Photo: almode.ru Panel Khrushchev buildings are notorious for their small rooms, strange layout and low ceilings. They are not very suitable for major refurbishment and do not look particularly inspiring. Is this a familiar problem? We are ready to help solve it! Let's look at a few tricks and ideas for decorating a living room in a Khrushchev-era building. Take note!
You can't do without zoning
It is important to distribute useful space in the passage hall in a Khrushchev-era building, since it is necessary to create comfort and conditions for a comfortable pastime and relaxation for all household members. Here you can arrange an office for the head of the family or mother - a business lady, a play corner for children, a place for reading or handicrafts.
From the photo of the Khrushchev hall, you can appreciate the advantages of zoning, when everything is in its place, in a clearly designated area. Moreover, there is enough space for everyone.
Often a hall of 18 square meters. m. in Khrushchev becomes the center of attraction for all family members and guests. There are also living rooms of 25 square meters. It is easier to allocate seats for everyone. But even a smaller room can be decorated with dignity, without losing useful space.
Floor finishing
Laminate flooring enjoys the greatest love among housewives. It perfectly imitates natural wood, but is much cheaper.
- If you want to amaze your household and guests with a more expensive design, then you can use stylish parquet or cozy cork.
- A carpet spread over the entire room, or a carpet that occupies only part of the space, will add additional luxury to the floors.
Small living room
The interior of a hall in a Khrushchev-era building can consist of partitions in the form of shelving, a small screen; designers recommend zoning the space using a corner sofa, a plasterboard partition, or a curtain. Moreover, it is better to refuse massive oversized furniture in such a living room.
It is advisable to decorate the room in a “minimalist” style, hang lightweight curtains or fabric blinds on the windows, and drape the walls, ceiling and floor with light-colored trim, which will visually expand the space.
Furniture selection and location
For the interior of a living room in Khrushchev, a classic straight sofa of a simple geometric shape with laconic textile upholstery is suitable. A folding corner model with an extra bed makes efficient use of real space. This assembled design does not take up much space and provides a convenient place to store bedding and things.
In the hall, the entire wall from floor to ceiling can be equipped with shelves, racks, or a wardrobe can be installed. This product is highly functional and can accommodate a large number of clothes and other necessary items. Open hanging shelves will look light, will not overload the room and will allow you to place various decorative accessories, books and other elements.
The photo shows an option for arranging a small living room in a Khrushchev-type apartment.
For an elongated space, choose a linear arrangement of furniture. There is a sofa near one long wall, and the parallel plane is complemented by modular cabinets and a TV.
In a small room, you can use a place near the window. In this case, it is appropriate to equip the space next to the window opening with a low stand with a TV device. In order to make the room more spacious, you should place armchairs near the window or place a sleeping area.
Is it worth combining the hall with other rooms?
If the living room is very small, you can consider combining it with a kitchen or balcony. In the first case, you should take care of a powerful hood so that the smells of cooking food do not interfere with the rest of the household. When combining a hall with a loggia or balcony, experts advise properly insulating the balcony wall and floor.
In order to officially demolish the partitions and make a major overhaul of the combined spaces, permission must be obtained from the architectural departments. They are usually issued without problems if non-load-bearing partitions need to be removed.
In this case, it is necessary to decorate the premises in the same style. For example, you can buy wallpaper for a living room in a Khrushchev-era building in the same color or pattern as the kitchen tiles or the design of the apron.
Features of a small area
If you don't have experience in interior design, you may find it difficult to arrange furniture and choose finishes for a small room. Small rooms require a special approach and small tricks.
Even a small room can be turned into a cozy and functional living room
So, in the interior of a living room measuring 16-18 square meters, it is necessary to wisely use all the available space. Here preference is given to roomy and at the same time compact furniture. The decoration uses mainly light colors and discreet patterns.
Important: corner models of cabinets and sofas take up less space, while being quite spacious.
The partition can be used not only for zoning, but also for storing things and decor
The color of the furniture may be darker than the walls. To visually increase the space, it is good to choose cabinets with smooth glossy facades or mirrored doors. A large number of reflective surfaces in good lighting visually expands the space. How it looks in the interior of a small living room in Khrushchev can be seen in the photo.
The use of light materials in the living room interior visually expands the space and adds fresh notes
How to visually expand space
In addition to using light walls, curtains and ceilings, it is worth using a number of simple techniques. Designers advise buying wallpaper or curtains with vertical stripes, which will visually make the ceiling higher. The use of mirror surfaces is equally important. The ceiling should be made not matte, but glossy.
Photo wallpaper with perspective will help expand the space, filling it with mystery and comfort. If you choose a 3D option with pictures of a night city or a natural landscape, you can achieve a perfectly comfortable perception of the hall.
When decorating such a room, it is better to use a classic style, or give preference to “Scandinavian”, “minimalism”, “loft”, “futuristic high-tech”.
Typical layout options
There are several versions of the standard layout of three-room Khrushchev apartments:
- “vest”: one spacious room plus two small ones. The least convenient option for radical restructuring;
- “book”: two spacious adjacent rooms plus one small separate one. Redevelopment will require large expenditures of space;
- “tram”: walk-through rooms, reminiscent of a tram’s interior, are often lined up. When remodeling, it is necessary to install additional partitions for insulation;
- Khrushchev 60 m2: all rooms are completely isolated from each other. A comfortable option, no radical changes may be needed.
Depending on the variety, options for organizing space are chosen. The Internet provides those interested with a huge number of photos of various projects, among which it is easy to find the right one. You can also contact a professional designer to create a unique design specifically for your case.
If you need to equip an office in the living room
An office for the father or mother to work involves creating a work area with a table on which a computer or laptop will be placed.
A very ergonomic solution is a corner design equipped with storage systems in the form of niches and drawers. The work area is set up in the area near the window, additionally illuminated and decorated.
As a partition, you should choose a rack, which in turn will serve as a storage area for documents and books.
Type of wallpaper by material
Kitchen wallpaper can differ not only in color and pattern, but also in the material from which it is made. When choosing kitchen wallpaper, this nuance must be taken into account first of all! It is in the kitchen that the walls are most susceptible to all kinds of damage. Therefore, let's look at the main types of kitchen wallpaper by material.
Regular paper
Paper wallpaper
This type of wallpaper is unlikely to be a rational solution for a miniature kitchen, where work is constantly “in full swing” and there is nowhere to turn around. Why? Paper products are very thin and impractical, and they also do not tolerate moisture and sunlight at all. This means that they cannot be washed and over time they will fade, losing their presentable appearance.
Fabric and bamboo
Despite the spectacular appearance of such wallpaper, in operational terms they are not suitable for a kitchenette in a Khrushchev-era building. Fabric and bamboo wallpaper have an excellent ability to quickly get dirty and absorb odors - in our case, this is unacceptable.
Fabric wallpaper (more suitable for decorating living rooms)
Bamboo wallpaper
Paper wallpaper with a water-repellent mixture
Quite inexpensive, but still an “angry” option. Their main difference from ordinary paper wallpaper is that they can be wiped with a damp cloth. But the color will still fade when exposed to sunlight.
Paper wallpaper with a thin vinyl layer
Paper wallpaper with a vinyl layer
It's better, but not there yet. The advantage of this type of kitchen wallpaper is that it tolerates moisture well and is not susceptible to fading. In addition, stores usually have a lot of interesting and rich designs in their assortment, which will greatly enliven and diversify the interior of a small kitchen. The downside of such products is their thinness, which, you see, is not very practical for a Khrushchev.
Vinyl on non-woven base
Vinyl wallpapers
Professional designers consider vinyl wallpaper to be the most successful option for a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building.
- Firstly, they are thick and therefore very practical - impressive resistance to mechanical damage.
- Secondly, with their help you can hide some of the unevenness of the walls.
- Thirdly, vinyl wallpaper tolerates moisture well, is easy to clean and does not fade in the sun.
It’s impossible not to note their stunning appearance, variety of colors, textures and patterns - they will fit perfectly into the interior of any kitchen and more! The price for them, of course, is slightly higher than for paper wallpaper. But here it’s better not to save money, but to do it once and for a long time.
See here an article about Mediterranean-style cuisine in various directions.
Note! Gluing vinyl wallpaper is much easier than any other: you just need to apply a layer of wallpaper glue to the prepared wall, and then simply apply and iron the cut strip with a roller (special instructions are usually attached to each roll). This gluing technology improves the adhesion of wallpaper to the wall. Plus, there will be less dirt around the workplace, since the wallpaper itself will not have to be smeared.
Play area for children
Small household members should also be given a corner for games and relaxation. Such zoning is very beneficial when children grow up in the family.
It’s worth setting up a wall bars with a horizontal bar and a swing. Both girls and boys will appreciate this. There is no need to separate the play area except by laying a rubberized non-slip floor covering or a sports mat in this area.
Choosing flooring
The original floor covering of Khrushchev houses is wooden boards, which are designed for a service life of no more than 20-30 years. They need to be replaced, especially if you are planning a major renovation of your apartment. If you are going to use linoleum or laminate, you must first remove the old boards and level the floor.
An excellent floor covering for a 3-room apartment is tile. To install it, you do not need to additionally level the floor surface. Thanks to photos from the Internet, you can choose beautiful tiles without leaving your home.
If you have combined your three rooms into a studio, zoning is a necessary condition. A multi-level floor with a different coating looks incredibly impressive. The walls are also painted in different colors (use wallpaper, paint or decorative plaster). The result is a stylish, spacious home with plenty of air and light.
Instead of work - a dining area
Many people prefer to set up a separate office in the library room or sleeping area, and make an area for eating in the living room. This is advisable, since Khrushchev-era apartment buildings have very small kitchens and it is problematic for the whole family to gather at the same time for lunch or dinner.
The dining area in the living room can be arranged not in the middle part, but to the side between the doors to other rooms. It is worth illuminating this area by installing a couple of floor lamps around the perimeter of the table, or by hanging a sconce with a bright lamp on the wall.
Everything must be legal
When planning a major renovation, consult with experts. They will tell you what changes can be made and what changes are strictly prohibited.
When drawing up a project, you must consider:
- in some cases, dismantling walls may be prohibited;
- any change in the configuration of the walls must be agreed upon and registered;
- you cannot move the bathroom, as this can damage the sewerage system in the entire multi-story building;
- If you have a gas stove, combining the kitchen and living room is prohibited. Install an electric stove or use a light partition.
To create a project, the services of professional designers may be required. Especially if you are going to change the configuration of the walls of the apartment. Turning to specialists guarantees you a competent project, which is much easier to coordinate.
You need to know that any changes to the layout must be agreed upon and registered. Before starting work, it is necessary to collect a package of necessary documents and obtain a licensed project for future housing that complies with construction standards.
Which color scheme to prefer?
If the living room is small, which is typical for most apartments in Khrushchev-era buildings, it is advisable to select the tones for the walls from a light range. The floor can be made a little darker than the main tone solution, but not darkened, or you can resort to the rules of contrast.
It is advisable to order a suspended ceiling, light or boiling white, glossy. Moreover, you should place accents in the room as decor, but do not overdo it with decorations.
Two leading colors in the design of the living room are enough. Cream and beige, olive and ocher or gold go well together. Classic black and white, gray colors with blue or peach are beautiful. Lilac, as well as cream with red, blue, and green, also look unsurpassed.
You can design it in the Scandinavian style, but you shouldn’t overdo it with light colors, so as not to create the effect of a hospital ward. Pastel colors with bright accents look very nice.
Ceiling finishing
For a modern living room, a simple white ceiling is best. The ideal solution is still considered to be the use of light-colored tension structures.
But to create an atmospheric setting, you can use more saturated colors. In this case, preference is given to a glossy coating that reflects light rays to the maximum extent. Lately, light-colored surfaces have gravitated more toward matte, which adds additional luxury.
Floor slabs can also be decorated:
- Whitewashing;
- Plaster;
- Paint;
- Wallpaper;
- Ceiling tiles.
Photo of the hall in Khrushchev
Category: Living room
