Comfortable kitchen in Khrushchev. Kitchen layout in Khrushchev: rules and features. Color harmony in Khrushchev

For a Soviet person, owning an apartment, albeit a very small one, was a dream. But the Khrushchev-era apartment buildings built en masse since the late 1950s, originally intended as temporary housing, have survived to this day. For a modern person, such housing no longer meets all the criteria for comfort: the kitchen in a Khrushchev building has an area of only 5-7 sq.m., it needs to be hidden geyser and pipes, low ceilings.

Kitchen design 7 square meters in Khrushchev

Considering that Khrushchev-era apartment buildings occupy a significant share of the total urban housing stock and have standard layouts, finding a stylish and successful design option for even such a small kitchen will not be difficult.

Bright kitchen without partition (combined with living room)

Professional designers and ordinary people have accumulated enough experience. And we have collected for you here only the most best ideas and repair solutions with photos real interiors and tips for arrangement.

Decide on a design and draw a project with dimensions

If you don't plan your design down to the smallest detail in advance, you're unlikely to be completely satisfied with the result. Detailed drawing with marking communications, schematic arrangement of furniture will help not only save time, but also money for repairs. You can complete the project in a simple .

Project in Khrushchev 6 square

After renovation according to the project

Before you start planning your kitchen design in Khrushchev, keep a few important points in mind.

Choose a style

Modern styles (Scandinavian, hi-tech, eco, loft, etc.) are ideal for the design of a small-sized kitchen in Khrushchev.

IN Scandinavian style

Luxurious traditional styles with stucco, voluminous decor and massive furniture will not work. But it is quite possible to implement modern classics on 5-7 sq.m. Choose a set with paneled, framed facades, but compact and in light colors.

Another one of the most popular styles today is Provence.

Minimalism is always relevant for small spaces. It is characterized by furniture with smooth fronts without handles, a minimum of decor, and no curtains on the windows.

The design can be done in art deco style. Glass and appropriate decor will help with this. In this case, gloss and mirror surfaces will do an excellent job of visually expanding a small space.

Check out the design idea cozy kitchen 5.4 sq. in style modern classics in a detailed review:

Color

A bright kitchen visually seems larger and more spacious. In this case, white, all shades of beige, pastel and muted tones of any color are ideal for wall decoration.

You should be careful with dark colors. They can be used in small quantities, for example, in the design of a dining area, in decoration, in the design of lighting fixtures. You can make a two-color set with a dark bottom row, or vice versa.

Bright colors can only act as accents (15-20 percent in the overall design).

Before you start planning and renovating, consider a few important points:

If the apartment is gasified, decide in advance how you will use the water heater and pipes in the interior. If the equipment is old, then it is better to replace it. Modern geysers can fit perfectly into the interior without special camouflage.

A U-shaped layout is also possible if the wall separating the kitchen and living room is demolished. Then one of the sections of the headset can become a bar counter.

Double row.

This option is also functional, but does not leave room for a normal dining room for a medium and large family.

A kitchen with a U-shaped or two-row layout can serve as a garage for appliances. If the family is large, then you will need a large 4-burner stove, oven, and a large and spacious refrigerator. You can also put a washing machine here, freeing up space in the bathroom. With this approach, the kitchen turns into functional place with a purely economic purpose.

The room accommodates all the necessary equipment, but there is no room for a dining room. It will be organized in the living room.

No upper cabinets.

Today, replacing upper cabinets with open shelves is one of the fashionable design trends. But this is not always practical: it requires private dust cleaning, and there are fewer storage spaces. But this will greatly facilitate the furnishings of a small kitchen. The idea is not for everyone and has its place.

Kitchen in Khrushchev-era loft style

You can visually lighten the kitchen space in a Khrushchev-era building if you place the upper cabinets along only one wall.

Advice! Now many manufacturers produce upper cabinets with a large ceiling height. In a small kitchen, they will be an excellent solution to increase the amount of storage space for dishes and kitchen utensils.

Where to put the refrigerator?

There are three location options:

standing separately;
built-in;
free-standing, built-in furniture in a niche under the cabinets.

A free-standing one can be installed near the window to make passage into the kitchen more free.

In a room where the distance from the window to the wall is not enough to accommodate equipment, the only place for it is the corner opposite or against the wall near the exit (see photo below).

The location option at the entrance is one of the most common. In this case (provided that the kitchen is not gasified) either install a compact accordion door or sliding door.

Attention! It is generally impossible to leave a gasified kitchen without a door.

If there is no place for the refrigerator, then it can be installed in the hallway or in the living room.

Another option is to abandon the usual dimensional model and buy a separate freezer and a separate refrigerator and build them under the countertop. And if the family is small, then the compact low version “2 in 1” (refrigerator + freezer) will be enough. Of course, there will be some inconveniences here too. But the owners of a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, whatever one may say, will have to sacrifice ease of use for the sake of more free space, or vice versa.

If the kitchen is electric stove, then you can design an entrance without a door in the form of an arch.

The refrigerator can perfectly match the color of the walls or furniture. For example, white cabinets and a white refrigerator.

A free-standing refrigerator can also serve as a bright accent in the interior if it has a contrasting color.

The built-in refrigerator will fit perfectly into any design style. It does not violate the stylistic unity of the entire furniture ensemble.

An excellent solution would be a refrigerator built into the niche between the cabinets.

Dinner Zone

With a corner or linear set, you can allocate space for dinner table for 2-4 people.

A round table can accommodate more people while saving space.

Look light and weightless glass tables. Such dining groups are made of impact-resistant, tempered glass.

You can purchase the same translucent chairs made of durable plastic, which visually make a small kitchen freer and more spacious.

Table transformer - The best decision for a small kitchen. These can be designs with a folding tabletop or retractable ones.

To organize a dining area, you can use a window sill.

The tabletop can be made on the same level as the kitchen countertop or cut separately to any shape.

The dining area can be made in the form of a compact bar counter on one leg.

It can be located against a wall or near a window. Depending on the height, you can purchase regular stools or high bar stools.

It is much easier to organize a dining room if you completely or partially demolish (by expanding the entrance) the wall between the kitchen and living room. In this case, the dining table can be placed in the transition between the kitchen and living room.

Design of a studio kitchen in Khrushchev after redevelopment

Today, when renovating Khrushchev buildings, such redevelopments are not uncommon. Because the wall is not load-bearing, then the likelihood that the application will be approved is quite high.

Attention! Before starting redevelopment, be sure to coordinate your actions with the authorized bodies.

So, in this article we will show the best options for repairing and remodeling a kitchen in Khrushchev, tips on design, decor and many photos on the topic.

Peculiarities

Kitchens built at that time have a couple of very significant disadvantages, and these are:

Very modest area (only 5-6 squares)
Low ceiling (2.2 meters)
The presence of a gas water heater (we will describe why this is a minus below)

But, in contrast to these disadvantages, there are also significant advantages in comparison with block houses and these are:

Doesn't happen in Khrushchev buildings load-bearing walls(that is, you can destroy and break at least everything)
It is very easy to expand the area with adjoining rooms, and this applies not only to the living room

When you see the photos presented in the corresponding blocks, you will understand that Khrushchev is not a death sentence! True, with the right approach it is quite possible to do very stylish design premises, and the kitchen will look miniature, but not cheap.

What are the most popular repair options?

Few of the owners of Khrushchev-era apartments leave the layout in its original form. A lot of ways to modernize such a room have already been tested, therefore, in this article we will not open America to you.

Just let us remind you of the most successful solutions and provide clear examples.

In short, the best option in this case is a small redevelopment, with the walls moving. Otherwise, however, there is practically nowhere to turn around and there can be no talk of any originality.

Therefore, we will describe to you the most the best redevelopments kitchens in Khrushchev, and we will also tell you about the furniture modules that are best suited in this case.

What is the best way to equip a kitchen where there is a gas water heater?

Gas water heaters in Khrushchev-era buildings are not always installed in the kitchen. Sometimes they are in the bathroom, which on the one hand is very convenient. Why is that? But because you have no safety restrictions and you can safely demolish the partition separating the kitchen from the living room.

In other cases, if the speaker is still in the kitchen, you should not choose this particular type of redevelopment. It would be much more reasonable to expand the room by adding a storage room adjacent to the kitchen, for example, since there should be a door in any case.

No, of course, you can not give a damn about the laws, but one fine day there is a risk that you will deeply regret it. For example, when selling an apartment, you will be required to provide a document that confirms the legality of the redevelopment. And where will you get it from if the gas workers do not agree with this state of affairs?

Yes, you can dodge and somehow give a bribe. But do you need it? Moreover, honestly, it’s not such a chic option.

This is good in one case: if you live alone in an apartment. And when there are two of you, or even more, such a layout will add inconvenience. We're not even talking about the smell that will spread throughout the apartment.

The main thing here is the discomfort of family members visiting the kitchen while someone is sleeping in the living room. And for small Khrushchev buildings this is a quite common situation. The hall usually performs many functions, including replacing the bedroom.

So, if you have a speaker in the kitchen, start from this key point.

In the photo below you can see options for renovating a kitchen in Khrushchev, specifically with a column. Doesn't it look great? And you can’t say that the area is very small.

Which color scheme is best for small spaces?

We think you already understand that the best option is a light color scheme. But, of course, you want something bright, interesting... What can we offer you?

The most important thing here is the color of the walls. They are the ones who “make” the visual volume. That is, if you paint the walls white, you definitely won’t go wrong.

At the same time, be very careful with the work surface. You shouldn’t choose something very colorful and bright, because the walls are white. Due to the fact that the area is small, this small segment, visually, will occupy a significant part of the room.

Then, the color of the floor is very important. If you make it dark, then even if there are light walls it will “narrow” the room. Therefore, try to make the floor in light colors.

What materials to choose?

Furniture with monograms and carvings is not for such a room! The forms should be as simple and straightforward as possible.

Don’t even look at marble, natural onyx and other things that only look great on large areas in a classic style interior.

Curtains should also not be pompous, otherwise it will all look ridiculous, cramped and out of place.

It’s best to stick with something like “minimalism” or, if you want something more homely, a “Scandinavian” style. There, the priority is wood of natural colors and white tones. For Khrushchev this is just the thing.

As for household appliances: choose them to match. In this case, it is not so striking and, as it were, visually, does not “eat up” the space. And the interesting thing here is that it is the white equipment that looks more cumbersome.

Give preference to either a silver color or a completely dark one. It is very important that there is no “inconsistency”. For example, next to a white refrigerator, a silver stove looks very untidy.

Also, one cannot fail to mention the ceilings. Since they are extremely low in Khrushchev-era buildings, stretch glossy ceilings come in handy here. Moreover, you should also choose them in white. Any bright ceiling, even if it has reflective properties, makes the room smaller.

Due to the fact that the room will be visible in them, the ceiling will seem much higher, and, as a result, the room itself will be more spacious. Taking care of them is a pleasure, so we confidently recommend this option.

Well, now, let's look at specific options and ideas.

Kitchen-living room

Main article:. To implement such an idea, you just need to tear down the wall. Making a similar project in a Khrushchev-era building is not difficult, since there is no concrete.

After there is no partition left, you need to think about what you will use to decorate the walls and floor.

In general, according to the laws of the genre, it is necessary to make floors of different structures or colors, thereby setting the line. But, in the case of a very modest cubic capacity, it is better to lay exactly the same floor in the living room and kitchen.

The same applies to the ceiling. You don't need any tiers, boxes or arches. It is best if the kitchen and living room are a completely unified ensemble.

Curtains, also, should be the same, not mismatched. Only in this case will the interior look truly harmonious.

U-shaped kitchens with a bar counter in Khrushchev

That's pretty interesting solution for Khrushchev. Furniture that stands in a U-shape provides great convenience in terms of comfort, although it takes up as many as three walls!

This would be extremely unwise if you had a separate kitchen with a door. But, if you have a kitchen-living room, then the problem disappears by itself.

You can create a dining area right in the living room by installing a table with chairs there, or you can make a bar counter that stands in place of the wall.

In respect of appearance– this is decent and nice, but as for convenience, you need to think carefully about it.

After all, the bar counter is a place for a quick snack. You definitely won’t be able to accommodate guests there, just as you won’t be able to dine together with the whole family. And, if you make a bar counter, then in most cases you will have to give up a full-fledged table.

It is best to place it between the kitchen and living room, by the window, in the place where there was a wall. But you can’t put it there anymore, since there will be a bar counter there.

Enlarging the kitchen in Khrushchev at the expense of the bathroom

Surely, many will be surprised by this option, since the bathtubs in Khrushchev-era buildings are already so miniature that it’s hard to imagine what could be cut down there.

But people found a rather interesting solution: replace the bathtub itself with a shower stall and “sink” the refrigerator into the resulting square. Of course, to do this you need to knock out part of the wall from the kitchen side.

In principle, the idea is quite good if you under no circumstances use the bathroom and do not need it. For example, there is fat people, for whom the cabins are many times more comfortable.

But, if you still use it, it is better not to expand the area by depriving yourself of such benefits. No shower will warm you up after frost as well as hot bath. And in terms of functionality, it is very necessary: to wash something, wash it...

Therefore, there is no need to get excited. Just take note of this method.

In conclusion, I would like to say: go for it, everything is in your hands! Try to stick to these basic rules and everything will work out.

Kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings are characterized by small sizes, which makes their owners think about proper organization space. Today we will look at kitchen design options in Khrushchev with a standard area of 6 sq. m.

You will learn:

what to do with a refrigerator, geyser and washing machine;
methods of placing kitchen modules;
what styles are suitable for small kitchens;
what types of curtains are suitable for a small kitchen and much more.

6 square meters is not so little when compared with even more compact kitchens in new buildings. Besides, usable area can be increased, and one of the ways is redevelopment.

Redevelopment

The most popular options for expanding a small kitchen are:

combining the kitchen with a nearby room, balcony or loggia;
transfer or dismantling doorways, partitions and walls.

IN small kitchens it is difficult to fit all the necessary modules, and redevelopment changes the situation in better side. 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.

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 decorating 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 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 corridor will free up space for wall shelves. By getting rid of the mezzanine - an indispensable attribute - 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 replacement gas stove to electric or moving the 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.

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.

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 supplemented by a separate freezer, which can be placed not in the kitchen. The only drawback of the technology non-standard sizes and built-in models - price. But winning is precious space.

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 sat without light, consider giving up gas equipment in favor of 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 hob or doors separating the kitchen and room. In the case of an electric stove wall cabinets they do not heat up as much and can be located lower, and the door can be safely dismantled.

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.

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 They are incompatible with the “washing machine” and the chemicals used for it, just as dirty laundry is incompatible with the kitchen.

Washing equipment is often placed in the bathroom or hallway, with preference given to machines with vertical loading 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 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.

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.

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.

Tip: to place a sink or extend the work surface, you can use a window sill, as in these photos.

Planning methods

If you have not attempted to combine rooms, the most convenient solution from a planning point of view is considered 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 he 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.

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 exact numbers– these are your personal dimensions and experience, because the previous arrangement of 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 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 lights walls, ceiling, kitchen apron, furniture;
lack of fittings.

Glossy facades characteristic modern styles, reflect light and visually expand the room.

If the apartment is decorated in classic style and you don’t want sharp contradictions in design, alternatively, 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 and a large number 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.

Furniture

On best design and furniture materials indicate 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.

Walls

The kitchen in Khrushchev will become more spacious thanks to the light color scheme. Monotonous wall decoration will dilute the 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.

Floor and ceiling

The floor covering will complement the color of the countertop, 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 yours, it is better to lay the laminate across. 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. Glossy ceiling- 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:

Make a curtain if you want 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!

Most Soviet-built apartments from the 50s to 70s have very small kitchens. Typical panel and block Khrushchev houses of those times were conceived as temporary housing for workers - provided by the state free of charge and subject to demolition after 25 years of operation. However, due to various economic and political reasons, similar buildings still form a large part of the architecture of every city in the territory former USSR, and their inhabitants are constantly finding new ways to improve the design and increase the space of their homes.

Kitchen remodeling in Khrushchev

The first thing you need to know about redevelopment is that it involves changing the location of partitions in the apartment. The thoughtless destruction of some walls can lead to emergency situation, therefore, such actions (regardless of the ownership of housing) require prior agreement with the relevant government services who must approve the draft changes and issue written permission. Details about the procedure for completing documents in your locality You can find out by contacting a lawyer.

It is often possible to expand the kitchen area in a Khrushchev-era apartment by combining it with the living room or hallway. The result is a comfortable studio apartment. Sometimes it is enough to remove only part of the partition to make a beautiful arched opening, or instead of the previous brick wall (if it is not load-bearing), build a spacious shelving wall made of plasterboard or wood. Change the location of bathrooms, gas stoves, sinks, heating batteries Communication pipes and openings, which in such houses are connected into a single system, do not allow this.

Interior style for the “Khrushchev” kitchen

When planning the interior design of a small kitchen, you should give preference to those design solutions, which will help increase the usable area. Modern, classic and Scandinavian styles, as well as Provence, are perfect for arranging a kitchen area in a Khrushchev-era building.

Modern style kitchen

Contemporary, modern - this is conciseness, clear lines and maximum functionality. Instead of a bulky “antediluvian” stove there is an electric hob and a built-in oven; a neat tabletop combined with a window sill or simultaneously serving as a bar counter; closed shelves and drawers from floor to ceiling; spot lighting; discreet colors of furniture, harmoniously combined with metal surfaces technology; comfortable blinds.

Classic style kitchen

Classics show impeccable taste and commitment to tradition. This interior is somewhat reminiscent of the houses of noble nobles or merchants: wooden furniture, varnished or light milky enamel; gold and silver accents; plaster stucco; high soft chairs; satin curtains. Pick up kitchen appliances It will not be difficult to match expensive furniture - a beautifully decorated stove, hood and refrigerator can be bought at any large store. All this will help you forget about the Soviet past of the apartment and turn it into an oasis of luxury.

Kitchen in Provence style

This style combines simplicity village house with the conveniences of city life. Characteristic of Provence pastel shades, lace inserts, natural textiles (chintz curtains and tablecloths with small flowers, polka dots, calm checks). In a tiny Khrushchev-era kitchen, this design will create an atmosphere of freshness and lightness.

Scandinavian style kitchen

Scandinavian minimalism is a reflection of the purity of the Icelandic fjords among the snow-capped mountain ranges. On a crystal-white background of walls, ceilings, and furniture, minimal inclusions of almost transparent bluish-gray elements or bleached wood are allowed. The design of a Khrushchev kitchen in this style will visually enlarge the room and give relaxing peace to all inhabitants.

Color solutions for the kitchen in Khrushchev

In order for 5-6 sq.m. If your kitchen doesn’t seem too cramped, you need to choose the right shades. The task of optical expansion of the area is best handled by light colors, as well as smooth mirror surfaces.

White color

Pure snow-white tone reflects light best. It looks good with other colors, giving them contrast. This is a good option for ceramic tiles, furniture, walls, and ceilings. Most stoves and refrigerators are also painted white. But for the floor, countertop, space around the sink and hob, it is better to choose muted colors.

Natural wood color

Unique texture and noble shades wood is what you need for cozy interior kitchens in Khrushchev. Even an imitation of the natural surface of pine, linden, walnut, oak will make the food preparation area comfortable and sincere. Nature itself offers beautiful additions to the tree: grass green, grayish tones of stones, blue shades of water and sky, autumn palette from amber-yellow to chocolate.

Yellow

This color will illuminate and warm your small kitchen with warmth if the sun rarely gets through its window. In combination with spring orange, light green, pink, white, this shade can be both a background and a bright accent. Yellow looks elegant among purple and gray interior details.

Green color

The life-affirming tone of young foliage is one of best options for the design of a small kitchen in Khrushchev. This color can be used to paint walls or use it for decorative elements. With varnished wood, orange, grey, pink and brown surfaces it will look simply flawless.

Red color

Pastel shades

If any color is mixed with white, it acquires a delicate lightness. Surrounded by pastel colors, a feeling of calm, harmony, and purity appears. This is the perfect choice for a small space, giving it an airy feel.

It is better to complement bleached shades with saturated colors, but not bright ones. For example, you can combine light violet with purple; transparent blue with turquoise; milky with coffee color.

Finishing and materials for the kitchen in Khrushchev

When decorating any kitchen, it is important to find a balance between the beauty and practicality of materials. They must be moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and some must also withstand heavy mechanical loads.

Floor

Most affordable option The flooring in such a room is linoleum. It is inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing and very easy to clean. For a more sophisticated kitchen design in a Khrushchev-era building, large ceramic tiles in light colors are suitable (by the way, you will need very little of it). A floor made of small, eye-catching elements can visually reduce the space. Laminate flooring in the kitchen will not last long - accidentally spilled boiling water or drops of hot oil from a frying pan can easily damage its surface.

It is also inadvisable to place natural wood in the cooking area. wooden parquet— dirt will get into the cracks between the elements, and traces may remain from a hot pan or a puddle of water.

Walls

Since condensation can settle on the walls, it is best to paint them with water-repellent enamel or cover them with washable vinyl wallpaper.

The most expensive, but environmentally friendly way is, again, ceramic tiles. It is better to choose a glossy, medium-sized one, without contrasting details. Help add volume to your kitchen bright hues and almost imperceptible small patterns (for example, golden flowers with curls on a sand background; silver shimmer on white; imitation of brick or stonework). Vertical lines on the walls will make the ceiling appear higher than it actually is. And for better reflection of light, you should use mirrors.

Ceiling

It is enough to level the ceiling in a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building with plaster or thin plasterboard and paint it with moisture-resistant light paint (dark or rich paint will reduce the space). Options with tension film, suspended beams, PVC panels in such apartments will only reduce the height and turn the already small room to the closet.

Textile

Kitchen curtains, tablecloths, towels and napkins often require washing. Stains are removed most easily from synthetic fabrics, so for daily use it is better to choose high-quality polyester. It looks no worse than products made from cotton or linen; moreover, it dries quickly and looks beautiful even without ironing.

From an aesthetic point of view, in a small kitchen it is preferable to use simple blinds that match the color of the furniture or walls, short veils (tulle), light curtains, Roman, Japanese, bamboo or roller blinds. And massive draped curtains are best left for the bedroom and living room.

Furniture for a small kitchen in Khrushchev

The main furniture in a Khrushchev-era kitchen is a set, a dining table and chairs for it. The main requirements for these things are compactness, reliability and aesthetic appearance.

Kitchen set

The set is made of wood coated with waterproof varnish or particle boards with PVC film or veneer on the outside, with the addition of metal, plastic, and glass elements. Dark matte surfaces are more suitable for spacious rooms, but luminous glossy surfaces are more suitable perfect solution in the interior of a small kitchen.

To optimize space, it is better to first buy built-in appliances, and then order furniture with connectors according to the standards of the stove, oven, refrigerator, and sink. The apron that covers the hood can be matched to the color of the appliance or the style of the set itself.

Dinner Zone

Placing a full-fledged table in a 5-meter Khrushchev-era kitchen is an almost impossible task. In a studio apartment, it can be replaced with a bar counter, which will also serve as a partition. Good decision It can also include folding furniture, wide window sills, tabletops with adjustable heights, and folding tables.

Storage systems

Before you buy or order a kitchen set, you need to think about where dishes, small appliances and food will be stored. This will help to provide sections of suitable sizes, instruct the manufacturer to make the required quantity drawers, shelves and niches. It is very important that the furniture does not absorb moisture and is easy to clean.

As for saving space, it can be achieved by increasing the height of the cabinets to ceiling level and making the most of the corner area. It is convenient to place rotating carousel shelves in them. Cookery books, photographs and souvenirs will not hurt if you place them on open shelves above the dining table. Such a composition will simultaneously serve as a decoration for a free wall.

Refrigerator in the kitchen in Khrushevka - where to place it?

The question of where to put a large refrigerator in a cramped kitchen and how to position it so that it is convenient to open the doors is a headache for most residents of Khrushchev. The best way out from this situation will become a built-in model.

An interesting solution would be to place a low refrigerator(or even two) into a free niche under the window sill, having first removed the old one from there cast iron battery. A low refrigerator can also fit under a sink or countertop.

Proper kitchen lighting

What you definitely shouldn’t do in a small kitchen is hang a large chandelier. 2-4 spotlights mounted in the ceiling will look much better. Additional LEDs can be installed above the dining area, worktop and stove.

If your soul still asks for hanging lampshades, then it is better to place them above the bar counter or the central part of the tabletop.

Kitchen design in Khrushchev - photo

Our photo gallery will help you find inspiration and fresh solutions for kitchen interior design in Khrushchev. These are ideas that have already been implemented in small spaces, which can be adopted and transformed from dull Soviet life into a bright modern fairy tale.

The kitchen in Khrushchev has two main drawbacks - a small area (from 5 to 7.5 sq. m) and low ceilings (2.5 - 2.7 m). And it is often gasified, that is, it has pipes and/or a gas water heater, which greatly spoil the interior. But we also have good news:

Firstly, the kitchens in most Khrushchev houses did not have load-bearing partitions, which means they can be easily rebuilt.
Secondly, the problem of small kitchens is so widespread that furniture manufacturers have long adapted to it, and designers have developed a lot of ideas and effective solutions on how to make a mini-kitchen cozy and functional.

Today we will talk about 13 ways to get the most out of a modest “Khrushchev” kitchen and present 90 photos of real interiors for your inspiration.

13 solutions for arranging a kitchen in Khrushchev

Solution 1. Combining the kitchen with the living room

It’s not for nothing that this redevelopment option is so popular among owners of Khrushchev-era apartments, because it is simple, super-effective and almost always allowed for non-gas kitchens. Of course, you won’t find extra meters out of nowhere, but at least you can move the dining table into the living room, thereby freeing up space for working area, and visually the kitchen will seem much more spacious. In addition, the combined premises are good because they create excellent conditions for family communication. So, for example, all family members can be close to each other while doing their own thing, and mothers get the opportunity to cook while keeping an eye on their children. It’s even easier and more fun to organize home holidays and parties in the kitchen-living room.

An example of combining a kitchen and a living room in a one-room Khrushchev house

However, there are also disadvantages - due to the lack of a partition, culinary odors will penetrate from the kitchen into the living room and permeate all the textiles in the room. The same applies to “kitchen” noises, say, from water released, an extractor hood, a blender, a kettle, etc. Taking a nap while lying on the couch while someone is actively cooking in the kitchen, or making noise while getting ready for work while everyone is sleeping, is unlikely to work . If these disadvantages of a combined kitchen-living room are significant for you, think about Solution No. 2 - moving the partition.

Before breaking down the walls, you will have to go to the BTI, order a redevelopment project and approve it (even if you are sure that the wall is not load-bearing).

Solution 2. Enlarging the kitchen at the expense of adjacent rooms

If a combined kitchen-living room does not fit into your lifestyle, or if your kitchen is gasified, then you can increase its area through the adjacent rooms - the living room, pantry or hallway. Thus, the kitchen will become a little larger, but will remain isolated, which, to be honest, is much more convenient for living. Here are some ideas:

Most often, the kitchen is enlarged at the expense of the living room by moving the partition. Below is an example of a plan for a two-room apartment in Khrushchev before and after renovation.

If you combine a bathroom with a toilet, replace the bath with a shower, and move the partition, you will be able to expand the kitchen or create a niche for the refrigerator. Such a project is not often legalized, but for those who live on the ground floor, the chances are quite high. The photo below shows an example of a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, enlarged to include a bathroom, toilet and living room.

And this is what the bathroom looks like after remodeling

Solution 3: Sliding doors or open doorway

Hinged doors in a kitchenette take up a lot of space usable space and generally clutter the interior. You can, at a minimum, rearrange the hinges so that the door opens to the outside, and, at a maximum, replace the swing door with a folding or sliding one, as in the kitchen interior in the photo below.

If the kitchen is not gasified, you can remove the door altogether, leaving the opening open and, perhaps, convert it into a beautiful arch, as shown in the next photo.

And one more piece of advice. When renovating a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, do not miss the opportunity to move the opening and/or narrow it a little (up to 80-70 cm). Even a couple of tens of free centimeters of the wall often play a big role.

Solution 4. Converting a window sill into a countertop

The window sill is that hidden reserve, by using which you can save space and make the kitchen more functional. But to do this, it needs to be altered a little, namely, built into a kitchen set or turned into a bar counter/table.

By integrating a window sill into a U-shaped and corner kitchen unit, you can use it as a cutting table, while hiding the radiator and creating additional storage space. True, to do this, during the repair process you will have to slightly raise the window in order to bring the window sill to the level of the floor cabinets.

Converting a window sill into a bar counter or dining table most often does not require raising the window; you just need to replace the window sill tabletop with a larger tabletop and install one or two supports under it (if you are making a full-fledged table).

When remodeling the window sill, make sure that warm air from the radiator reaches the window. To do this in new countertop you need to make ventilation holes and decorate them with a decorative grille. If this is neglected, most likely the window will begin to fog up, which can lead to damage to the finish and the development of fungus and mold.

Solution 5. Bet on modern minimalism or simplified classics

The choice of interior style is a matter of taste, but small rooms are still more advantageous and easier to decorate in a modern way. For example, in Scandinavian or Japanese style, as well as in minimalism, hi-tech or eco style.

Below in the photo you can see an example of a kitchen design in a Khrushchev-era building, decorated in Scandinavian style.

However, lovers of classics and ethnic music should not give up their preferences. You just need to simplify the chosen style a little, for example, by using a minimum of decor, relying on light shades and reflective materials.

And here is an example of a kitchen design in a Khrushchev-era building, decorated in a lighter version of the ethnic style.

Solution 6. Light walls and furniture

In the perception of space, much depends on the color of the walls and overall furniture. A sure-fire way to enlarge a Khrushchev-era mini-kitchen is to decorate most of the interior in white tones.

If your kitchen lacks natural light or is overcrowded with furniture, opt for monochrome: paint the walls white, choose white furniture, dining table and even curtains on the windows. This way, all the boundaries of space will be erased, and the kitchen will seem airy, even if it is very crowded. Don’t worry about the difficulty of maintenance, because in fact, light surfaces are even more practical than dark ones (with the exception of textiles) and visually make the environment more tidy. And in order to avoid the feeling of hospital sterility, you only need to combine different shades white and combine spectacular textures and materials.

White kitchen in Khrushchev-studio

By the way, when there is no way to hide pipes and a water heater, white facades and walls, including the apron, are a great help. After all, against such a background, engineering elements will simply not be noticeable.

If you want to add color to your interior, combine white with one or two complementary shades. Use too bright or dark colors only as accents, otherwise the small kitchen will only become smaller.

By the way, dark colors They can also visually enlarge the kitchen. To do this, you need to decorate vertical surfaces with them, for example, an apron, furniture facades, a door or part of a wall, and decorate everything else with a light shade. As a result, the dark area will go deeper, making the space more voluminous.
If desired, the white color can be replaced with light gray, beige, blue-gray, pale green, pale yellow or cream.

Solution 7: Optical illusion finishing

To visually expand the walls, the floor should be laid diagonally or, if the kitchen is narrow, across it. The most advantageous pattern for laying a wooden floor is a herringbone pattern or a running pattern. It is important that the floorboards are not too wide and long, as they tend to “compress” the space. The color of the floor can be light or medium-saturated - such coverings are easier to maintain and increase the area. Similar principles work with wall decoration:

A typical problem for Khrushchev low ceilings(2.5-2.6 m high) can be solved by gluing wallpaper with a thin vertical stripe or a diamond pattern on one or two walls.

If the kitchen is narrow, but has ceilings of at least 2.7 m, do exactly the opposite and paint one of the “end” walls with horizontal stripes to visually expand the room.
Photo wallpaper with perspective They will convincingly deceive the eye and deprive the kitchen of the feeling of cramped space. The main thing is to decorate most of the interior minimalistically and in neutral colors.

Often designers use mirror trick, covering an apron, part of a wall in the dining area or one of the walls completely. This technique works especially well if the window is reflected in the mirror, increasing the light in the kitchen. Of course, mirrors require frequent cleaning, so if you cook often, ditch the mirrored backsplash idea and place the mirror away from the stove and sink.

The larger the mirror surface, the larger and lighter the kitchen appears

Wallpaper with a large and bright pattern should be used to decorate only one wall or small area walls.

Solution 8. Corner or single-row set to the ceiling

In a small kitchen in Khrushchev, a corner or single-row set is optimal.

A corner set is less compact than a single-row set, but it uses two walls and a corner and allows you to organize more storage spaces and work surfaces. In addition, it is more convenient to cook with this layout, because three working points (sink, refrigerator and stove) are arranged in a triangular pattern. At the same time, there is enough space in the kitchen for a dining room.

A single-row set is the most compact, therefore it is recommended if the kitchen is very small (4-6 sq. m) or when the priority is the capacity of the dining room rather than the working area.

However, if you move the dining room into the attached living room, there will be enough space for a U-shaped or double-row set. The main thing in these layouts is a free passage between furniture with a width of at least 90 cm, and preferably 100-120 cm.

The U-shaped set fits well into square rooms. And although it is quite bulky, the kitchen turns out to be very convenient, because everything a cook needs is literally at hand. In a small kitchen in a Khrushchev building, a U-shaped set can be built using a window sill. In the next photo slider you can see the interior of a kitchen with a similar layout and a dining area in the living room.

A double-row set is more suitable for narrow and elongated kitchens; it can also be very comfortable (provided there is a passage of 100-120 cm) and combined with a window sill.

No matter how you arrange your headset, we recommend that you include several non-standard improvements in it:

It is better to make the cabinet near the aisle narrower and beveled, then moving around the kitchen will become much more convenient.

To use the potential of a small kitchen to 100%, you should build the unit up to the ceiling, hide the air duct in an additional tier and arrange cabinets for things that you use only occasionally.
You can build a couple of drawers into the base and put all kinds of rolling pins, baking tins, baking sheets and other kitchen items in them.

Another argument in favor of purchasing a custom-made kitchen is the ability to hide a gas water heater behind the facade. Such a “cabinet” should have neither a bottom nor a top, and a distance of at least 3 cm must be maintained from the speaker body to the cabinet walls. The photo below shows a clear, although not entirely correct, example of integrating a boiler into a cabinet.

Solution 9. Laconic facades

Do you want to achieve maximum lightness and airiness of the interior? Then choose solid fronts without any decor, panels, prints and maybe even without handles. However, gloss or glass inserts will not be superfluous, because they reflect light and visually lighten bulky furniture.

Solution 10. Mini equipment

In the struggle for precious centimeters, mini-format equipment will help out, and perhaps even without sacrificing functionality.

A dishwasher with a width of 45 cm fully meets the needs of a family of 3-4 people. If 1-2 people live in an apartment, then an even smaller model is suitable - 35-40 cm wide.

The 55 cm wide refrigerator is quite roomy, as it compensates for the narrowness of the chamber with its height.
The oven can also be narrow (45 cm).
A three-burner stove will handle the needs of a standard family, while a two-burner stove will suit a couple or one person. By the way, according to the old SNiP rules, in a Khrushchev-era kitchen the stove should be of a mini format - with no more than three burners.

In addition to mini-appliances, it is worth equipping your mini-kitchen with multifunctional appliances. For example, when choosing a food processor, give preference to a model that squeezes juice and chops meat, and you should choose an oven with a microwave function.

It is advisable to build in all appliances - from the microwave to the refrigerator. This will make your small kitchen look orderly and uncluttered.

Solution 11. Compact and functional dining group

Only from compact and functional furniture You can create a dining group for a small kitchen, otherwise it simply won’t fit.

For 1-2 people it will not be a problem to choose a small one sliding/folding table, which can easily be increased in case of receiving guests.

For those who lead a mobile lifestyle, a bar counter or a folding wall table is suitable.

Table with folding wings that double the number of seats

In the combined kitchen-living room you can place the same bar counter, which will not only become a place for meals, but also divide the space into zones.

A more traditional option - round or oval table, which fits into the living room better than a rectangular or square table.

You can also place a transformable coffee table in the living room, which in an instant turns into a spacious table for 4-6 people.
Chairs should be selected small and lightweight. It would be good if they were foldable or at least stackable on top of each other.

We also strongly recommend taking a closer look at polycarbonate invisible chairs. They are inexpensive, fit into any interior, are very practical, and most importantly, do not clutter up tight spaces.

Solution 12. Several small lamps instead of one chandelier

Even the most cramped and crowded kitchen will seem more spacious and comfortable if you create the right lighting in it. And vice versa, no matter how well the design of a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building is planned, poor light will greatly spoil its perception.

So, for example, the usual central lighting with one chandelier will create unnecessary shadows and “shrink” a small kitchen even more.

What to do? Firstly, make sure that during the day nothing interferes with the penetration of natural light - neither things on the windowsill, nor tulle, nor curtains, nor furniture. Secondly, instead of one chandelier or in addition to it, install several spotlights along the perimeter of the ceiling or wall sconces in several places in the kitchen. Thirdly, highlight the dining area with light by hanging a chandelier directly above the table or installing sconces on the wall near the table. Thanks to this technique, kitchen gatherings will become more pleasant and the interior will become more modern. And of course, don’t forget about illuminating the work area using furniture lighting.

An example of proper lighting for a very small kitchen in Khrushchev

Solution 13. Short curtains

If the kitchen faces north and there is a catastrophic lack of daylight, it is highly advisable to leave the window without curtains.

In all other cases, the windows of a small kitchen should be decorated with light and short curtains with minimal gathering. For example, these could be Roman or roller blinds, cafe curtains, vertical or horizontal blinds or ordinary curtains that slightly cover the window sill.