Most Soviet-built apartments from the 50s and 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 was subject to demolition after 25 years of operation. However, for various economic and political reasons, such buildings still make up a large part of the architecture of each city in the territory of the former USSR, and their inhabitants are constantly finding new ways to improve the design and increase the space of their homes.
Redevelopment of the kitchen in Khrushchev
The first thing you need to know about redevelopment is that it involves changing the location of the partitions in the apartment. The rash destruction of some walls can lead to an emergency, therefore, such actions (regardless of the ownership of the housing) require prior agreement with the relevant government services, which must approve the draft amendments and issue written permission. Details on the procedure for processing documents in your locality can be found by contacting a lawyer.
It is often possible to expand the area of the kitchen in Khrushchev by combining it with the living room or hallway. The result is a comfortable studio apartment. Sometimes it’s enough to remove only part of the partition to make a beautiful arched opening, or instead of the old brick wall (if it is not supporting), arrange a roomy wall-shelf from plasterboard or wood. To change the location of bathrooms, gas stoves, sinks, heating batteries do not allow communication pipes and openings, which in such houses are connected into a single system.
Interior style for the "Khrushchev" kitchen
When planning the interior design of a small kitchen, you should give preference to those design solutions that will help to increase the usable area. For the arrangement of the kitchen area in Khrushchev, modern, classic and Scandinavian styles, as well as Provence, are perfect.
Modern style kitchen
Contemporary, modern is laconicism, clear lines and maximum functionality. Instead of a bulky "antediluvian" stove - an electric hob and built-in oven; a neat worktop combined with a windowsill or at the same time serving as a bar counter; closed shelves and drawers from floor to ceiling; spot lighting; restrained colors of furniture, harmoniously combined with metal surfaces of equipment; comfortable blinds.
Classic style kitchen
Classics show impeccable taste and commitment to tradition. Such an interior is somewhat reminiscent of the houses of noble noblemen or merchants: wooden sets, varnished or with light enamel of milky shades; golden silver accents; gypsum stucco molding; high soft chairs; satin curtains. It will not be difficult to choose kitchen appliances to match expensive furniture - you can buy a beautifully decorated stove, hood and refrigerator in any large store. All this will help to forget about the Soviet past of the apartment and turn it into an oasis of luxury.
Provence style kitchen
This style combines the simplicity of a village house with the amenities of urban life. Provence is characterized by pastel shades, lace inserts, natural textiles (chintz curtains and tablecloths in a small flower, polka dots, calm cell). In the tiny kitchen of Khrushchev, 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 snowy mountain ranges.On a crystal-white background of walls, ceiling, furniture, minimal splashes of almost transparent bluish-gray elements or bleached wood are allowed. The design of Khrushchev’s cuisine in this style will visually enlarge the room and give relaxing peace to all residents.
Color solutions for the kitchen in Khrushchev
To 5-6 sq.m. your kitchen did not seem too cramped, you need to correctly approach the choice of shades. The task of optical expansion of the area is best handled by light colors, as well as smooth mirror surfaces.
White color
A pure snow-white tone reflects light best. It looks good with the rest of the colors, giving them contrast. This is a good option for ceramic tiles, headsets, walls, ceilings. Most stoves and refrigerators are also painted white. But for the floor, countertops, the space around the sink and hob, it is better to choose muted colors.
Natural wood color
The unique texture and noble shades of wood are what you need for a cozy kitchen interior in Khrushchev. Even the imitation of the natural surface of pine, linden, walnut, oak will make the cooking zone comfortable and sincere. Beautiful additions to the tree are offered by nature itself: it is grassy green, grayish tones of stones, blue shades of water and sky, an autumn palette from amber yellow to chocolate.
Yellow
This color will light up and warm your little kitchen if the sun rarely enters its window. In combination with spring orange, light green, pink, white, this shade can be both a background and a bright accent. Exquisitely yellow looks among the purple and gray interior details.
Green color
The life-affirming tone of young foliage is one of the best options for the design of a small kitchen in Khrushchev. You can paint the walls in this color or use it for decorative elements. With varnished wood, orange, gray, pink and brown surfaces, it will look just perfect.
Red color
This rich color attracts attention, but at the same time visually takes up a lot of space. Therefore, in Khrushchev’s cuisine, it must be used carefully, as a small addition or contrasting finish.
Pastel shades
If any color is mixed with white, it acquires a gentle lightness. Surrounded by pastel colors, there is a feeling of calm, harmony, purity. It is an ideal choice for a small space, giving it airiness.
Complementing bleached shades is better with saturated colors, but not bright. For example, you can combine light violet with purple; transparent blue with turquoise; milk with the color of coffee.
Finishing and materials for the kitchen in Khrushchev
In the decoration of any kitchen, it is important to find a balance between the beauty and practicality of materials. They must be moisture resistant, easy to wash, and some also withstand heavy mechanical stress.
Floor
The most affordable option for finishing the floor in such a room is linoleum. It is inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing and very easy to clean. For a more refined kitchen design in Khrushchev, large ceramic tiles of light colors will be suitable (by the way, very little will be needed). A floor made of small, eye-catching elements can visually reduce space. Laminate 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 impractical to lay natural wooden parquet in the cooking zone - dirt will fall into the cracks between the elements, and traces may remain from a hot pot or water puddle.
Walls
Since condensation can form on the walls, they are optimally painted with water-repellent enamel or pasted over with washable vinyl wallpaper.
The most expensive, but environmentally friendly way - again, ceramic tiles. It is better to choose glossy, medium size, without contrasting details.Light colors and almost imperceptible small patterns (for example, golden flowers with curls on a sandy background; silver shimmer on white; imitation of brick or stone masonry) will help to add volume to the kitchen. The vertical lines on the walls visually make the ceiling higher than it actually is. And for better reflection of light - it is worth using mirrors.
Ceiling
It is enough to level the ceiling in the kitchen in Khrushchev with plaster or thin plasterboard and paint it with moisture-resistant light paint (dark or saturated will reduce the space). Options with a stretch film, hanging beams, pvc panels in such apartments will only reduce the height and turn an already small room into a closet.
Textile
Kitchen curtains, tablecloths, towels and napkins often require washing. Stains are most easily removed from synthetic fabrics, so for everyday use it is better to choose high-quality polyester. It looks no worse than cotton or linen products, 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 color with 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 the kitchen in Khrushchev is a suite, 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, glass elements. Dark matte surfaces are more suitable for spacious rooms, but luminous glossy ones are an ideal solution in the interior of a small kitchen.
To optimize the space, it is better to buy built-in appliances first, and then order furniture with connectors by the standards of the stove, oven, refrigerator, sink. The apron covering the hood can be matched to the color of the technique or in the style of the headset itself.
Dinner Zone
To place a full-fledged table in the 5-meter Khrushchev’s kitchen is an almost impossible task. In a studio apartment, it can be replaced by a bar, which will simultaneously serve as a partition. Folding furniture, wide height-adjustable window sills, folding tables can also be a good solution.
Storage systems
Before you buy or order a kitchen set, you need to consider where the dishes, small appliances and products will be stored. This will help to provide sections of suitable sizes, instruct the manufacturer to make the right number of drawers, shelves and niches. It is very important that the furniture does not absorb moisture and is easy to clean.
As for space saving, it can be achieved by increasing the height of the cabinets to the ceiling level and using the corner area to the maximum. It is convenient to place rotating carousels in them. Cookbooks, 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 of a free wall.
Refrigerator in the kitchen in Hrushevka - where to place it?
The question of where to put a large-sized 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 the Khrushchev. The best way out of this situation will be - the built-in model.
An interesting solution would be to place a low refrigeration chamber (or even two) in a free niche under the windowsill, after removing the old cast-iron battery from there. A low refrigerator can also fit under a sink or countertop.
Proper lighting of the kitchen
What certainly does not need to be done in a small kitchen is to hang a large chandelier.2-4 point lamps mounted in the ceiling will look much better. Additional LEDs can be installed above the dining area, worktop and stovetop.
If the soul still asks for hanging lampshades, then it is better to place them above the bar counter or the central part of the countertop.
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 already implemented in small rooms that can be taken into service and turn a dull Soviet life into a bright modern fairy tale.
Video: Design of a small kitchen in Khrushchev 4-5-6 sq.m.