Design of a Khrushchev house 2 rooms 45 sq. m. Redevelopment of a two-room Khrushchev house. Optimal furnishing options

The design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev remains a hot topic for many families. Built in the distant 50-60s of the last century, houses with small adjacent rooms and a combined bathroom remain the main living space for millions of people. With small areas, I really want to get their optimal distribution and beautiful design. It is not at all surprising that the project “Design of an apartment with an area of 42 sq. m (two-room Khrushchev building)” or the design project “Two-room apartment (45 sq. m, Khrushchev building)” are still in great demand and are popular.

The concept of “Khrushchev” has long been used by Russians. In the old days, such standard houses made a real housing revolution, tearing millions of people out of hostels and communal apartments. If in those distant years getting such an apartment was a dream, in our time, taking into account the improvement in the quality of life, a lot of problems arise with such housing.

How are these similar apartments characterized? One of the most common options: a two-room apartment. Its features: two adjacent living rooms, a small kitchen with an area of approximately 6 square meters. m, a small hallway and combined with a toilet. The total area is 40-46 square meters. m with a living area of 26-31 sq. m. The ceiling is very low: 250-260 cm. It should be noted that most of these apartments have a small balcony. The thickness of the internal main walls is 22-32 cm, and the thickness of the partitions is 7-9 cm.

The first option is a radical restructuring of the entire internal layout, i.e., demolition of all interior walls to create a single space. This path is complicated by the need to coordinate the plan with the relevant authorities, which is quite difficult to do.

The second option is a partial reconstruction with the removal of only partitions. This method allows you to combine some rooms, for example, a kitchen-room, a hallway-room. Finally, the design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev can be done without restructuring, but using modern trends and styles.

What can you come up with without redevelopment?

If redevelopment of the apartment is unavailable for some reason, then elegant solutions can be found without changing the boundaries of the interior spaces. Photos of the design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev can be easily found on the Internet in large quantities, for every taste.

The main direction is to visually increase the volume of the room. You can focus on some options:

Additional usable space can be obtained by constructing some elements from plasterboard. The basis is made up of decorative niches, shelves, racks, and elements located at different levels.

Increasing the size of window and door openings and forming arched openings make it possible to provide a visual increase in volume by almost a quarter.
Sliding doors and partitions allow you to effectively design a two-room apartment in Khrushchev, where the rooms are walk-through.

Mirror finishing of niches and openings, mirror wall covering significantly increase the visual volume and create an attractive interior.

Some design tricks

Advice! A significant role in visually expanding the space and creating the effect of lightness in a small apartment is played by the correct combination of color, pattern and material for finishing the walls, floor and ceiling.

The design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev can be based on some design tricks:

with a predominance of light shades create the necessary visual effect, while bright and intense color provides the effect of visual compression.

Small color patterns and ornaments are suitable for small rooms.
The height of the room visually increases with a white or close-to-white ceiling. You can use stretch ceilings.

The effect of height is provided by a multi-level plasterboard ceiling design. The correct selection of lighting fixtures can enhance the effect.
The floor covering can be light or colored, but must match the overall color palette of the room interior. The color of the flooring can also visually expand the walls.

The choice of furniture is an important element. The design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev implies minimizing the number of items. They should be selected to match the overall design. For small rooms, folding tables, sliding sofas, and multifunctional chests of drawers are most optimal.

Photo wallpapers are somewhat out of fashion, but with the right choice you can ensure the airiness and visual boundlessness of the room.
Curtains on the windows complement the overall impression of the interior. In small rooms, you should not hang bulky curtains, especially dark shades. It is best to use lightweight fabrics in light colors.

Using redevelopment

One of the most common design options for a small apartment is combining a kitchen and a room. Having created a sufficiently large room after removing the partition between the kitchen and the room, you should take care of the original and elegant zoning of the new space. For example, the appearance of three zones in a room: a dining room and a relaxation room (receiving guests).

You can note some general rules for zoning an apartment in Khrushchev:

Each family member should have a dedicated personal area. In this case, the area of such a zone, as a rule, does not matter.
When combining a living room with a kitchen, a working kitchen area with a stove and sink, kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator must be clearly separated and conditionally fenced.

Quite often, areas such as an office are highlighted; a relaxation area with a TV, the ability to listen to music, a comfortable chair or sofa; computer place, etc. When erecting fences, remember that they must be light and removable. Don't get carried away with stationary partitions.

The following can be used as demarcation elements: a bar counter, a sofa, a table, a shelving unit, or a prefabricated structure of multi-level shelves. Conditional zoning is carried out by changing the level of the floor or ceiling, using different colors. An openwork or cellular structure with climbing indoor plants running through it looks elegant. The kitchen work area is often highlighted with additional lighting, for which spotlights are installed.

Various design solutions

There are various projects for redevelopment of small-sized Khrushchev buildings. One of these projects was called an office apartment. In this case, a large room, hallway and kitchen are combined into one fairly spacious room. The small room is completely isolated and turns into a bedroom (there is also a wardrobe here). In the large room, a small office is clearly distinguished, which is best separated by a transparent sliding partition, so that, if necessary, merges into a single space. The zones are marked: the working kitchen area and the dining room.

The bathroom is also being renovated. Instead of a sit-down bath, a shower stall is installed and a washing machine is placed, and, if possible, also a small cabinet with a countertop and drawers. As a result, in such a small apartment all the necessary household premises are formed (living room, bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, kitchen, dining room and study), but at the same time the general boundaries are expanded due to the disappearance of partitions.

The next possible option is the “Apartment for Three” project. In this project, the large room is also connected to the hallway, but the wardrobe is not transferred to the bedroom. The kitchen is separated from the room by a sliding partition, and the refrigerator and electric stove are moved into a niche. The partition between the rooms is moved by 12-16 cm towards a slight reduction in the size of the bedroom. Such options can also be found illustrative confirmation.

The third possible option is the formation of isolated rooms. This option is needed to create two bedrooms separated from each other. In this case, a small corridor is created between the rooms, where another thin partition with a door is installed. The extended part of the hallway is suitable for the new one. Thus, the area of the hallway increases. The resulting rooms, of course, have a small area, but they are isolated from each other. The resulting nook between the rooms can be turned into a small storage room.

Layout options for two-room "Khrushchev" apartments

What is not allowed during reconstruction

Redevelopment of a small apartment allows you to provide the necessary design and arrange the room according to your needs.

However, when carrying out work, the following prohibitions should be taken into account:

it is impossible to remove or damage the integrity of load-bearing walls and supporting elements - such work is carried out only according to a special project;
the ventilation system should not be damaged;
it is strictly forbidden to block access to the gas stove or carry it yourself;
It is not recommended to change the installation location of the toilet.

A two-room apartment in Khrushchev, of course, is not suitable for its dimensions, but it can also be reconstructed, which will allow you to create a modern design. Such an apartment can be expanded visually, creating a favorable effect without reconstruction, but you can also achieve an increase in living space if you carry out redevelopment.

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“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 belong 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:

The concept of “Khrushchev” has long been used by Russians. In the old days, such standard houses made a real housing revolution, tearing millions of people out of hostels and communal apartments. If in those distant years getting such an apartment was a dream, then in our time, taking into account the improvement in the quality of life, a lot of problems arise with such housing.

Modern interior of an old Khrushchev building

How are these similar apartments characterized? One of the most common options: a two-room apartment. Its features: two adjacent living rooms, a small kitchen with an area of approximately 6 square meters. m, a small hallway and a bathroom combined with a toilet. The total area is 40-46 square meters. m with a living area of 26-31 sq. m. The ceiling is very low: 250-260 cm. It should be noted that most of these apartments have a small balcony. The thickness of the internal main walls is 22-32 cm, and the thickness of the partitions is 7-9 cm.

In modern conditions, the owners of such apartments have a natural desire to increase the comfort of their stay. Design projects for two-room apartments (Khrushchev), in principle, are possible in several ways to change the type of living space in order to expand the living space and improve it. The first option is a radical restructuring of the entire internal layout, i.e., demolition of all interior walls to create a single space. This path is complicated by the need to coordinate the plan with the relevant authorities, which is quite difficult to do.

What can you come up with without redevelopment?

Additional usable space can be obtained by constructing some elements from plasterboard. The basis is made up of decorative niches, shelves, racks, and elements located at different levels.
Increasing the size of window and door openings and forming arched openings make it possible to provide a visual increase in volume by almost a quarter.
Sliding doors and partitions allow you to effectively design a two-room apartment in Khrushchev, where the rooms are walk-through.
Mirror finishing of niches and openings, mirror wall covering significantly increase the visual volume and create an attractive interior.

Using sliding doors

Panoramic windows in the apartment to expand space and light

Sometimes, to make the space seem larger, you simply need to carry out renovations in a two-room Khrushchev house, and it is not at all necessary to remodel. That's why you should also pay attention to the following elements:

Color of walls and furniture. Dark colors visually reduce space and absorb light. Try to use light shades. Yes, this step has irrefutable disadvantages: you will have to clean it regularly, because dirt is very noticeable on light-colored surfaces. Nevertheless, this solution is one of the most popular among residents.
Do a general cleaning - as part of the renovation, get rid of those things that you use less than once a week. Place them in a storage unit if they are dear to you as a memory, or simply throw them away - such clutter negatively affects the size of the apartment, the mood of the residents and the atmosphere of the apartment as a whole.
By the way, about the storage cell: by using it, you will be able to rationally use the cabinets in the rooms of the Khrushchev, because it will be possible to transport winter clothes to another place.
When carrying out renovations in a 2-room Khrushchev house, focus on the projects of Asian and European designers for housing with an area of 15-20 m2 (examples in the photo). Of course, you are unlikely to be able to ideally redesign your apartment to meet the given standards, but you will definitely be able to get useful ideas, such as beds and furniture built into the walls.

Some design tricks

A significant role in visually expanding the space and creating the effect of lightness in a small apartment is played by the correct combination of color, pattern and material for finishing the walls, floor and ceiling. The design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev can be based on some tricks that designers and interior design professionals sometimes use:

Pastel colors with a predominance of light shades create the desired visual effect, while bright and intense color provides a visual compression effect.
Small color patterns and ornaments are suitable for small rooms.
The height of the room visually increases with a white or close-to-white ceiling. You can use stretch ceilings.
The effect of height is provided by a multi-level plasterboard ceiling design. The correct selection of lighting fixtures can enhance the effect.
The floor covering can be light or colored, but must match the overall color palette of the room interior. The color of the flooring can also visually expand the walls.
The choice of furniture is an important element. The design of a two-room apartment in Khrushchev implies minimizing the number of items. They should be selected to match the overall design. For small rooms, folding tables, sliding sofas, and multifunctional chests of drawers are most optimal.
Photo wallpapers are somewhat out of fashion, but with the right choice you can ensure the airiness and visual boundlessness of the room.
Curtains on the windows complement the overall impression of the interior. In small rooms, you should not hang bulky curtains, especially dark shades. It is best to use lightweight fabrics in light colors.

Preparation for redevelopment

As a rule, when planning a 2-room Khrushchev house in the 50-60s, standard, pre-prepared options approved by the state were used. On the one hand, you have the opportunity to target residents who have already completed renovations. On the other hand, it kills the individuality of the apartment, limiting the space for maneuver.

The best way to avoid this is to remodel, but first you need to draw up a floor plan. The layout of a 2-room Khrushchev house includes:

electrical wiring diagram;
number and location of sockets;
footage of rooms;
wall thickness;
location of water pipes.

Of course, there are companies that can organize a comprehensive analysis of your apartment, but it will be more profitable to separately coordinate the project with an electrician and plumber by ordering wiring diagrams.

Using redevelopment

One of the most common design options for a small apartment is to combine a kitchen and a room. Having created a sufficiently large room after removing the partition between the kitchen and the room, you should take care of the original and elegant zoning of the new space. For example, the appearance of three zones in a room: kitchen, dining room and lounge (receiving guests).

You can note some general rules for zoning an apartment in Khrushchev:

Each family member should have a dedicated personal area. In this case, the area of such a zone, as a rule, does not matter.
When combining a living room with a kitchen, a working kitchen area with a stove and sink, kitchen cabinets and a refrigerator must be clearly separated and conditionally fenced.
Quite often, such areas are distinguished as: an office, a relaxation area with a TV and the opportunity to listen to music, a comfortable chair or sofa, a computer place, etc. When erecting fences, you should remember that they should be light and removable. Don't get carried away with stationary partitions.
The following can be used as demarcation elements: a bar counter, a sofa, a table, a shelving unit, or a prefabricated structure of multi-level shelves. Conditional zoning is carried out by changing the level of the floor or ceiling, using different colors. An openwork or cellular structure with climbing indoor plants running through it looks elegant. The kitchen work area is often highlighted with additional lighting, for which spotlights are installed.

Zoning with a multi-level ceiling

Thread curtains - wisely zoning the space

When remodeling a Khrushchev building, as a rule, it is convenient to get rid of the wall separating 2 adjacent rooms, while the best option to maintain the distinction between them is thread curtains (example in the photo). Unlike a thick wall, such a curtain takes up less space, lets in light and fresh air, and most importantly, it can be removed at any time, making the room visually larger. This decorative element will allow you to create an individual fashionable design in an ordinary Khrushchev house: a beautiful appearance is combined with the practicality inherent in modern styles.

Minimalism is the best style for small apartments

Often, the interior style requires room decor, which takes up a lot of space - which cannot be said about minimalism! This option strongly encourages minimizing the number of items in the apartment, which is just right for the design of a Khrushchev apartment with 2 adjacent rooms (examples in the photo below).

The color scheme, as a rule, is light - this visually expands the space and has a positive effect on the psychological state of a person. The most popular shades are white, blue, beige, etc.

Various design solutions

The third possible option is the formation of isolated rooms. This option is needed to create two bedrooms separated from each other. In this case, a small corridor is created between the rooms, where another thin partition with a door is installed. The extended part of the hallway is suitable for a new dressing room. Thus, the area of the hallway increases. The resulting rooms, of course, have a small area, but they are isolated from each other. The resulting nook between the rooms can be turned into a small storage room.

What is not allowed during reconstruction

Redevelopment of a small apartment allows you to provide the necessary design and arrange the room according to your needs. However, when carrying out work, the following prohibitions should be taken into account:

it is impossible to remove or damage the integrity of load-bearing walls and supporting elements - such work is carried out only according to a special project;
the ventilation system should not be damaged;
It is strictly forbidden to block access to the gas stove or stove, as well as to carry it yourself;
It is not recommended to change the installation location of the toilet.

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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. To do this you will 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 openings 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

The two-room Khrushchev apartment is the most common type of apartment during the period of mass construction of panel houses in the USSR, thanks to which in the 60s–90s many families acquired their own housing. In this article we will tell you how to improve a small two-room apartment.

Layout of a 2-room Khrushchev house

A typical Khrushchev apartment has a very small kitchen - 5-6 square meters. Another feature is low ceilings up to 2.7 meters. Two-room apartments without redevelopment are often inconvenient, especially if the second room is a walk-through room.

The standard area of a two-room Khrushchev apartment is about 43-44 square meters. The houses are five-story. Most of the rooms are adjacent, the windows face one side (with the exception of the corner apartment with two windows). The advantages of a Khrushchev apartment include a storage room and a balcony.

Let's take a closer look at the most common types of layouts.

Book

This layout is considered the most unfortunate: a walk-through room with a wide doorway plays the role of a dining room, and in a family with children it also serves as a bedroom. Privacy in such a space is difficult to achieve. To divide the rooms, you will have to sacrifice part of the room. Without partitions, the demolition of which requires permission, the Khrushchev building can be turned into a spacious studio.

The photo shows a small corner kitchen with a built-in refrigerator and a table built into the window sill.

Tram

The layout received this popular name (the word “locomotive” is also used) for the rooms located one behind the other, reminiscent of carriages. A living room with a balcony is a walk-through room, but remodeling solves this problem: if you cut off part of the room and turn it into a corridor with two entrances, you can organize a storage system in the resulting niche.

The photo shows a room in cream tones with an accent wall in the television area.

The photo shows a project of a two-room Khrushchev house of 44 sq. m.

Baby vest

It’s a quite convenient layout, in which the rooms are separated by a kitchen and a hallway, but this type of Khrushchev is rare. It is also called a “butterfly” due to the similarity of the rooms with symmetrical wings.

The photo shows a tiny kitchen, where glossy white invisible cabinets occupy the entire ceiling space.

Redevelopment of Khrushchev

Owners of budget two-room Khrushchev apartments are increasingly deciding to remodel their apartment, and rightly so: redevelopment allows you to separate two rooms, isolate family members from each other, and increase free space.

Important points when reconstructing an apartment

Before you start rebuilding, you need to pay attention to several nuances:

Before repairs, you should draw up a detailed design project with all calculations. This will help avoid any hiccups in the future.
All changes in the Khrushchev building must be included in the technical passport of the apartment; for this you need to contact the BTI.
The floors inside the Khrushchev building are not load-bearing, so it will not be difficult to coordinate such a modification.

Popular redevelopment ideas

Practice shows that reconstruction of Khrushchev-era buildings gives amazing results - when combining a bathroom, space is freed up for a washing machine; When the partition between the room and the kitchen is demolished, space appears for the dining table. The diagrams below show several more ways to increase the comfort of two-room Khrushchev apartments.

2 rooms adjacent

Adjacent rooms are those that have a common wall. A layout with adjoining rooms and different entrances is called a “mini-improvement.” If the apartment has a storage room, you can use it to increase the kitchen area: the storage room is dismantled, the bathroom is moved to its place, and 3 square meters are added to the kitchen area.

The photo shows an enlarged kitchen in a two-room Khrushchev house, where there was room for a dining table.

Without a partition between the kitchen, the Khrushchev apartment will turn into a Euro two-room apartment, and the owner will receive a spacious kitchen-living room. If the kitchen is gasified, the opening must be equipped with a sliding partition. The loggia can be insulated and used as an office.

With a walk-through room

This layout is convenient if a person lives alone. The tiny kitchen has enough space for a small table and everything you need for cooking, and one of the rooms will become a living room with a passage to the bedroom. If a couple or a family with a child lives in a two-room Khrushchev house, the apartment needs to be remodeled. By erecting an additional partition, the corridor is enlarged, the interior door is moved to a new location and the residents receive two isolated rooms.

The photo shows a renovated Khrushchev building, where the walk-through room serves as a dining room and living room.

By reconstructing the flooring, many designers achieve an increase in the height of the room to 3 meters. This allows you to visually change the appearance of the room, build in tall, spacious cabinets and install a loft bed.

From a two-room apartment to a three-room apartment

When arranging a three-room apartment in a small-sized Khrushchev building, the rooms will be significantly reduced in size. One of them may lose daylight. The solution in such a situation is windows in the partition, openings under the ceiling or a false window.

The photo shows a completely changed two-room Khrushchev house: the bedroom is located behind a wall with a window, and the corridor has been converted into a living room.

Studio in Khrushchev

If you demolish all the walls (except for the load-bearing ones), you will get an apartment with an open plan. All that remains is to zone the space with a table, light partitions or upholstered furniture.

The photo shows a modern apartment with history and an open layout.

Room zoning

A spacious room often needs to be divided into zones. It is convenient to separate the kitchen from the room with a table or bar counter. In order to hide the bed in the living room, glass or slatted partitions are erected, screens are placed, and curtains are hung. It is important that the design does not “eat up” the space.

In the photo, a small kitchen is separated by a multifunctional bar counter.

It is useful to separate zones with an open shelving: it will not only act as a partition, but will also become a place to store things.

In the photo there is a partition rack that separates the sofa and the bed. To avoid cluttering the room, some things are put away in boxes.

Interior design of rooms

Let's look at the design of a two-room Khrushchev house in detail, because each individual room has its own characteristics.

Living room

The more people live in the apartment, the more crowded the central room in the Khrushchev building is - the hall. To make it not only convenient for all family members to gather here in the evenings, but also to receive guests, the place to sleep should be hidden. A good solution is a folding sofa bed. When folded, it does not take up much space. Opposite it you can hang a TV or install a decorative fireplace. Sometimes a walk-through room can combine the role of a dining room, living room and bedroom.

Kitchen

In a cramped kitchen of 6 sq. meters it is not easy to place modern equipment and a dining area. Without redevelopment, such a small area would hardly fit a four-burner stove, a work surface and a refrigerator.

To save precious centimeters, it is recommended to use built-in appliances (they take up less space), two-burner stoves, and transformable furniture. If you move the communications to the window, the sink can be built into the window sill. It is easier to equip a dining room in a room, or in the passage between the kitchen and the room vacated after the demolition of the partition.

The photo shows a kitchen in a two-room Khrushchev-era apartment, covered with photo wallpaper with a perspective that makes the room visually deeper.

Bedroom

The place to sleep and rest is most often located in the back room. In standard series, this is a narrow space, reminiscent of a trailer, in which there is room for a double bed, a wardrobe and a table. It is decorated in neutral colors so as not to overload the decor. Mirrors are used to expand the space, and furniture with legs is used to add lightness to the interior.

An excellent option is to use mirrored cabinets on the sides of the bed, which seem to go deeper into a niche. A shelf at the head is used to store things.

Bathroom and toilet

In two-room Khrushchev apartments, both separate and combined bathrooms are common. The best way to save space is to install a shower, but not every year you have to give up a full bath.

The washing machine can be installed under the sink or instead of it. To preserve air and light in a small bathroom, you should use a minimum of multi-colored elements and open shelves. For finishing, it is better to choose white glossy tiles; their use gives an amazing effect: the boundaries are visually erased, the amount of light increases.

The photo shows a white bathroom in a minimalist style, the niche of which is decorated with a mirror.

Children's room

The small dimensions of a two-room Khrushchev house for a family with a child are not a reason to refuse an interesting and functional design: you just need to apply a few tricks that will allow you to fit everything you need into the nursery. These include pictures on the wall, corner tables, and bunk beds. The space between the ceilings should not be neglected - cabinets with things can be placed there.

Hallway and corridor

To use the hallway in a Khrushchev-era building to store outerwear and shoes, it is recommended to choose a closet up to the ceiling: this will save space and fit more things. Some two-room Khrushchev apartments are equipped with storage rooms that can be converted into dressing rooms.

Office or workplace

A place to work at a computer often requires privacy. The office can be arranged on an insulated balcony, in a niche, allocated a few meters by the window or hidden behind curtains.

Ideas for renovating a two-room apartment in Khrushchev

A small apartment can look stylish and spacious if you approach the design with imagination. Experts recommend decorating the walls and ceiling in light pastel shades, but you can always deviate from these tips: for example, make the ceiling half a tone darker, add bright accents, original furniture, dynamic prints. A decorative fireplace will decorate the living room and add comfort and elegance.

The photo shows a built-in wardrobe with mirrored doors, which significantly saves space, increases light and visually deepens the room.

The photo shows the renovation of a two-room Khrushchev house in Provence style.

Flooring with natural wood textures is still trending, blending with any decor and adding warmth. In narrow rooms, laminate or parquet should be laid across the room to visually expand it. It is better if the entire apartment has the same flooring (except for the bathroom and kitchen): this will help maintain the unity of the design.

The photo shows a loft-style living room with laminate flooring laid across the room.

How to arrange an apartment?

To make the space more complex and interesting, in a two-room Khrushchev it is worth using multi-level lighting. Spotlights in the ceiling look modern and are functional: you can route the wiring to adjust the amount of light. Local lighting deepens the space, and light directed from above emphasizes low ceilings.

Furniture placement plays an equally important role. Typically, rooms are divided into “private” and “public” areas. Even if there are more than two people living in an apartment, it is quite possible to create their own corner for everyone. For example, a bed on a podium that acts as storage and sleeping space gives a sense of privacy and seclusion. To save space in the common area, you can use a corner sofa (it occupies a corner that is often left free), and instead of dining chairs, purchase stools (they can be easily hidden under the table).

The photo shows a living room with an original chandelier and a home theater decorated with LED strip lighting.

Decor and textiles are what give a typical two-room Khrushchev house originality. Thick curtains add coziness, but narrow the space and absorb light, so in order not to overload the room, you should choose a plain, laconic fabric. Bright decorative details (paintings, photo wallpapers with fashionable prints, accent walls) look advantageous only against a neutral background.

Design examples in various styles

By adhering to a certain style in the design of a two-room Khrushchev house, the owner provides his home with attractiveness and a special character, and the small dimensions of the apartment fade into the background. Who will pay attention to a cramped living room if it is designed in a loft style? Flooded with light, with aged brickwork and original furniture, an industrial apartment will be remembered as a stylish space, not a Khrushchev-era apartment.

The Scandinavian approach will be ideal for a small apartment: light colors, natural textures and fine lines in decor and furniture design will surprisingly give the interior airiness, spaciousness and at the same time comfort. If you apply the same techniques, reducing the number of things and decorations, the two-room Khrushchev house will be decorated in a minimalist style, which is distinguished by restraint and laconicism.

Modern style absorbs all the best from other trends, distinguished by thoughtfulness and attractiveness of the environment. Bright accents are used throughout, and the furniture is multifunctional. Lighting, color design and mirrors will increase the area, fitting perfectly into the interior.

Classic style, thanks to exquisite furniture, luxurious decor in the form of arches, stucco molding and expensive textiles, will create a sophisticated interior in which it will be easy to forget about the small dimensions of a two-room Khrushchev-era apartment.

High-tech is the style that stands apart from others. As if spied on from the future, with plenty of lighting, gloss and rounded furniture in light colors, it will dissolve boundaries and make Khrushchev unrecognizable.

The photo shows a dining area decorated with mirrors that add complexity and depth to the room.

Photo gallery

Soviet standard apartments are no worse than others for comfortable living: redevelopment can breathe new life into Khrushchev, and a stylish interior will hide the shortcomings of a small space.