Khrushchevka - apartments in five-story buildings that are not particularly large in size. The kitchen in such an apartment is usually 6 square meters. For such a kitchen, it is very important to rationally place furniture and fittings, especially if you also need to install a refrigerator in the room.
With the right approach and 6 square meters you can create a comfortable and beautiful kitchen
The peculiarity of Khrushchev’s kitchens is that they were created exclusively for cooking; there was no talk of any dining or recreation area then.
Redevelopment
The most popular options for expanding a small kitchen are:
- combining the kitchen with a nearby room, balcony or loggia;
- moving or dismantling doorways, partitions and walls.
In small-sized kitchens it is difficult to fit all the necessary modules, and remodeling changes the situation for the better. But there are also disadvantages. For example, the previous inhabitants of the balcony - a bicycle, sled, and other important things - will have to find another place in the apartment. But you will gain 2 meters of space.
The kitchen-living room in Khrushchev has many advantages. You will finally have a dining table for the whole family, you will be able to watch or at least hear the TV and communicate with guests while cooking.
But when designing combined rooms, you need to take into account the fastidiousness of the kitchen - high humidity, the spread of odors, temperature changes and, accordingly, use materials that are resistant to all this. A more pleasant moment is the choice of design, the search for ways to zoning and combining space.
Moving the wall between the corridor and the bathroom will allow you to install a full-fledged washing machine. And by sacrificing the bathroom in favor of a shower stall, you will place a refrigerator or dishwasher in the resulting niche.
The absence of doors between the kitchen and the hallway will free up space for wall shelves. By getting rid of the mezzanine - an indispensable attribute of the kitchen in the Khrushchev - you will gain space for a high pencil case, a refrigerator and raise the ceiling.
Often, the redevelopment of an apartment in a Khrushchev-era building involves reconstruction - installation, transfer or replacement of plumbing or electrical equipment. This includes replacing a gas stove with an electric one or moving a heating battery to an adjacent wall.
Important: redevelopment and reconstruction of an apartment in a Khrushchev-era building requires changes to the technical passport, and some types of work require obtaining a special permit.
But the result is worth all the costs, and this will be confirmed by the “before and after” photos.
If you are not ready for such radical changes, let's start from the available footage.
How to expand space
Some partitions that run between rooms are not classified as load-bearing. Therefore, you can expand the space in several ways:
- Combine kitchen and living room. However, in this case you will have to remove the gas stove and install an electric stove. Obtain permission from the authorized authorities in advance.
You can also install a sliding glass partition.
- Combine kitchen and bath. This redevelopment option is suitable if you live on the ground floor.
What you need in the kitchen
Before you start arranging the headset, you need to determine which modules you need. The standard set is:
- washing;
- plate;
- working surface;
- fridge;
- table or a mini version of it.
Often in kitchen interiors there is a washing machine or dishwasher, oven, microwave. Considering the standard dimensions of all these modules (60x60 cm), we can safely say that all this will fit in our kitchen.
But there will be very little space left to move, and it will be quite difficult to miss each other. And the standard 50-60 cm of working surface is not enough for everyone for full-scale cooking. Therefore, the idea of moving some of the inhabitants of the kitchen - a refrigerator, a washing machine and a gas water heater - is very popular.
Example 2
Looking at the next photo, you might think that this is the result of a renovation, albeit a budget one. However, this is not so - the orange set and cheerful wallpaper were there from the beginning.
And this is what a 6-meter kitchen looks like after renovation. An unusual combination of white and dark facades was chosen. There is a washing machine under the countertop and a microwave oven on the windowsill. The pipes are hidden in a box.
Where to put the refrigerator?
A refrigerator is a large object that usually heads a row of furniture and occupies a corner. You will agree that it is unreasonable to place it between work surfaces, and it would be inappropriate at the entrance. At the same time, it should not be placed close to the wall, but so that the doors open easily and the socket is nearby. As you can see, even at the refrigerator project stage you have to work hard.
That's why the refrigerator is often placed in the hallway or in a niche instead of a pantry. This is also appropriate when its design is outdated or, conversely, too modern for your idea.
If you can’t imagine a kitchen without a refrigerator, consider replacing the standard giant with a built-in or narrower option with a depth and width of 54 cm. The latter is ideal for a family of 2-5 people, but the built-in model is more suitable for 1-2 people.
Alternatively, it will be complemented by a separate freezer, which can be placed outside the kitchen. The only drawback of equipment of non-standard sizes and built-in models is the price. But winning is precious space.
Example 6
No matter how good the condition of the kitchen, the furniture, appliances and design simply become obsolete over time. There are no half measures in such cases - it is better to update the whole thing.
It took exactly a month to repair. The set is installed from IKEA: this is a Method kitchen with Ringult white gloss facades. The price without equipment is about 88 thousand rubles.
The dimensions of the set are 2.65 by 1.3 m. The tabletop consists of two parts. The facades are glossy - they don’t really pick up marks or marks. The handles are quite comfortable, but not conspicuous.
A washing machine was hidden inside the headset.
What to do with a gas water heater?
Geyser, counter, massive stove - these items are gradually becoming a thing of the past, making room for modern, safe and cost-effective solutions.
If you can't remember a time when you've been without power, consider switching from gas appliances to electricity. And this is especially true if you are planning to decorate your kitchen in a modern style.
Interesting fact: a gas stove requires installation of a hood at a height of 75-80 cm from the hob or doors separating the kitchen and room. In the case of an electric stove, wall cabinets do not heat up as much and can be located lower, and the door can be safely removed.
Here's what else you can do with a gas water heater:
- move to the bathroom;
- hide with a furniture facade.
You probably don't need any convincing that a hob is a great, space-saving solution. But if possible, it’s better to move the oven higher - this way you won’t have to bend over when taking out baked goods.
Lighting
The right light for areas of 5–6 square meters. m makes it possible to visually enlarge the room. The best option would be to install devices for several zones:
- In the working part, tubular lamps are installed, which are installed under the bottom of the wall furniture. Diode strips are suitable to create a soft and pleasant light - this is a beautiful and stylish solution;
- for the dining area it is better to use several small lamps; installation is carried out on the ceiling, directly above the table. It is allowed to use 1 chandelier above the table, but in small areas it looks cumbersome;
- an addition to shelves with small items .
For modern kitchens, door opening sensors are installed in cabinets. Due to this, when opened, the light inside comes on, which will make the use of the furniture more comfortable and increase functionality. But the system is quite expensive.
Is it worth placing a washing machine in such a kitchen?
A small kitchen should only have everything you need, and a washing machine, you see, has nothing directly to do with cooking. For that matter, food products are incompatible with the “washing machine” and the chemicals used for it, just like dirty laundry is incompatible with the kitchen.
Laundry equipment is often placed in the bathroom or hallway, with preference given to top-loading machines or models built into the closet.
The placement of the washing machine is determined by the water supply and outlet. Consider as an option the rooms adjacent to the kitchen and bathroom, or rather the walls, in which you can always drill the holes needed for the hoses.
But many still include a washing machine in their kitchen set. And this is also logical if you cook little and need fewer dishes and equipment. It's just a matter of convenience and belief.
But most definitely the washing machine will set the height of the bottom row of kitchen furniture. If you plan to place a tabletop above it, the work surface will become even higher and possibly less convenient for you.
To experiment, place a stack of magazines on the machine and a cutting board on them and try cutting something.
By the way, the recommended distance from the table top to your bent elbow is 10-15 cm.
Advice: if you are going to completely renovate the interior of your kitchen, then buy household appliances first, and only then buy furniture. Working in the reverse order, you may not find an option that is suitable in size, and most importantly, in price.
So, we found out what will be in our kitchen in Khrushchev. Now let's move on to the next stage.
Design features of a small kitchen
Before arranging the design of a 6 square meter kitchen in Khrushchev in 2021, it is important to familiarize yourself with the design features of a small room. The rules for planning Khrushchev's kitchen premises are as follows:
- In a small apartment, it is recommended to place furniture and technical equipment according to the G- or P-planning type.
- It is recommended to provide a distance of 50 mm between equipment.
- The kitchen set should be compact.
- The hob will be an excellent alternative to a traditional stove. Today you can buy models with two or three burners.
- If exhaust equipment is installed above the stove, the doors to the kitchen can be removed and the opening enlarged.
- If in a Khrushchev apartment the kitchen room has access to a balcony, then you can increase the footage using it, but be sure to insulate it. The balcony space will act as a dining area.
- The sink can be moved to the window. This way you can easily place the set using corner elements.
- At least two sockets must be installed above the working surface of the tabletop.
On a note! Roller blinds will look good in this design. They are easy to care for and take up minimal space.
It’s not difficult to organize a kitchen design of 6 square meters with a refrigerator in a Khrushchev-era building yourself, the main thing is to listen to the advice of professionals.
Furniture arrangement
To arrange your furniture comfortably and beautifully, you will need:
- exact dimensions of the kitchen, taking into account all pipes, niches and protrusions;
- measurements of equipment, furniture;
- online service for interior design.
You will find ergonomic rules and useful numbers useful, which you will read a little later.
The kitchen in Khrushchev, as in other houses, is divided into the following zones:
- storage;
- washing;
- Preparation;
- cooking food;
- perhaps a mini-dining room.
The conditions of the problem are as follows: all the main modules involved in the cooking process must be arranged according to the rule of the working triangle (more precisely, a polygon). At the same time, the refrigerator should not be placed near the stove, and the sink and the stove should ideally be separated by at least one work surface.
Hint: to place a sink or extend the work surface, you can use a window sill, as in these photos.
Are we deciding?
Planning methods
If you have not attempted to combine rooms, the most convenient solution from a planning point of view is a corner kitchen. By arranging the furniture in the letter “L”, you can easily implement the same working triangle and leave room for a small table.
The internal corner can be straight or smooth (thanks to radius cabinets), but the main thing is that it is involved. By removing corners from each edge of the furniture row, you will free up the passage and make it less dangerous. In the opposite corner of the kitchen there will be a small dining area.
Linear (single-row) layout is another option for a kitchen in Khrushchev. It is good if you do not cook much and need few kitchen modules for cooking. Otherwise, the kitchen will turn out to be too long and it will be very uncomfortable to waltz through it.
The U-shaped layout is more suitable for the kitchen-living room. However, if you have a dining area in another room, and the depth of the cabinets is less than standard, this method of arranging furniture is very convenient.
Kitchen layout 6 square meters to the ceiling
The layout of a kitchen unit up to the ceiling on an area of 6 square meters is beautiful and rational. Externally, such a design will stretch the kitchen and make it taller. And from a practical point of view, you will have additional closed storage space for equipment and utensils that you use a couple of times a year. Tip: make different facades at the bottom and at the top. Those. not a solid door from bottom to ceiling, but separate ones. First there is a module with a height of 750 mm, and then an additional one on top to the height that will remain up to the ceiling. It's no secret that the space upstairs will be used for rarely used items. And most likely there will be a mess that will be visible every time you open one common facade.
In general, a kitchen set up to the ceiling is a modern standard, and not some kind of novelty or know-how. Even in private houses, where there are a lot of places, this technique is used.
If you install standard cabinets, which will leave more space up to the ceiling, you will not avoid open clutter. You need this area. So close it so that the kitchen always looks neat.
Numbers
Kitchen geometry is the dimensions and distances tested and confirmed by experience, recommended for arranging kitchen modules. For example, between the top and bottom rows the headset should be 50-70 cm, and the width of the passage should ideally be at least 120 cm. You can easily find all this on the Internet.
The important thing is this: these data are designed for the average consumer, so consider your characteristics when planning your kitchen. The most accurate numbers are your personal dimensions and experience, because the previous location of the furniture will also serve as a clue. Only you know what will be better.
Style
What style should you use to decorate the interior of a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building with an area of 6 square meters? Obviously, the fewer objects in a room, the larger it appears. Therefore, minimalism is the best choice.
By making maximum use of every centimeter of space - drawers instead of furniture strips at the bottom of the kitchen unit, space under the window sill, glass canopy rails - you will free up visible horizontal surfaces and create the effect of spaciousness.
Minimalism is characterized by:
- straight facades;
- white, gray, brown, black colors;
- restraint - a minimum of decor and accessories;
- closed shelves;
- practicality.
Another modern style that is perfect for decorating a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building is high-tech. It is characterized by:
- newfangled modern materials;
- neutral or bright colors;
- mirror, glass, metal surfaces;
- neon or LED lighting of walls, ceilings, kitchen aprons, furniture;
- lack of fittings.
Glossy facades, characteristic of modern styles, reflect light and visually expand the room.
If the apartment is decorated in a classic style and you do not want sharp contradictions in the design, as an option, decorate the kitchen in a similar neo-classic style using:
- pastel shades;
- light wood;
- paneled facades;
- intricate fittings.
The main thing is not to overdo it with decor - it is believed that it “eats up” the space.
In the same way, you can modify a cozy rustic Provence.
You can't go wrong by decorating your kitchen in a Scandinavian style, combining white cabinetry with light wood and ensuring maximum lighting.
Another suitable style direction for lovers of somewhat brutal or industrial interiors is loft.
Whatever style you choose, bet on white color and a lot of lighting - after all, it is this composition that visually enlarges the space. The trend is to individualize the interior and mix styles, which gives an opportunity to create your own style.
Style solutions
You can safely place a refrigerator near a window in a 6 square meter kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building. The main thing is not to overload the space and carry out the design according to the rules:
- Minimalism. Simplicity, nothing superfluous, as concise as possible. The color in the design is neutral. The furniture is functional, the set is compact. You can place tall narrow pencil cases for storing utensils. This style involves a minimal amount of decorative decorations and simple equipment.
- High tech. An abundance of the most innovative home appliances. Furniture with gloss in rich, contrasting colors. All this distinguishes this style. Here you can turn around by creating a unique design. Glossy photo surfaces, glass coatings, and modern equipment are simply a must. The maximum number of metal parts, the minimum - wooden, an abundance of fashionable decor.
- Modern. This design provides a maximum of household equipment and metal. This is a more economical design option. It is made from modern affordable building materials and is durable. Contrasting colors and original decor are irreplaceable.
- Classic. Wooden furniture or wood-look furniture, made in light shades. The use of stucco elements, an abundance of wooden carved elements and porcelain parts is allowed. No acidic colors or modern decor.
- Provence. The design is distinguished by light furnishings and the presence of floral motifs in decoration and decoration. Neutral colors are used, flowers in pots, country-style curtains, and dishes of various colors are required.
Photos of designers in various styles will help you make your choice.
Furniture
The best design and materials for furniture are indicated by the chosen interior style. But the lack of space in the Khrushchev building makes its own adjustments. You have already realized that the top and bottom rows of the kitchen set can be made less deep, thereby gaining space for movement. An elongated window sill or bar counter can easily serve as a table.
If you are traditional in this matter, pay attention to semicircular, folding, retractable models on wheels and transforming tables. Transparent - glass or plastic furniture, as in the photo, will seem invisible, while at the same time fully performing its functions.
Folding chairs can always be removed from the aisle, as well as multifunctional models - for example, a ladder chair. It will come in handy if you decide to make the most of the vertical.
Open shallow shelves instead of a bulky upper part of the set are a great way to unload space and modernize the interior.
Light colors in the interior
Creating an interior in light colors will visually create the illusion of free space, which is why owners of Khrushchev kitchens should choose furniture and appliances in pastel shades.
Pastel shades in the kitchen interior
When planning your interior design, try to focus on monochrome by painting the walls and covering the floor with the color chosen for the furniture and fittings.
Monochromatic furniture colors and fittings
To get rid of some of the sterility, you can also add some splashes of color in the form of bright patterns on curtains and cabinets, as well as using small kitchen utensils, but do not overdo it.
Color spots in the form of bright patterns on the walls
Undoubtedly, this method will not eliminate the need to abandon a large amount of furniture or a bulky set, but it will make the overall style visually neater.
Neat style with color accents
There is no need to be afraid that objects in light shades are much more difficult to care for, because in this case the dirt is even better visible and easier to remove, unless, of course, it is textiles.
Bright kitchen - easy cleaning
By the way, white tones will quite successfully help solve the problem with gas pipes and a water heater if they cannot be removed because they will be lost against a light background.
White color – masking for pipes
Even dark shades can expand the kitchen visually if you use them on vertical surfaces - a work apron, a door, pieces of a wall or cabinet doors.
It is enough to leave the remaining zones light, giving the dark spots the opportunity to visually go deeper.
Dark color to expand space
Walls
The kitchen in Khrushchev will become more spacious thanks to the light color scheme. The monotonous design of the walls will be diluted by an interesting kitchen apron. Agree, this surface is more often subject to contamination, and it would be more practical to decorate it in dark colors. It is also believed that this technique will move the wall away. Another way to expand is stereoscopic wallpaper or images with perspective on one of the walls or on part of it.
Complex, textured walls are inappropriate in a small kitchen, but if you wish, you can decorate a separate area in an original way, making it an accent. One of the popular design tricks for increasing space is the use of mirror surfaces or inserts. Even a small strip will deceive perception and create the desired effect.
How to combine a living room and kitchen in Khrushchev
Before combining the kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building with the living room, you should remember important technical points. Current legislation states that apartment owners cannot independently remove the sink, stove and other kitchen appliances outside the apartment.
When combining such a space, the kitchen, along with all communications, must remain in its place.
It is prohibited to equip the kitchen in a new way directly above the living room of the neighbors below. It is also not allowed to arbitrarily demolish the load-bearing wall between the living room and the kitchen - this can only be done with special permission.
We must not forget about a powerful hood or air conditioning system. Foreign odors should not freely penetrate into the living room from the kitchen. The lighting system for the kitchen-living room in Khrushchev is no less important.
To ensure that there is enough light in both the working and living areas, you should install many spotlights, complementing them with the main chandelier above the dining table. If necessary, you can also use wall sconces in the living room area.
You need to take the zoning of a combined kitchen-living room very seriously.
You can do this in several ways:
- Peninsula - its role can be a table installed in the middle, or a tabletop attached to the wall. It is important that these elements are in harmony with both the kitchen area and the dining area.
- Upholstered furniture - for example, a small sofa installed approximately in the center of the room, as well as several comfortable armchairs with a compact coffee table.
- A two-level ceiling is a stylish and laconic way to divide a single room into separate zones so that they still look like a single whole.
- A two-level floor - with its help you can slightly raise the kitchen area, in addition, such a floor will reliably hide all kitchen communications from prying eyes.
- Sliding doors are a stylish and simple solution that allows you to clearly define the boundaries of both zones. The main feature of this method of zoning a kitchen-living room is its ability to quickly isolate yourself from the kitchen at any time - to do this you just need to close the doors.
- Installing different lighting in the kitchen-living room areas is one of the simplest and most popular ways to zone rooms.
- Screens or curtains are a simple, cheap and effective way to separate the living room and kitchen areas.
- Live plants are a great way to beautifully divide a room and also add a lot of life to it.
- Bar counter - its role can be played by part of the partition from the wall that previously separated the kitchen and living room. To finish the counter, you can use natural wood, ceramic tiles, mosaic or facing stone.
- Arch - this method of zoning is often used by owners of small apartments. You can decorate the arch with miniature lamps located directly on its structure.
- Walls of different colors are another very affordable way to zone a kitchen-living room. Colors can be in the same color scheme or contrasting.
- Wooden partition - this method of zoning can be used in conjunction with a slight difference in ceiling height.
Floor and ceiling
The flooring will complement the colors of the countertops, external furniture fittings, lamps or other interior elements. The following materials will suit you:
- linoleum;
- laminate;
- ceramic tile;
- cork;
- concrete;
- polymer self-leveling floors;
- tree.
If your kitchen is narrow, it is better to lay laminate flooring crosswise. Laying tiles in a staggered, herringbone or diagonal pattern will help to enlarge any room configuration. The ceiling in the Khrushchev building is low, so two-tier structures with moldings and other decor will have to be abolished.
But stretch fabric is a good option that will save your renovation from flooding by neighbors above and can be cleaned wet, which is important for the kitchen. A glossy ceiling is another way to make the kitchen more spacious, brighter and give it a modern look. Soaring ceilings, ceiling lighting - all these miracles appeared thanks to tension structures.
Curtains
If you put all home textiles on the minimum list, curtains will certainly be on it. What curtains are suitable for a small kitchen? Well, you have a lot of options:
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If you want, make the curtain a bright accent. The design of the kitchen in Khrushchev will remain the same, but the mood will remain in its 6 square meters. m. you can change thanks to changing colors and fabrics. They can be easily complemented with other interior elements - napkins, kitchen towels, coasters and other small items.
And here we come to the end of our review. Let your kitchen be cozy and modern!
Which wallpaper to choose?
The obvious answer is bright wallpaper that doesn’t weigh down the already tiny space.
Any shades of pastel colors will look good.
If you want to dilute the monochrome shades of light, you can cover one side with photo wallpaper.
Use small patterns in combination with light furniture
We devoted a large and interesting article to choosing wallpaper for a small kitchen - https://desmyhome.ru/oboi/oboi-dlja-malenkoj-kuhni-6-kv-m-sovremennye-idei/.