Khrushchev 45 m layout. Design of a two-room Khrushchev house without redevelopment, ideas and photos. Kitchen and dining room design

Most people grab their heads when they are faced with renovations in an apartment of 45 square meters. They have no idea how to fit everything they need into a small area. How to arrange everything so that not a single thing gets in the way and is conveniently located. Thanks to the advice, you will succeed.

Although the size of the apartment leaves much to be desired, you can organize everything in such a way that visually there will be more space. All thanks to light colors, they add space and make the room brighter.

Living room

When renovating an apartment of 45 square meters, pay attention to the color scheme in the living room. She plays a very important role. Don't darken the room, otherwise it will be unpleasant to be in and you will constantly want to sleep.

Delicate colors: cream, ivory, pink, white will make the room more comfortable and gentle. A suspended ceiling with a large number of lamps will help with this. The more lighting, the better for the living room.

Focus on simplicity, try to use only natural materials. Wooden furniture will fit perfectly into a bright room. Moreover, it doesn’t matter at all what kind of wood shade it will be; any shade will suit the lightness.

For curtains, light fabric, a different color from the walls, is suitable. Let it be darker, but don't overdo it, otherwise you'll hide all the light. Choose appropriate upholstery for the sofa and don't forget about the deep-pile carpet. It will make the room warm and cozy.

Buy compact furniture that hangs on the walls. Let the color match the color of the walls, then the cabinets will be almost invisible.

Bedroom

Everything in the bedroom should be simple, without unnecessary pathos and complex design ideas. Vintage style is ideal for a room of relaxation and tranquility. A bulky and spacious wardrobe can be placed against a wall or corner of the room.

Let the bed have a headboard that matches the wooden giant. You can make it yourself or have it made to order. As a cabinet, you can use a box made of wooden slats. Pre-treat and decorate it.

Modern designers suggest using a podium in bedrooms to save space. It is not necessary to install a bulky closet; it can be organized under the podium. There is enough free space, and visually everything is hidden.

Bathroom

As a rule, in small apartments the bathroom is combined with a toilet; this is designed to save space. Despite its size, if positioned correctly, it can accommodate all the necessary elements of furniture and plumbing:

bath;
toilet;
sink;
mirror with stand;
small bedside table;
laundry basket;
washing machine.

If you want to install a hanging wardrobe, then choose models with mirrored doors. Thanks to them, they become invisible and do not visually clutter up the space.

Plumbing fixtures and furniture with smooth sides and a marble look look attractive. Design of an apartment of 45 sq. m. is instantly transformed.

Kitchen

It is worth paying enough attention to the interior of the kitchen. After all, this is a place where family gatherings take place over dinner, lunch or a cup of tea. The room should make you want to be in it and contribute to a good mood for the whole day.

Black and white fits this description well. These colors are not flashy, they won’t hurt your eyes, and thanks to their neutrality, you won’t get tired of the design of the forge. They are also good from a practical point of view, since minor dirt is not visible.

Prefer corner furniture, it will allow you to save more space. An excellent solution would be to attach a metal facade, which will allow you to store a large amount of kitchen equipment on the wall.

Dark chandeliers supported by a long wire and black curtains in the Roman style will ideally highlight and decorate the overall style.

Balcony

A balcony is not only a place to store old trash. Modern designers work wonders with a small area of the apartment. If a small room is glazed, then there are a large number of ideas and options for what can be done with it.

Basically, it is a corner for relaxation or an extension of the room.

If you want to create a comfort zone, then first you should paint the walls in light colors. Place a small sofa or chair for a comfortable stay in this place. A bookshelf will be very useful. A coffee table, indoor flowers, several paintings, a soft rug will make the balcony comfortable and cozy;

The continuation of the room can be achieved by demolishing the boundary wall. Leave only the window sill; it can serve as a table or bar counter.

According to the photo of the apartment 45 sq. m. you already understand that you can decorate each room in an interesting way. But you can choose one design style for the whole apartment, which will be interesting and unusual.

Mediterranean style

It has been very popular lately, as it became famous quite recently. It stands out for its unusualness and uses only natural materials. It will transform your interior beyond recognition and will maintain a warm, summer atmosphere, even on the coldest days.

Freshness

To refresh the room, you can combine white with bright green, blue, turquoise and purple. These colors will add some zest to the design of the apartment, and white will harmoniously fit them into the overall picture.

Zoned style

To increase the space, you can combine the living room with the kitchen and divide them into three zones: the comfort zone, the kitchen and the eating area. The right setting will make three completely separate areas in almost one room.

Minimalism

This style involves the use of a lot of lighting, warm and gentle colors and a small amount of furniture and accessories. It can be combined with bright and even poisonous shades, but it should be in a serious minority.

Clear lines and strict forms are the key to ideal minimalism. Each shade should match the other. Eliminate incompatible colors completely.

Now you know how to decorate an apartment of 45 square meters. Remember, thanks to the correct selection of each element, material and color scheme, you will make a small apartment a work of art. What was once a small apartment that caused constant discomfort will turn into a comfortable, bright and spacious place.

Photo of the design of an apartment of 45 sq. m.

The times when apartments were given away for free are irrevocably gone. And not so long ago, when the country began to recover after the war, in the era of large-panel housing construction, starting in 1955, they tried to provide housing, if not for everyone, then for many. Of course, these apartments, which the common people casually call “Khrushchev”, are far from perfect: the walls are too thin and uneven, low ceilings, inconvenient layout, sound and heat insulation are not at the proper level. But they built quickly, and the Khrushchevs completed their task in full.

In just 9 years, a quarter of the country's population was provided with housing. And to this day, Khrushchev buildings make up a significant part of the housing stock. They give way to new houses only in the central districts of the capital and other large cities, while in the provinces Khrushchev buildings will remain for a long time. Their service life, previously 50 years, was revised and increased to 150 years, subject to major repairs. So, of course, there is a point in thinking through the design of the Khrushchev-era building and making major repairs to it.

Yes, in Soviet times they were happy with such apartments: even if it was housing with only 1 room, and it was small, but it was their own. Living space standards were calculated not for reasons of comfort, but taking into account only the necessary minimum for human physiology. Now, when the needs have changed, the owners of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings want to somehow transform their housing in order to achieve comfort and functionality.

There are actually quite a few design options for a Khrushchev-era apartment, especially if they involve redevelopment, for example, dividing one uncomfortable room into 2 rooms that perform different tasks, or expanding narrow and small rooms due to passage areas. Some options are more successful, some less so, but one thing is true for sure, even an apartment of such a small area with low ceilings can become a modern home.

Redevelopment

Perhaps, an interesting design in a Khrushchev building can only be created if competent redevelopment is carried out. The apartments do not have a large area, but their significant drawback is that the rooms are often narrow, uncomfortable, with a walk-through area and non-functional corridors. This problem can only be eradicated by resorting to redevelopment.

Khrushchev buildings were built according to designs of several standard series. They differ quite slightly from each other, but they have one thing in common - a small area:

One-room apartments – 29–33 m2,
Two-room apartments – 30–46 m2,
Three-room apartments – 55–58 m2.

When drawing up a redevelopment project, you will need to solve a number of problems. One of the problems will be related to the legalization of redevelopment, since not every design “flight of fancy” can be implemented legally. First you need to get permission for redevelopment.

The first difficulty may arise with the determination of load-bearing walls. Fortunately, in almost all Khrushchev-era apartment partitions, interior partitions do not perform a load-bearing function, but only divide the apartment space into rooms, so they can be easily demolished when making major repairs. However, there are exceptions; in panel Khrushchev buildings you can also find load-bearing walls inside the apartment. Just in case, we need to talk about how to determine the load-bearing wall in an apartment:

According to the apartment plan. You can obtain this kind of document from the BTI. You will be provided with a standard apartment plan with the designation of load-bearing walls and partitions.
Visually:
- The load-bearing wall will be thicker than the partition. In Khrushchev-era buildings, the thickness of the load-bearing wall will be at least 12 cm without finishing.
- Interfloor ceilings will always rest on load-bearing walls.

If the wall is still load-bearing, then the opening will need to be strengthened with metal or wooden supports. Redevelopment, which involves partial dismantling of the load-bearing wall, can only be carried out with the permission of the housing inspectorate, strictly observing the approved project.

Even if load-bearing walls are not involved in the redevelopment, a number of other problems may arise. For example, if the redevelopment is associated with the expansion of the “wet zone”. According to the law, the bathroom and toilet can only be expanded at the expense of non-residential premises, i.e. hallway, kitchen or pantry. The only exception is for residents of the first floors, where these restrictions do not apply.

Khrushchev-era apartment buildings often have a small, ineffective corridor connecting the hallway and the kitchen, which would be convenient to expand the bathroom. Here it is in the diagram:

In fact, this is a corridor, but on the plans this area is designated as a residential zone, so you can either put up with this or act in two stages: first, separate this area with a partition and formalize the redevelopment of the living space into a corridor, then obtain permission for another redevelopment - expansion bathroom and fill out all the documents again according to all the rules. Those. You will first have to arrange a redevelopment of this type:

By the way, enlarging the bathroom due to the passage will require additional waterproofing.

If you plan to combine the kitchen and living room to create a spacious living-dining area, then you may encounter another limitation: combining the living space with the kitchen in the presence of a gas stove is not allowed. There are two options: change the stove to an electric one, or install a light movable partition (after the commission arrives, it can be dismantled).

It is worth thinking about solving a number of other issues, which are discussed below.

Insulation. Since the insulation in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings is insufficient - it is hot in summer, cold in winter, the walls in corner apartments often freeze - the thermal insulation of the walls should be strengthened. Moreover, internal insulation in Khrushchev-era buildings is not applicable, since the implementation of this method leads to a shift in the dew point inside the walls. As a result, the walls begin to collapse, especially brick ones. Insulation is available by cladding the external walls with polystyrene slabs or by using sheathing and mineral wool on the first floors of the building.

Glazing replacement. It is advisable to replace old wooden windows with new plastic ones. Here you will have to face some difficulties. Firstly, some Khrushchev (panel) buildings do not have window sills, and secondly, the window opening is most likely to be uneven. If you contact an experienced company, there will be no problems with window installation, since they have accumulated experience in replacing windows in Khrushchev-era buildings. Some things to think about carefully:

how wide will the window sill be,
how to insulate a window.

Usually they try to make the window sill wider so that there is room for indoor plants. In Khrushchev-era buildings, where there were initially no window sills, this should be avoided. On the one hand, the support area for a wide window sill is insufficient, which means that the structure will be very unstable, on the other hand, a wide window sill will cause a disruption in heat transfer. By the way, the plaster slopes must be completely dismantled.

Redevelopment ideas

So, the main problems of redevelopment and repair in Khrushchev are identified. Now about specific redevelopment ideas.

One-room Khrushchev apartments

It would seem, what can you come up with, having as initial data a one-room Khrushchev house? It turns out that you can enlarge the bathroom and make a separate bedroom; at least, making the redevelopment more convenient is quite possible.

The typical layout of a one-room apartment in Khrushchev is a corridor leading to the kitchen and an “arch” to the living room. In some episodes, the “arch” was built up, and the passage to the room was located directly opposite the front door. Sometimes the project included a storage room. In the corner apartments there was another window on the long wall of the living room.

Redevelopment option	Description of the redevelopment
	This is a redevelopment option where the “arch” is built up and turns into an ordinary doorway; the functionality of the living room in this case increases, since, for example, a sofa can be placed along the wall that has increased in length. The door to the toilet has also been moved; due to the rounding of the space, the hallway becomes more spacious. Now a corner cabinet can fit comfortably here. The kitchen remains unchanged.
	Here you can see that all interior partitions, including bathroom partitions, have been completely demolished. The space is being completely rebuilt. The bathroom is expanding due to the hallway; now there is enough space to install a washing machine. The sink, by the way, is moved to the opposite wall, which will require a sewer line. The partition between the living room and the kitchen is dismantled, the wall between the bathroom and the kitchen is lengthened by building up the old doorway: a full-fledged kitchen unit can be placed. The disadvantage of the redevelopment is that the area of the hallway is reduced, but it is now convenient to place a wardrobe in the living room, especially since there is space for a hanger and a shelf for shoes in the hallway.
	Another option for transforming space through a passage. In this case, the orientation of the bathroom changes - it increases slightly in area, but the main emphasis is on increasing the kitchen area. It is partially combined with the living room due to a wide opening in which sliding partitions can be installed.
	Here, a lot of attention is paid to storage space, and there is also room for a double bed; it is in no way separated from the living room area, but is located in a cozy nook. The kitchen is combined with the living room, and there is a separate niche for the refrigerator. You can beat the kitchen, living and sleeping areas with the help of design. Pay attention to the bathroom. The entrance to it is moved from the hallway to the passage, due to which the door is removed from the narrow hallway. Replacing a bathtub with a shower cabin allows you to free up space and install a washing machine.
	In this option, by moving the doorway into the kitchen, the bathroom, or rather the bathtub area, is expanded, part of the wall is beveled, resulting in a full-fledged doorway into the living room. The kitchen space is not significantly optimized.
	Here the partition between the hallway and the living room has been demolished. There is a closet in this place. The partition between the living room and kitchen is partially missing. The bar counter serves as a space divider. By moving the dining area from the kitchen to the living room, the kitchen has become much more spacious. The kitchen set in this version is located in the letter “L” and occupies not only a long wall, but also a wall with a window. Perhaps we should note the lack of storage space and the small bathroom, which is not being rebuilt, but instead of a bathtub a shower and a washing machine are installed.
	Even such a small apartment as a one-room Khrushchev can be converted into a two-room apartment if necessary. For example, in this plan you can see that a bed and a bedside table have been placed in the far corner of the living room. The bedroom area is separated by a partial partition to allow access to natural light, since the bedroom has no window. The kitchen and dining area are united by a single countertop. Zoning was carried out using flooring. There are storage spaces both in the hallway and in the living room.
	In corner Khrushchev houses, where there are two windows in the room, there are more options for redevelopment; more precisely, from one room you can make two full-fledged bright rooms with natural light. This plan shows that the partition between the kitchen and living room has been demolished, but a new partition has been erected, which now divides the room into two parts. The result is an excellent apartment with separate rooms: a living-dining room and a bedroom. The redevelopment does not affect the bathroom area.
	This redevelopment option is similar to the previous one, but the entrance to the bedroom is from the living room. But you can order a large wardrobe for the bedroom, which will solve the problem of storage space.

Two-room Khrushchev apartments

The typical layout of a two-room Khrushchev apartment provides more design opportunities, especially if all the walls in the apartment are not load-bearing.

In a typical two-room Khrushchev house, you can significantly expand the bathroom due to the passage, and organize a spacious dining-living room. In addition, you can actually make a “three ruble” out of a two-room apartment. There are three common standard layouts of two-room apartments in Khrushchev-era apartment buildings, which are popularly given loving names: “book”, “tram”, “mini-improved”.

Redevelopment option	Description of the redevelopment
	The partition between the room and the living room is simply demolished. The space of the former passage is now divided between three rooms: hallway, bathroom and kitchen. There is a wardrobe in the hallway, a washing machine in the bathroom, and a niche for a refrigerator in the kitchen. The doorway to the storage room is closed. It turned into a dressing room with an entrance from the bedroom. The kitchen is combined with the living room.
	Similar option. The difference is that in the hallway there is no niche for a closet, but in the living room, opposite the front door, there is a workplace. The entrance to the wardrobe is not from the bedroom, but from the living room, next to the workplace.
	Here the redevelopment mainly affected the kitchen and living room. The wall between the living room and kitchen was demolished and replaced by an island kitchen sink. The dining area is now in the living room: the dining table is adjacent to the sofa. Behind the sliding partition there is a double bed, which we managed to fit in thanks to the extension of the wall between the hallway and the living room. From the bedroom area you can enter a spacious dressing room hidden behind a sliding door. The bedroom became a nursery for two children.
	The disadvantage of this redevelopment is immediately visible - it is too long and narrow a corridor, but, nevertheless, this option has a right to exist. After all, it allows you to make separate rooms, expand the bathroom through the corridor, and highlight a storage area. Both the bedroom and the living-dining room are separated by partial partitions, which serve as space zoning and highlight a relaxation area.
	In this option, at the passage site there is a niche for a refrigerator or wardrobe. The partition between the kitchen and living room is only partially removed, only to make a new entrance. The living room turned out to be dark; light comes in only thanks to transparent inserts in the partitions. But the new bedroom turned out to be very bright and with a balcony.
	This redevelopment option is also possible. Part of the pantry and bedroom become a common space with the living room, the partition between the living room and hallway is moved deeper into the room, and the kitchen partition is dismantled. It turns out a very spacious living-dining room, a small bedroom and a full-fledged dressing room.
	The kitchen and living room are not combined here, as in most previous options, but the bathroom is also expanded due to the passage. A partition in the bedroom divides the room into two bedrooms - one with a window, the other without it. The wall is made in a zigzag shape to leave space in both rooms for deep built-in wardrobes.
	This option is similar to the previous one. The bedroom here is also rebuilt in such a way that it becomes two separate rooms, but the bathroom is not rebuilt; in the passage there is now a dressing room and space for a built-in wardrobe in the hallway. The partition between the living room and the hallway is moved further - a comfortable workplace is organized.
	An interesting option is diagonal redevelopment, as, for example, seen in this plan. Thanks to this approach, it was possible to fit a corner bath into the bathroom and combine a washbasin and washing machine under a common countertop. The kitchen is not expanding, but its design is changing significantly. First, the partition is demolished. The table is replaced by a bar counter. Secondly, the sink is moved to the side of the wall with the window. The partition between the bedroom and living room is moved to install built-in furniture. The highlight of the project is the dressing room, on the sides of which you can place corner cabinets.
	There is also a diagonal hallway here. But the bedroom is significantly expanded at the expense of the living room. In fact, it turns out to be a three-room apartment, but the living room is small and separated from the kitchen by a low partition.
	A similar project, but the hallway is a little larger. There is a niche for a closet. The bathroom has been enlarged.
	Two-room Khrushchev house on two sides. The rooms here are adjacent. And the main task is to make them separate. The door to the bathroom is moved from the narrow hallway, and by reducing the area of the living room, it is possible to allocate space for a pantry or dressing room. The bedroom is divided by a through shelving, thanks to which the illumination is not significantly reduced, but the space is zoned into a bedroom and a living room. Instead of the former living room there is now a children's room.

Three bedroom apartment

In a three-room Khrushchev house, the redevelopment tasks also come down to solving the problem of adjacent rooms and their small area.

The typical layout of a three-room apartment involves a small kitchen and a walk-through living room, from which there is an entrance to the bedroom, one bedroom is separate. This could be a book-type layout:

Or the “tram” layout:

Redevelopment options	Description of the redevelopment
	This plan shows that the entrance to the bathroom was moved and made at the junction of the walls, the partitions of the kitchen and hallway were dismantled. The pantry has been converted into a walk-in closet and has been slightly expanded to include a passage.
	In this option, there is no partition between the living room and the living room. The bathroom is combined. The partition between the living room and kitchen is partially removed, but remains opposite the bathroom. The entrances to one of the bedrooms and the wardrobe are located in the form of a semicircle.
	There is a large and comfortable dressing room, which is entered from the bedroom. In the living room there is a special round niche for the TV, which has become the central element. The living room also has a dining area.

Photos of redevelopments

Video: remodeling a bathroom in a Khrushchev building

Video: combining kitchen and living room

Hallway design

The hallway in Khrushchev has several disadvantages:

miniature;
long and narrow corridor;
inconvenient layout in the shape of the letter "G".

To avoid lack of space, the hallway can be expanded to include a bathroom or living room, at least to install a wardrobe. The fact is that even a narrow closet in such a hallway will be inappropriate, because often the situation is aggravated by the bathroom door opening into the hallway. If you do not plan to enlarge the room, then you will have to resort to various design tricks to prevent the hallway from feeling cluttered.

Design techniques that will make the interior as uncluttered as possible:

Minimalist furniture. This applies not only to the design of furniture, but also to its quantity. The hallway should contain only the essentials. These are, for example, places for shoes and clothes. Moreover, you should avoid open hangers, since even a couple of sets of winter clothes on it will create the effect of chaos. Still, you need to try to allocate space for the closet. This could be a small corner cabinet with a mirrored door. Nearby you can hang a small shelf for small things that should be at hand. In general, corner structures and mirrors should be used in the hallway of a Khrushchev building. But hanging a mirror opposite the door is not recommended according to Feng Shui.
Will help expand the space competent selection of interior colors. It is known that light colors visually make the interior more spacious. This is also true for the hallway. However, if you follow this advice, choose materials that can be washed. For example, for walls it could be paint, for floors it could be tiles or ceramic tiles. Avoid materials with a porous texture; in a cramped hallway they can easily get dirty, but it will be difficult to return to their original appearance. Color accents will distract from the cramped hallway, but don’t overdo it – there shouldn’t be too many of them. As for the ceilings, they must certainly be light, no experiments with dark shades on the ceiling, otherwise the ceiling will feel very low.
Lighting. Of course, the design of the corridor should include carefully thought out lighting. In a hallway, which is a priori deprived of a natural light source, this is extremely important. The best option would be a glossy stretch ceiling with spotlights. Their number should be sufficient. For example, lamps are often placed along the entire ceiling along the center line or along the perimeter of the walls in two rows. Additional wall lights can be provided. The switch must be positioned so that it can be reached from the threshold. It is completely inconvenient when it is located in the center of the hallway. You have to cross part of the hallway in the dark in dirty shoes, coming from the street, just to turn on the light. By the way, if the corridor is long, then it is advisable to install a pass-through switch, with which you can control the lighting from different ends of the corridor.
Zoning. In a miniature hallway, zoning will probably be inappropriate, which cannot be said about a long corridor. Some designers advise dividing the space of such a corridor into two, maximum three zones using arches; you can also use color schemes.

Photos of hallway interiors

Living room design

When designing a living room, you will have to face the same problems as in the hallway: low ceilings, little light. In addition, the living room is often a passageway, which is why a significant part of it cannot be fully used. Some problems can be solved with the help of redevelopment, as mentioned above; some can be solved by using competent design ideas.

laconic design, absence of protruding decorative elements;
minimum amount of furniture,
neutral colors, it is possible to use contrasting colors to transform the perception of space, but a professional approach is required.

Most likely, you will have to order furniture according to your measurements, since it will be difficult to choose something ready-made.

The best move would be to replace heavy curtains with light curtains that will allow maximum natural light into the room. In the evening, good artificial lighting should be provided. These can be the same spotlights in combination with a glossy light stretch ceiling, a plasterboard ceiling with niches that are well lit around the perimeter, or a so-called floating ceiling, implemented using LED backlighting.

Of course, you can make a separate bedroom in a Khrushchev-era building, but if you don’t want to sacrifice free space for the sake of placing a double bed, which will be a “dead weight,” you can choose transformable furniture as a solution. Now on sale there is not only a bed that transforms into a small sofa, you can buy corner sofas in combination with living rooms that turn into full-fledged beds at night.

As for style, with a skillful approach, you can decorate the living room in almost any style direction, at least you can use individual style elements. Here, for example, are living rooms in shabby chic and high-tech styles:

Bedroom design in Khrushchev

Bedrooms in such layouts as “book” and “tram” are narrow and long. In terms of area, they seem to be not so small, but this does not add functionality to them. If redevelopment is not carried out in the bedroom, then you should strive to bring the shape of the bedroom closer to a square with the help of furniture. This is easy to do if the layout is “book”. You can make a spacious dressing room or a spacious wardrobe. With the “tram” it is more difficult, but there is also a way out. As you can see above, with the help of redevelopment you can combine a living room and a bedroom in one room.

As for lighting, choice of furniture and colors, all the recommendations that were given for the living room and hallway apply to the bedroom. Separately, it is worth mentioning that in bedroom design it is better to avoid using cold, saturated shades in large quantities; however, bright contrasting shades in large quantities are also inappropriate here. The bedroom should be conducive to rest and peace. Use finishing materials and textiles in the bedroom mainly in light pastel shades, combining colors. You can even choose white as the main color, creating something in the Scandinavian style.

There are specially designed color schemes for interior design that can be successfully used when choosing the color of furniture, trim and accessories.

Do not use complex decorative elements with elaborate curved lines. If there is very little space, limit yourself to one bed. A mirror will be functional in the bedroom, especially if there is room for a small dressing table and a dressing room next to it. A chandelier is often hung in the bedroom. It’s better to give it up and limit yourself to spot lighting, but if you really want to, then choose flat models.

Kitchen in Khrushchev

There is too little space in the kitchen in the Khrushchev-era apartment, it’s literally impossible to turn around. You either need to do a redevelopment or try to transform the space so that it becomes functional and comfortable.

The main move is custom-made furniture. A minor point, but two or three centimeters here and there sometimes decide the “outcome of the battle.” Having carefully thought through the placement of the kitchen unit, or rather all the sections, drawers and household appliances, you can literally implement a European-quality renovation in a Khrushchev-era kitchen. Built-in appliances will serve well: microwave, oven, hob, dishwasher, which can be small. Even refrigerators can now be purchased built under the countertop: it seemed like a cabinet; but no, if you open it, it’s a refrigerator.

It has now become fashionable to move the kitchen sink to the window, so you can place a tall refrigerator in the corner. You'll have to tinker with the sewer system, but it's a worthwhile solution.

You don’t have to move the sink if you don’t see the need for it, but simply use the window sill as a countertop. Some people connect the work area and the bar counter with a single tabletop, which makes the interior more seamless.

As for textiles, choose short, light curtains for the kitchen, or better yet, horizontal blinds located directly on the sashes of plastic windows - very convenient.

The sewer and gas pipes in the kitchens are not very conveniently located in the Khrushchev-era apartments. Gas pipes can be moved if desired by contacting the appropriate authorities. Or you can disguise them with furniture or a plastic box, or assemble a box from plasterboard.

We hope that our advice will help you independently develop the redevelopment and design of your beloved and dear Khrushchev. And finally, we suggest you look at a selection of photographs of the design of Khrushchev buildings.

Design of Khrushchev buildings photo

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.

I like

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 glean 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.

I like

The interior of a two-room Khrushchev apartment shows how sophisticated and charming the design of a small apartment can be.

It is designed in the Provence style, which makes it possible to harmoniously combine luxury and simplicity, to create an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility with a touch of antiquity.

The interior palette is dominated by white and natural colors, as if bleached by the sun. The layout of the two-room Khrushchev house has not undergone any significant changes and includes a kitchen with a dining room, a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom combined with a toilet.

Living room interior

The texture of the brickwork painted white is the main type of decoration in the living room. The relief is favorably emphasized by the built-in lamps along the perimeter of the ceiling. A chic soft sofa is the main element of the furniture, which also includes a chest of drawers with a television panel installed on it. In the center of the living room there is a table with a tablecloth reaching to the floor, and near the sofa there is a narrow cabinet that helps to separate the seating and dining areas.

Light zoning of the interior of a two-room Khrushchev house is made using a ceiling, the complex geometry of which has niches with LED lighting. There is a workspace near the window, highlighted by wall decoration with an attractive patterned design. A mirror on the entire wall made it possible to visually enlarge the room, the interior of which is enlivened by brighter color accents - curtains, pillows.

Kitchen and dining room interior

The compact ivory-colored corner set looks very elegant thanks to the shiny elements in the paneled facades, glass inserts, and eye-catching fittings. The interior is distinguished by the colorful finishing of the apron with patterned tiles, the color of which is matched to the color of the refrigerator.

Part of the ceiling above the work area is slightly lowered and equipped with lamps to illuminate it, and for additional lighting of the dining area there is a pendant with an oval reflector. Considering the small size of the kitchen in a two-room Khrushchev house, the option of a dining table in the form of a console was chosen - with wall mounting and one leg.

Bedroom interior

The bedroom interior is closest to the rustic simplicity of the Provence style. A wooden ceiling with beams, shelves around the perimeter of the window, pillows on the window sill are the most interesting details of the cozy appearance of the room in the Khrushchev-era building.

The combined decoration of walls with wallpaper and panels extending onto the window gives the bedroom a solid, romantic look. For evening lighting, a chandelier and sconce are used, and a Roman blind is used to regulate the natural flow of light.