who worked on the project played a very important role.

As a result, they managed to create a very budget-friendly interior of a two-room Khrushchev apartment, from a dull, cramped standard apartment of the Khrushchev period.

Layout of a two-room Khrushchev house 45 sq. m. after renovation - Photo Combined bathroom 5, 6 sq. m. m. with shower - Photo Design of a separate bedroom with a large bed. With a work desk by the window - Photo Small kitchen with a bar counter in Khrushchev. White color of household appliances - Photo Living room interior for an active young man, typical layout - Photo Decorating the living room with vinyl records. Pistachio accent light - Photo Design of a stylish modern living room on a budget - Photo Budget design of a living room combined with a kitchen - Photo