Inhabitants of apartments built in the 50-60s often have to put up with crowding. But there are tangible advantages in this: firstly, a small amount of materials will be needed for repairs; secondly - all things can be placed at hand; thirdly, a compact room is easier to clean. In addition, a small room warms up faster. All these advantages fully apply to the bathroom, and organizing a bathroom space with comfort and coziness is a matter of several days. About how to properly design a bathroom in Khrushchev, read this article!
Redevelopment of the bathroom in Khrushchev
Perhaps the only way to really expand the bathroom area in the Soviet apartment is to remove the partition and combine it with the toilet, pantry or part of the corridor.
Considering that such changes in high-rise buildings can affect the neighbors' housing or the structure as a whole, the law obliges owners to agree on future redevelopment, as well as any shift or increase in the number of sanitary equipment in government architecture services. The list of required documents and the name of the authorities in a particular locality can be obtained from a lawyer or at the nearest housing office.
It should be noted that a separate bathroom is more convenient in everyday life, especially if more than one person lives in the apartment. The erection of the wall and the creation of a separate entrance for the toilet is also considered a redevelopment. In order to do without bureaucratic conventions and save resources, a combined room can simply be zoned with a partial partition or a screen.
Choosing an interior style
It would seem, what kind of style can we talk about on some 2.5-3 square meters? But it is the persistence of all the details in a single ensemble that will make the interior of the bathroom in Khrushchev truly truly comfortable and aesthetic.
Modern style bathroom
The simplicity and functionality inherent in the modern style is perfectly suited for the arrangement of a small bathroom. The combination of discreet plain surfaces, mirror and matte textures, the use of innovative materials and comfortable sanitary ware will turn the former Soviet bathroom into a convenient spa.
Classic bathroom
Making Khrushchev’s bathtub in a classic style is an ideal choice for connoisseurs of luxury. A light warm palette will give the room a special soft glow, and golden and beige accents on a cream background will give a feeling of sublime harmony.
Provence style bathroom
In spring, tender Provence, no doubt, will appeal to romantic natures. This style is characterized by soft pastel shades, small floral patterns, vintage furniture. In general, it creates a feeling of airiness and rustic simplicity.
Minimalist style bathroom
Achromatic colors, clear lines, neat shapes and lack of decor distinguish the minimalist style from the rest. With such an interior, the bathroom in Khrushchev will always look clean and spacious.
Scandinavian style bathroom
Northern European design is winter paints and natural textures. Of the colors used are snow-white, transparent-ice, stone gray, navy blue, black, bleached wood.
The “Scandinavian” bathroom looks beautifully like patchwork tiles with ethnic patterns, monochrome rhombuses, as well as other geometric patterns.
Color solutions for the bathroom in Khrushchev
In order not to overload the interior, the bathroom should be decorated in bright colors, combining no more than 2-3 colors.Achromatic white, gray and black - easily mix both with each other and with all other shades, and Itten's special color wheel, which is often used by designers, will help to choose bright colors harmoniously.
White bathroom
White color is an integral attribute of any bathroom, and having designed a bathroom in Khrushchev in this color, you can visually increase its space. White perfectly looks both on its own, without any splashes, and as the main background for darker, more saturated details.
Pastel Bathroom
Pastels are called very light colors, as if a few drops of pigment were added to a jar of white paint. Delicate lavender, creamy, mint, transparent blue and flower pink colors create a soft, relaxing atmosphere in a small bathroom.
Gray bathroom
Besides the fact that the gray color is very calm and versatile, it is also practical. Drops of condensation, dust or darkened areas are almost invisible on such a finish.
White plumbing, as well as various green, red or yellow elements, will help to add brightness and warm notes to this monochrome color.
Beige bathroom
Light tones of coffee with milk are very often used for interior design of bathrooms in Khrushchev. The white ceramic surface, mirrors and metal fittings (especially golden) look good in their surroundings.
To add depth to the beige color, it is combined with chocolate brown accents.
Blue bathroom
The color of water and sky is one of the most successful solutions for a small bathroom with an area of 2-3 sq.m. In the interior, it is desirable to dilute this color with white, or combine a transparent shade with a more saturated one. The blue bathroom in Khrushchev will become a truly paradise, where you can relax after a hard day.
Finishing a bathroom in Khrushchev
When choosing a bathroom decoration, it is better to give preference to moisture-resistant and environmentally friendly materials. Their high cost will pay off with a long service life, aesthetic appearance and safety for health, while cheap substitutes may require a replacement in a year or two.
Floor
Before laying the top layer of the cladding, the bathroom floor in Khrushchev must be waterproofed, and it is advisable to lay heating mats on top of the sand on top of it. This will ensure a comfortable temperature at any time, regardless of the heating situation.
The surface of the floor is best made light and plain. Of the materials suitable tiles (square or hexagonal, large or medium size), porcelain stoneware, concrete or polymer composition (bulk floor).
Plinths can be used ceramic and plastic - they will not deform, like wooden ones, and also will not be covered with rust, like metal ones.
Walls
The easiest way to decorate the walls in the bathroom is to paint them. For this purpose, moisture-resistant emulsions are suitable - water-dispersed acrylic and latex. They should contain antibacterial substances that prevent the formation of mold. To get rid of small cracks on the plaster and get a beautiful texture, the walls can be pasted over with glass wallpaper that holds firmly and retains the relief even under 10-15 layers of paint.
From ceramic tiles for the bathroom in Khrushchev, the following varieties are suitable:
1. Large, bright and plain, square or rectangular. It is advisable to combine it with more saturated fragments or patterned borders.
2. White, under silicate brickwork. This tile will be the best solution for the interior of the bathroom in the Scandinavian style or loft style. It can be faced with some kind of recess, one or two adjacent walls, and the rest can be left smoothly painted.
3. Mosaic tiles. In a small bathroom, tiny iridescent pixels will look very fresh and unusual.They often cover not only the walls, but also the side surface of the bath.
Less common, but also quite acceptable options for finishing the bathroom in Khrushchev are plastic panels, washable vinyl wallpapers, stone veneer, and polymer decorative stone. Narrow mirror inserts (stickers) will help to achieve a very interesting effect.
Ceiling
The best way to visually increase the height of any room is a glossy stretch film of white color. But also for a bathroom in Khrushchev, the usual white painting, fiberglass, slatted ceiling or suspended plastic structures are also perfect.
In general, the ceiling in a small bathroom should be just plain and bright, without noticeable contrasts or overhanging elements.
Placement of furniture, appliances and accessories
Even in the smallest space, everything you need can fit if you are smart and move away from outdated ideas about the interior of the bathroom. Fortunately, a huge selection of plumbing, furniture, accessories and other useful products of various shapes and sizes is now available on the market.
Bath
If a standard oval bathtub takes up too much space in the Khrushchev bathroom, it can be replaced. A perfect solution would be a rectangular model, angular, teardrop-shaped or asymmetric, with complex kinks, in which one edge is narrow and the other wide.
Right angles and lines are good because there is no gap between the bathroom and the wall, so the space is used as efficiently as possible, and it’s convenient in terms of cleaning.
Shower stall
Place at the same time on 2-3 sq.m. a bath and shower is hardly realistic, but if you add a booth with a deep tray, you get a good bathing capacity. Boxing itself is desirable to choose an angular or clear rectangular shape, a height of 2 meters or more (depending on the growth of users).
Since there is a bit of free space in the Khrushchev bathroom, it is worth giving preference to models with sliding rather than swing doors.
Sink and toilet
To save space, compact overhead and overhead washbasins are suitable - rectangular or angular. They can be placed on top of the nightstand, washing machine or even above the bathroom.
The toilet is also better to choose a small one, with a narrow tank and a side drain button. If possible, it would be nice to hide the tank itself in a niche, wall or pencil case.
Washing machine
In a small bathroom there is always a place for a neat side-loading washing machine. Such a model can fit under the sink, in a niche behind the toilet, on the bottom shelf of the cabinet or under the water heater.
If none of these options is suitable, you can purchase a hanging machine - it looks like a voluminous wall clock and is mounted on any free area, even under the ceiling.
Lockers and shelves
A place for storing household chemicals, cosmetics, hygiene products and clean towels should be provided at the stage of repair planning.
To prevent the space of this tiny room from becoming cluttered, it is advisable to hide all these things behind opaque facades. If you make the doors plain, without handles and the color of the walls, the design of the bathroom in Khrushchev will look very stylish, and the mirror surfaces will give it volume.
Under the cabinets and narrow pencil cases, it is necessary to use the maximum vertical space, corners, a place above the front door.
Proper lighting in the bathroom
The best lighting option for the bathroom in Khrushchev is the point-in-point mortise diode lamps on the ceiling. Compact sconces can be hung above or on the sides of the mirror.
Another interesting way to highlight a mirror is to place a flexible luminous tape around the perimeter. The same technique is suitable for the ceiling and floor.
In order to avoid short circuits, it is better to entrust the installation of wiring and lighting devices to qualified specialists, and during operation, make sure that water does not get on electrical communications.
In the bathroom it is dangerous to use ordinary incandescent lamps - they get very hot and from the slightest drop can simply burst, scattering sparks in all directions. But with LED-lighting no problems.
Design of bathrooms in Khrushchev - photo
Below is a selection of photos with examples of how a new bathroom renovation in Khrushchev might look like. It is hard to believe that in the place of these incredibly beautiful, modern and functional interiors, there were previously unsightly Soviet bathrooms.
Here you will find unusual design solutions, fresh ideas, as well as inspirational images that will help turn your bathroom into a cozy island of peace and relaxation.
Video: Bathroom in Khrushchev - design ideas