There are still a large number of Khrushchev buildings preserved in our country. This is the name given to houses built in the 60s, which were intended for the resettlement of communal apartments.
These houses were built very quickly; according to the plan, they were supposed to be only a temporary measure, but they survived for many decades. Such houses are distinguished by their miniature size.
Apartments in Khrushchev-era buildings have a very small area, for example, the kitchen can be limited to 6 meters, and the rooms do not exceed 18 -20 m².
Also, a distinctive feature of such houses is the small height of the ceilings, it does not exceed 2.5 meters. That is why the choice of curtains in Khrushchev is a separate topic.
Features of choosing curtains for a small kitchen
The interior of any room should be a single whole; every object present in the room can complement and complete the stylistic composition. Curtains are no exception.
Choosing beautiful curtains for a small kitchen is not an easy task. Design features, color, style can support design ideas, as well as influence the perception of the size and layout of the kitchen space.
Functionality
To make the interior as functional as possible, you need to draw up a detailed project that reflects:
- where and how communications will take place;
- how to arrange furniture;
- possibilities of visually increasing space.
When installing a powerful hood in the kitchen, you can replace the standard door with a retractable one, an accordion model, or remove it altogether. If the door leaf is light in color, with transparent or mirror inserts, then the room will look larger and the interior will be more modern.
Removing large items to other rooms will help increase the amount of free space inside the kitchen in a Khrushchev-era apartment. For example, a tall refrigerator is placed inside a pantry or hallway, a dining table will fit into the interior of the living room.
A wide window sill can be built into a single kitchen countertop, used as a work area or for arranging equipment and decorative items. The design of the headset should be functional, with a large number of niches and storage drawers. The functional headset is shown in the photo.
Selecting a curtain model
Question: “How to choose curtains for the kitchen?” Many people ask themselves when carrying out repairs. The following curtain options are most preferable for a small kitchen space:
- Roman;
- French;
- The most common, straight, single-layer, light.
Many layers, the heaviness of the fabric, and the significant length of the curtains make the window and the wall on which it is located bulky.
The dark color of the curtains prevents the penetration of light and makes the room gloomy.
In a small kitchen, curtains with a glossy sheen or metallic threads are strictly contraindicated. Large designs on textiles are also unacceptable.
Modern curtains for a small kitchen are thin, light, transparent, transmit light well, are durable, and do not require special care.
Ceiling
The standard ceiling height is 2.5-2.7 m. If the kitchen design involves painted ceilings, then pre-level the surface. For painting, choose water-dispersed matte or semi-gloss paints. An alternative option is to install a matte stretch ceiling. Decorative photo printing can be used on its surface, however, the design should not be bright or too large. When decorating the ceiling, they do not use voluminous plinths, stucco elements, or install multi-level suspended structures - all this is inappropriate in a small kitchen.
Choosing curtain colors
Walls made in light colors and similar curtains made of light fabrics can create the effect of expanding the window.
Due to the significant amount of light penetrating and reflecting from the light walls, the kitchen space appears larger.
It is better to give preference to transparent veils that do not block the window too much if you choose the classic version of curtains.
Solid pastel colors (beige, pink, mint) will also look great in a small kitchen.
The design of curtains for a small kitchen can be complemented with a small print, embroidery, preferably floral. An unobtrusive pattern will not stand out much from the general background, but will perfectly complement the design of some styles, for example, Provence.
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For a small kitchen, it is better to choose curtains in warm colors. Especially if the windows face the dark side.
Here the determining criterion will be the overall color scheme of the kitchen. Curtains are designed to complement, not stand out from the general background. After looking at the photo of curtains for a small kitchen, you can decide on a color scheme.
Redevelopment
Fashionable design trends recommend combining the kitchen and living room. In a Khrushchev-era building, such a redevelopment will allow you to get a spacious room in which you can receive guests or gather the whole family for dinner. The unification involves either the complete dismantling of the interior wall, which is not a load-bearing wall, or the arrangement of an arched passage. The option with an arch will be optimal for those apartments where there are ceiling beams. The interior of a combined room with ceiling beams can be done in a classic style, as in the photo.
Zoning of combined rooms is carried out using different finishing materials, lighting design, and decorative items. The design of the kitchen unit may include cabinets and niches for installing a gas water heater and pipes.
To prevent room air and interior items from smelling of food, it is necessary to install a reliable dome-type hood.
Another redevelopment option involves combining the kitchen with a balcony. The external walls of the balcony need to be insulated, the balcony door and window must be dismantled. Instead of a window sill, it is possible to install a folding table for receiving guests, and use the kitchen area for cooking.
Photo of curtains for a small kitchen
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How to decorate the walls
When renovating a kitchen, it is possible to carry out external insulation of the walls with polystyrene foam. Interior partitions are usually 4 cm thick and made of gypsum concrete or covered wood. Uneven walls are covered with a thin layer of starting plaster or sheathed with sheets of plasterboard. Walls made of wood need to be reinforced with metal corners; when plastering, use reinforcing serpyanka.
It is recommended to paint plastered walls with light paint and cover them with plain wallpaper. It is possible to use canvases with a pattern, but it should be small and not very contrasting. Examples of wall decoration are shown in the photo.
If the kitchen does not have a wall panel, then the kitchen apron is laid out from tiles. The tile is chosen to be medium in size; it is possible to use elements of bright colors and decorative inserts. The walls in Khrushchev are decorated with small paintings, panels, and mirror inserts. They will complement the modern interior, but will not reduce the space.
The relevance of long curtains
There will always be those who want to see long curtains in the interior of the kitchen. There is no point in recommending exclusively short curtains to the target audience. Moreover, the thematic choice is influenced not only by taste, but also by other factors:
- Tall windows, which are often found in a private house;
- Multi-section curtain rod used for hanging tulle, short and long curtains at the same time;
- A classic interior that welcomes large-sized fabric by default.
The main thing is that the fabric itself is universal and not heavy, which will be discussed a little later. It is also important to maintain a distance of 15-20 cm between the flooring and the curtains themselves. This prevents rapid damage to the bottom of the curtains.
Color palette
When developing a project for the reconstruction of a Brezhnev apartment, the competent use of colors and shades when painting walls and choosing furniture is the main task. The main goal of the renovation here is to maximize the space. Therefore, when choosing a color, you should be guided by the following recommendations:
- Light and neutral colors are optimal. You can use a small amount of contrasting or bright splashes to liven up the interior a little.
- Mirrored and glossy surfaces can give a room real space. Special coating of facades and chrome-plated surfaces of household appliances create the illusion of spaciousness.
- A good choice of lighting fixtures and high-quality illumination of all zones will also help to “pull apart” the walls.
When choosing a palette for the kitchen area, you need to take into account that cold tones contribute to a decrease in appetite. If the appetite needs to be increased, they try to saturate the room with warm shades.
Placement of furniture and equipment
You can make the most of the available space using ergonomic folding furniture. For example, a dining table can fold into a breakfast bar or pull out from a kitchen cabinet. Furniture with sharp corners is better if there are a lot of people in the kitchen, you can get hurt on the corner.
In a small kitchen, furniture is arranged in 2 options:
- letter G - when tables and cabinets are placed along two walls;
- letter P - when 3 walls are involved.
The use of corner sets allows you to separate the cooking area from the dining area.
The color of the furniture should be in harmony with the walls; it is better to choose glossy facades or decorated with glass and mirrors. You shouldn’t have a lot of open shelves for small items in your closets, so as not to create a feeling of chaos.
It is recommended to integrate kitchen appliances into furniture. The traditional gas stove is replaced with a hob and oven. The dishwasher can be installed under the sink, and the microwave oven can be built into the cabinet. A horizontal refrigerator would be a good option for a small kitchen, or purchase a tall, narrow model.
Lighting
Lighting in Brezhnevka needs to be given special attention. This is important at any time of the day. For a small room, spot lighting along the perimeter of the ceiling and on the shelves, wall lamps that match the style, and built-in sources in the apron area are relevant.
A work surface near the window will allow you to make greater use of natural light. When the work area is located under the cabinets, they can be equipped with a special aluminum profile. An LED strip mounted there will be an alternative to eye-harming lamps. The dining table is visually highlighted with accent lighting.
