In a private house      10/26/2023

Coordination of the redevelopment of the Khrushchev building. Options for redevelopment of a Khrushchev building Redevelopment of an apartment in a five-story building

If there is not enough imagination for arranging the apartment, or factors that simply cannot be neglected are included, then redevelopment of Khrushchev as such it becomes simply inevitable. It’s quite easy to turn such an apartment into an attractive modern home if you move the walls a little and swap the rooms according to their functional purpose. However, there are also plenty of examples in which you don’t need to do anything, and you can get by solely with visual, design techniques that will help you quickly and effectively optimize the area.


Redevelopment of Khrushchev photo

Before touching on already completed projects redevelopment of Khrushchev buildings, photo which you can find, including in our article, you need to decide whether your apartment is exactly that and in general, what distinctive features of the building represent opportunities and strengths for us, and what threats and weaknesses we must definitely pay our attention to.

Most common project redevelopment of Khrushchev - 2-room apartment in which both rooms intended for residential areas are adjacent. In addition, the plan features low ceilings, a very small hallway, and a tiny kitchen and bathroom. The peculiarity of the room, which is destined by fate and the authors of the project to be a bedroom, is its unusual shape, it is very elongated in plan, narrow, there is literally only one double bed in it and there is a certain amount of ineffective, unused free space.


But the bedroom is not the only “weak spot”; there is another problem. If it is not remodeled and used exclusively as provided by the project, then even a refrigerator will not fit in it, which, for greater family convenience, is often placed in the hallway. It should also be taken into account that the needs of each specific family are completely individual, so you can and should fill and redesign the space to suit yourself. By the way, this does not necessarily mean that there are fewer rooms; there are options in which after redevelopment of Khrushchev 2 rooms turn into three, or even four.


Let us consider, for a clear example, the most typical situation redevelopment of 2 Khrushchev buildings, photo one example of which you will see in the next section. The layout of the rooms in the basic configuration is standard - at the entrance there is a tiny, completely useless hallway, from which you can immediately go to the bathroom, so small that only a sit-up bathtub or a small shower tray will fit there. If there is not much logic in the actions of the designers in this case, then there will be no more logic. Walking into the largest living room, you find yourself in a central space from which you can enter the tiny kitchen, access the balcony, enter the bedroom or open a small pantry. It was probably assumed that it was in this room that 90% of the time of the person living here would be spent. Is it any wonder that the overwhelming majority wants to radically change this?


Redevelopment of Khrushchev-era rooms photo

To correct and bring to mind what the builders have given us, they most often use moving, dismantling, or vice versa, erecting partitions. You remember, of course, that a mandatory point of the repair program will be in the manner prescribed by law, otherwise there is a big risk that when checking or, for example, selling, donating, and so on, you will be required to return at your own expense to its original appearance. That's why any redevelopment of Khrushchev-era rooms, photo which you will enjoy and will inspire you to achieve, must be officially authorized and calculated. The advantages include the fact that the walls in such buildings can be dismantled quite simply due to their small width and the building materials that were used for them, so you will not have any technical difficulties.


Let's return to the promised example redevelopment of a 2-room Khrushchev house, the plan of which is the most typical at the beginning of work. The first option for change is simply obvious - to block the door from the corridor to the bathroom, eliminate the partition between the living room and kitchen. What we end up with: it has a small exit into the room, which allows you to place even a small wardrobe for outerwear in it; thanks to the absence of a door, the kitchen boundaries merge and a comfortable dining area with a large table and chairs is installed between it and the living room. A false wall is made on the unused part, behind which there will be a study, and a functional and very spacious dressing room will be equipped inside the bedroom.

In the second proposal, fairly large pieces are plucked off from the living room for the benefit of the kitchen and the creation of a useful storage room, while since the kitchen is already quite large, a piece is also plucked off from it to expand the bathroom, now a full-size bathroom will fit there quite comfortably. The most progressive ones are also used here, such as a glass sliding wall between it and the living room to prevent smells and sounds from coming inside. Another useful acquisition was the door to the dressing room from the hall, so that you could take things without going into the bedroom.

The third interesting example is getting rid of the main problem, “thanks to” which a two-room apartment looks more like a walk-through room. This is extremely inconvenient, especially if at least two generations of residents live in the house. To fix this, the corridor needs to be extended to the bedroom and to the kitchen; for this, the area of ​​the hall is literally cut off in a circle. As a result, you lose a large common room, but you get two full and comfortable bedrooms.


Redevelopment of a 2-room Khrushchev house

Another great example continues the theme. redevelopment of 2 room Khrushchev house, which falls into the third category of our previous review, that is, the standard plan is divided so as to create two self-contained rooms. But unlike that example, inside the small room in the middle there will be not a living room, but a bedroom.


The calm, clean white tones chosen for the design are interspersed with bright turquoise and green accents, creating a fresh and very fashionable look for the room. The kitchen is left with less space due to the expansion of the bathroom, but here you must choose according to your taste which of the functional areas you are willing to sacrifice. Interesting features not of the project itself, but of its design are the use of a single floor covering in the hallway and in the kitchen, which visually unites these two zones, as well as the formation of an apron over the kitchen work surface made of brick, and the use of modern multifunctional furniture, shelving, compartments in which arranged in a chaotic manner.


In the next project redevelopment of Khrushchev 3 rooms have already undergone changes. Fortunately, in this particular project there were no load-bearing walls, so the designers were able to play around with moving and building walls to make it as comfortable as possible. All recommendations were taken into account here and maximum space was freed up, a storage system was invented in numerous closets, and the rooms themselves turned out to be small, but very attractive in appearance.


Transformation after redevelopment of 2 Khrushchev buildings in one single studio it will be convenient. Who lives alone or for a small family of two people. In this case, the changes in the configuration of most walls are quite significant, but the living space has acquired the features of an open space, which is quite relevant today; all corners and living areas can be used without leaving the confines of a single room, it is bright, filled with space and air.


Khrushchev building without redevelopment

No less popular, despite all of the above, and Khrushchev without redevelopment, since not everyone wants to deal with the complex process of legalization and obtaining permits for repairs. But you want to live comfortably in such an apartment, so it’s worth taking into account examples of a designer’s approach to the arrangement of standard two-room or one-room apartments.


In the photo you can see a project in which the changes practically did not affect the load-bearing structures; the premises remained small in nature, but at the same time they accommodate everything you need for a comfortable stay. A technique that allows you to visually enlarge the space is to use white for walls and furniture, without bright color accents or attention-grabbing nuances. The sophistication of the kitchen and bathroom is given by magnificent oriental-style tiles, which create a fabulous, magical mood. The narrow and long bedroom, which is a standard drawback, is left in its original form here, only the bed is moved as close as possible to the window, and the window itself is decorated with useful and very attractive-looking shelving. Plus, the window sill is made in the form of a small sofa, on which it will be comfortable to sit while looking out the window, or to engage in your favorite hobby.


Khrushchev building without redevelopment photo


If you approach the question intelligently, then any Khrushchev building without redevelopment, photo which you can see both in our article and on the Internet, you will be able to satisfy both your practical and aesthetic needs. Such an apartment is quite capable of becoming a pride, a reliable and beloved family nest for you and your children, a place to which you would like to return with pleasure.


Fill your apartment with furniture and textiles to your liking, just remember that fashionable minimalism will be much more preferable than a full classic of objects and decorative elements, and for convenience and a comfortable life we ​​do not always need all those items that sometimes litter our homes. Take a good look at roller blinds, sliding doors, complex multi-functional furniture such as wardrobes, folding beds, sofas, and built-in kitchen appliances. All these techniques will allow you to free up quite a lot of free usable space.


June 27, 2016
Specialization: philological education. Work experience as a builder - 20 years. Of these, for the last 15 years he led a team as a foreman. I know everything about construction - from design and zero cycle to interior design. Hobbies: Vocals, psychology, quail breeding.

Greetings, my dear readers!

Once built to solve the acute housing crisis, the Khrushchev buildings are now perceived by us as an example of the worst, but cheap, architectural solutions. And the original design of the two-room Khrushchev apartment is depressing. Such dwellings are similar to twins, have small rooms and low ceilings.

Few people are happy with this situation, and there are ways out of it. I will talk about them in my article.

A little history

“Khrushchev” is what our people call brick or panel two- to five-story apartment buildings that were built in the USSR, starting from the reign of N.S. Khrushchev.

The construction of such houses lasted from 1958 to 1985. In total, 290 million m² of such housing were built.

  1. In Khrushchev buildings there are 1-, 2-, and occasionally 3-room apartments.
  2. The ceiling height is 250–260 cm, in block buildings of some of the series it is 270 cm.
  3. The kitchen area ranges from 4.9 m² to 7.1 (in apartments of series 2-18 - up to 7.5).
  4. Khrushchev apartments are characterized by: more often a combined, less often separate, bathroom, adjacent living spaces (bedroom and living room), poor sound insulation of partitions and missing elevators.

Nobody argues that such apartments are no different in terms of convenience and large volume.
But I want to remind you that for their time they were happiness for the Soviet people.
For example, the housing standard (increased) for each resident of Moscow was only 4 square meters. meters of area.
Many families huddled in communal apartments with only one bathroom and a common kitchen.

What apartments are called “Khrushchevka”

Before a substantive conversation about how you can improve the interior of a two-room Khrushchev house, I will tell you what actually needs to be improved. Namely, about the most common layouts of such apartments.

  1. Series No. 1-335 is a common project of panel houses, it has been built since 1958. The buildings have a prefabricated reinforced concrete frame and panel external walls. A similar layout is popularly called a “book”. The apartments have a total area of ​​41 m² and adjoining rooms. One of the worst episodes.

  1. Series No. K-7 is the first project from a series of Khrushchev buildings. Designed by architect V.P. Lagutenko based on French panel five-story buildings. The layout is popularly nicknamed “tram”. Premises area (total) 48 sq. meters. The rooms are adjacent, but can be easily separated during redevelopment.

  1. Series No. 1-464 is one of the most common, built since 1960. The external walls are 35 cm thick and made of panels covered with tiles. Reinforced concrete floors. Very poor vibration isolation. Total area 44.6 m².
    The series is nicknamed “mini-improved”, because... similar to the layout of 9-story buildings. The rooms are isolated, the kitchen is small. It is possible to increase it to 8 m².

  1. Series No. 438 was designed in the Kiev design bureau "Giprograd" (Kyiv) in 1958. The buildings of the project are frameless, have a rubble concrete foundation and longitudinal external walls made of brick. The total volume of the apartment is 46 m².
    The popular name is “vest” or “butterfly”. Its wings are like 2 identical and symmetrical rooms. They are insulated and have a good area.

What to think about first

Start the complete reconstruction of the Khrushchev apartment with the most important question: who will live in it: a single person, a childless family, a young couple with one child or several children. The answer to this question most directly determines the major restructuring and zoning of the interior space of the apartment.

  1. If a family has a child, then one of the rooms is designated as a nursery, the other becomes both a parent’s bedroom and a guest room.
  2. For a childless couple or a single person, it is logical to divide the home into two functional areas - a guest room and a bedroom.

Technology 1: about possible redevelopment

Repair with redevelopment is an opportunity to radically change the configuration of a home. This is a way to correct the shortcomings of the apartment, purchase additional space or optimally redistribute it. In addition, you get the chance to tailor your living space to your chosen interior style.

I want to warn you right away that the possibilities of redevelopment may be significantly limited by the technical features of the house:

  • his age;
  • location of load-bearing structures, including walls;
  • location of windows and doors.

In most cases, redevelopment in Khrushchev consists of merging the kitchen and the adjacent room.
However, there is a certain difficulty here.
Namely: according to the current regulations, it is prohibited to combine a living room and a gasified kitchen without installing a partition between them (it can also be a sliding one).

Where to begin

As the owner of a home in an apartment building, you do not have the right to do whatever you want with it. The law imposes a certain responsibility on you, as stated in the Housing Code of Russia.

It defines what redevelopment and reconstruction in an apartment is.

  1. In the first case, the configuration of residential premises changes. All changes made should be included in the registration certificate of the home.
  2. The second term refers to the installation, replacement or transfer of utilities, electrical, plumbing, ventilation and other equipment. Such actions must also be included in the apartment technical passport.
  3. Before redevelopment and reconstruction, it is necessary to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. If you don't do this, you may be fined and forced to return everything to its original form.

If you do not demolish the load-bearing structures or move the kitchen to the balcony, into the living space, you will receive permission to redevelop without any problems. The great advantage of “Khrushchev” buildings is that their internal walls are not load-bearing.

Therefore, after approval and issuance of a permit, you can remove them, create new openings for doors, etc. This significantly increases the possibilities for redevelopment in such an apartment.

Such operations are classified as “simple redevelopment”. They are easier to coordinate; in order to obtain permission, there is no need to make a project. It will be enough to make all changes to the apartment plan located in its registration certificate.

Variations of redevelopments

The interior of a two-room Khrushchev apartment is extremely inconvenient: cramped rooms with a low ceiling, a tiny hallway, a tiny bathroom. These problems should be resolved through redevelopment.

Below I present the most common varieties.

  1. Demolition of the partition separating the living room from the kitchen. As a result, you get a bedroom and a dining room-guest kitchen.
  2. Removing the partition between living rooms. As a result, you get a studio apartment. As a variation, you can choose to dismantle both interior partitions and reduce the volume of the bedroom using a plasterboard partition. Or you can zone the resulting room by separating the bedroom with a screen.
  3. You can add a little space by glazing the balcony and expanding the room due to it.
  4. Redevelopment often concerns the bathroom. If it is separate, by demolishing the partition between the bathroom and toilet, you will get a combined room and about 2 m² of free space. Another variation is to add a little volume to the bathroom by adding a piece of the hallway.

  1. The most radical type of redevelopment is to demolish all non-load-bearing partitions (except for the bathroom), then zone the resulting room using design solutions or light partitions. As a result, you will find a comfortable studio apartment. This option is suitable for a single person or a family without children.

A little about possible options for redevelopment of housing of specific series.

  1. Series No. 1-335 (“book”). The main problem here is the entrance hall. Redevelopment will make it possible to isolate the room. This will have to be done by reducing the already small volume of the bedroom. The kitchen can be expanded with such a layout only by merging it with the living room.

  1. Series No. K-7 (“tram”). It also makes it possible to make both living rooms isolated during redevelopment. The main disadvantage of the series is the inability to expand the kitchen with your own hands without combining it with the living space. This cannot always be done.
    Of course, there will be a loss of space, but they can be balanced by a voluminous wardrobe. An area will be freed up for it in the space between the rooms. The volume of the reduced room remaining after redevelopment will still be relatively comfortable. To visually enlarge it, use design techniques (more on them below).

  1. Series No. 1-464 (“mini-improved”). When remodeling it, it becomes possible to significantly expand the kitchen area and increase it to 8 square meters. meters. To do this, you need to remove the pantry (it will be replaced by a wardrobe), move the toilet in its place, and install a bathroom in its former area.

Technology 2: ways to increase the functionality of a space

Zoning is a simple, cheap and effective method of organizing space with a high degree of convenience of living.

Apartment zoning

It makes it possible to divide the home into sections, each of which will have its own functional purpose.

  1. Guest-dining-kitchen is the most common option when zoning. It is recreated by merging the kitchen and the adjacent living space. A dining area is created at the dividing line between the living room and kitchen. Additionally, in one corner you can allocate an area for an office.
  2. Bedroom-living room, this variation is possible without redevelopment. In this case, the first room is reserved for the nursery. The second room becomes multifunctional. It is zoned by transformable furniture (bed-wardrobe, bed-sofa) or by installing a partition that will ensure the intimacy of the bedroom. The partition will allow you to create a work area in one corner.
  3. Study-living room. Here it will be enough to separate a working area in the hall. You can zone it using a screen, double-sided shelving or a light partition.

  1. Office-bedroom. In this case, a work area is separated in the rest room. A good option is if the bed is foldable or transformable.
  2. Guest dressing room. A closed or open wardrobe can be easily integrated into any interior. It can be equipped with a spacious room or be a section of the room zoned by a partition.

Visual expansion of space

If for one reason or another you cannot remodel and add additional space to your living area, do not despair. I will introduce you to some tricks that will allow you to visually enlarge a small room.

  1. When thinking about the design of an apartment in a two-room Khrushchev building, pay especially close attention to the color scheme of its design. Use light and pastel colors - they visually expand the space. Saturated and bright colors, on the contrary, reduce it.
  2. Small patterns on the wall cladding also visually enlarge the room.
  3. The ceiling must be painted in a light tone; the closer it is to white, the better. An excellent option for this is glossy tension cladding. The dark color of the ceiling will be psychologically oppressive and will visually lower its height.
  4. A multi-level gypsum board ceiling with bright spot lighting will visually increase the height of the walls.
  5. The flooring should be light or have the same color palette as the rest of the room. Please note that a bright floor finish will visually raise the ceiling and expand the walls.

  1. In no case should any piece of furniture in a Khrushchev-era building play the role of an accent. The best option is that their upholstery should match the tone of the curtains and walls.

Mirrors and glass make rooms lighter and more spacious, because they have the property of reflecting natural and artificial light.
However, I urge you to be careful when using them and not to use such small surfaces. The effect will be the opposite.

  1. Well-chosen photo wallpapers can visually expand the room. Do you know what perspective is? She is able to visually enlarge the space endlessly.

Technology 3, which interior style to choose

When choosing an interior style, remember that as a result of your efforts you should get an objective: aesthetic, practical and functional space that will be perceived by you subjectively: as comfortable and convenient.

You may be faced with the question of whether to decorate the rooms in the same style or choose different directions?

  1. The overall design will allow you to unite the space and build a logical and holistic concept of your home. This approach is optimal if the rooms are walk-through. I want to warn you that a single style can only imply a general idea. You will have freedom in choosing a color palette, accents and design trends.
  2. In a Khrushchev house with initially isolated rooms (for example, in a “vest”) or with a semi-studio redevelopment (bedroom and kitchen combined with a living room), the rooms can be decorated in two different styles.
  3. Studios are most often decorated in modern styles. They focus on the functionality of the interior and emphasize the free space. For the relaxation room, a soft, intimate style is relevant, focusing on the coziness and comfort of the space.
  4. Almost always, a home with a children's room is decorated in different directions.

When choosing an interior style, the characteristics of the room and the possibilities of its space are of great importance.
For example, it is very difficult to recreate the baroque aesthetics in a cramped apartment.
The premises will simply “drown”, overloaded with numerous accessories and massive decor.

So, what styles are most suitable for Khrushchev?

Scandinavian style

The style has a Nordic character: it is laconic, light, light, distinguished by grace and simplicity. The aesthetics of the direction are very flexible; it can be recreated both with an abundance of free space and in a cramped apartment.

  1. The Scandinavian interior is extremely ergonomic: it excludes random and non-functional elements, everything is aimed at recreating the convenience and comfort of living. The space should be as open and light as possible, with plenty of air and light. It should not be cluttered; it should be restrained, but without asceticism.
  2. Color range: soft light colors, pastels are optimal. Their weightlessness and airiness will be well emphasized by the rich and bright colors of textiles, decorative details and accessories.
  3. The coloristic concept of the Scandinavian style is based on the combination of snow-white walls, the natural color of solid wood furniture and spectacular decorative elements.

  1. Surfaces are covered with natural or as close as possible textures and materials. There should be a lot of wood in the interior. It can be combined with natural stone, brick, light ceramic tiles, metal (it’s good if it is aged).
  2. Furniture should have a laconic form and carry a clear functional load. The style is characterized by the use of closed systems for storing things.
  3. Another feature of the direction is the active use of bright textiles and carpets, skins, rugs, which enhance the feeling of comfort and warmth.

Dynamic high-tech

In essence, this style is the artistic embodiment of the era of high technology. The direction is intended for people who are mobile, dynamic and active. I warn you that the style is clearly not suitable for a child’s room, but for a teenager it’s just right.

  1. Basics of style: maximum functionality of the interior, clarity of horizontal and vertical lines, abundance of metal, plastic and glass in the rooms.
  2. The walls should be monochrome and have a minimum of texture; liquid wallpaper or painting are optimal for finishing them. It is best to choose glossy stretch ceilings.
  3. Floors - glossy self-leveling or porcelain stoneware are optimal. The style does not accept parquet and carpets. As an option, you can choose PVC linoleum or minimally fleecy carpet.
  4. Main palette: black, white, light gray or metallic with specks of bright colors (blue, scarlet, yellow, orange, etc.).

  1. Furniture should have a clear geometric shape; non-standard items made of plastic, glass and chromed steel are especially welcome. For example, glass shelves or tabletops of regular rectangular or round shape, chairs with metal legs, plastic backs and seats.
  2. Regarding lighting: there are many built-in devices, they are used in conjunction with busbar or small pendant halogen lamps. The light should be bright and only white. Lighting devices should be light and have a simple shape: cylinder, sphere, truncated cone, rectangle.
  3. The decor should be restrained with a minimum of accessories; abstract paintings, posters, photographs in thin metal frames are welcome.
  4. The style involves the use of a large number of household appliances: a home theater or a large flat-screen TV, a computer with a plastic monitor and a case decorated with LED strip, etc.

Country of southern France - Provence

The design of a 2-room apartment in Khrushchev can also be decorated in Provence style. This warm and gentle trend originated in the south of France, and is a type of country and ethnic style at the same time. It is well suited for decorating small spaces.

  1. The color palette in the direction is saturated, however, not bright. Restrained, muted tones are preferred: pastel, white, milky, beige, olive green, ocher, sea green, lavender and light shades of blue. In this case, the surfaces should look slightly faded, faded under the hot rays of the sun of southern France.
  2. The interior should be bright, saturated with natural light. The walls are often painted, and often they are deliberately rough whitewashed. Occasionally, paper wallpaper is used for wall cladding.

  1. Floors made from rough boards or ceramic tiles are welcome. The ceiling must be painted; suspended and tension structures are excluded.
  2. Furniture must be painted, really antique or artificially aged. You can make it look as if it has served for many decades using various effects. For example, “flaking” paint, “traces” of woodworms, chips. Truly antique items are especially valued, for example, an old chest or chest of drawers that have served for more than one generation.
  3. Curtains and drapes should be light and airy.

  1. There should be a lot of accessories and decorative elements: ruffles, cutwork, ceramic figurines, paintings with pastoral motifs in simple frames, sewing, both fresh and artificial flowers.

Functional minimalism

This European trend was most directly influenced by Japanese style.

  1. The basis of his aesthetics are elegance, simplicity, laconic form and functionality. In a minimalist interior, rationality dominates over decorativeness.
  2. The space is clearly geometric. Its harmony, according to minimalism, lies in impeccable practicality, in which all elements have a functional purpose.
  3. Color palette: pure tones of red, white, black, gray. It is worth noting that white, as a rule, serves as a background color, and black and gray are used as complementary contrasts.
  4. The walls are covered with decorative plaster, painted, and finished with liquid wallpaper or PVC panels. The top of the premises is lined with simple, even structures made of gypsum plasterboard or a suspended ceiling with built-in lamps. The floor is covered with monochrome flooring: cork, boards, laminate, parquet. A plain carpet with the lowest pile will also work.
  5. The aesthetics of minimalism does not completely reject decoration. Its single, extremely expressive elements will add emotion to the design of the premises, enlivening the interior. So, you can play on contrasts by using unusual, exotic objects in an ascetic environment.
  6. Instructions for furniture. It should have a clear, simple, geometrically correct shape with ideal proportions. The items are functional, with light silhouettes.
  7. Metal and glass are welcome: metal shelving and furniture legs, glass shelves and tabletops. Upholstered furniture should have a rectangular shape and natural upholstery (linen, cotton).

Note! There should not be a lot of furniture in minimalism. Moreover, she seems to dissolve in her surroundings. For example, racks, shelves, built-in cabinets should look like an integral part of the walls.

Exquisite art deco

Art Deco transforms Khrushchev into a sophisticated and modern space, combining classics and new trends.

  1. Coloristic concept of style – experiments and creativity. The most common background colors are: sapphire, purple, emerald, ruby ​​red. Complementary colors (golden, blue, black, metallic) are used as a bright contrast or to set off the background.
  2. Art Deco actively uses the “bright spot” accentuation design technique. It can be one wall or a large piece of furniture.
  3. The direction is characterized by an abundance of decorative elements. Things made in one copy are especially in demand. That is, exclusive items and decorations. Their materials should be expensive: bronze, snake and crocodile skin, elephant tusks, semi-precious stones, rare crystals, rhinoceros horn, exotic wood (abash, aile, ebony, sandalwood, mahogany, etc.).

  1. In addition, the interior can be decorated with mirrors, expensive porcelain, embroidered pillows, wooden inlay, figurines, and ethnic crafts from Asia, Africa, and South America. They will add emotion and expression to the design.

I would like to especially note that an interior in the art deco style should evoke a feeling of incompleteness of the composition. It kind of allows you to continue decorating and decorating the space further.

The so-called “Khrushchevka” are apartments in houses built in the 60s of the last century. They were built on the principle of “quickly and a lot.” They have everything you need for existence, but they are small and not always comfortable for life. Therefore, many people dare to redevelop them.

Peculiarities

An ordinary Khrushchev apartment consists of small rooms, often adjacent, with a combined toilet and bathroom, a small 6-meter kitchen, and low ceilings. Often in such apartments there are uncomfortable corridors, closets, dark rooms, mezzanines where all sorts of rubbish is stored. The location of the premises in the Khrushchev building is also inconvenient. In walk-through rooms it is impossible to conveniently arrange furniture, since it is necessary to leave space for passage to another room. There is unused space in the hallway and corridor where no furniture can fit.

It is not surprising that the owners of such apartments are thinking about changes that could help them increase the area of ​​​​the apartment without purchasing additional meters. In this case, redevelopment may be a good idea.

When remodeling, part of the walls is removed, combining, for example, a kitchen with a large room, or expanding the bathroom through the corridor. You can move or expand the doors, insulate the loggia and attach it to the living room, make the toilet and bathroom separate. Sometimes apartment owners completely demolish the interior partitions, and the result is a studio apartment.

When deciding on redevelopment of a Khrushchev building, it is important to know some nuances.

Basic Rules

43 squares will never turn into 70 or even 50. Nevertheless, competent redistribution of space helps you feel comfortable even in a small area.

One popular solution is to combine several rooms into one. A 2-room apartment can be turned into a one-room apartment or a studio. The room expands due to the disappearance of interior partitions. This allows you to place the necessary furniture, as well as get rid of the pressure exerted on a person by a small room. The living space can also be expanded through a corridor, hallway, storage room or kitchen.

In a combined room, it is convenient to use zoning to delimit places of work, rest, cooking and eating, as well as separate spaces for each person living in this apartment.

Another way to change a small apartment is to visually enlarge it by using certain colors, partitions, and materials.

When remodeling, there are several things to take into account.

  • Not every wall can be demolished. The load-bearing walls, which are 22-32 cm thick, form the frame of the house and cannot be touched. But interior partitions 7-9 cm thick can be removed, moved, or a door can be made into them in a convenient place. Unfortunately, in a brick house almost all the walls are load-bearing, while in a panel house the interior partitions are made of gypsum cement or gypsum boards, and they can be demolished.

  • The kitchen cannot be made part of the living room, if it has a gas stove, water heater or boiler installed. It will not be possible to place a bar counter between the kitchen and the room, but you can make a light partition. Or you can install an electric stove in the kitchen; it is safer and does not raise objections from the BTI. As for the water heater, if possible, it is moved to the bathroom.

  • Part of the living space cannot be connected to the kitchen. However, the kitchen can be expanded by using part of the corridor or hallway.
  • Make the bathroom part of the room or increasing it at the expense of the room will also not work.

  • It is not allowed to block access to central communications, move or dismantle ventilation shafts.
  • It is impossible to completely or partially destroy interfloor ceilings, if adjacent apartments are located one above the other.
  • Also, the load-bearing wall cannot be completely demolished between the balcony and the main room.

Where and how to legitimize?

If these requirements are taken into account, you can begin the procedure for registering a redevelopment project. Such documents are necessary, because any legal actions with the apartment are impossible without an up-to-date apartment plan. If it is discovered that an apartment has been altered illegally, its owner will have to pay a fine and make changes to the plan, or return the apartment to its original form.

So, permission for redevelopment is issued by the BTI - technical inventory bureau. To obtain a permit you need to prepare the following documents:

  • title deed;
  • redevelopment project, which indicates the changes;
  • technical report on the safety of repair work, which is ordered from a specialized organization;
  • BTI floor plan, technical passport;
  • consent of all residents or homeowners (written in free form);
  • an application with details of the redevelopment (to be filled out at the housing inspectorate).

You will also have to pay a fee for processing documents.

Documents for redevelopment are processed within one and a half months. After this, the certified document is issued to the applicant within three days, and repairs can begin.

Layout options

There are several options for redevelopment of a Khrushchev building; they differ depending on the number of rooms and layout.

One-room

A one-room apartment is most often converted into a studio apartment. To do this, the only room is combined with the kitchen, creating a larger room. The room can also be enlarged by adding a hallway or corridor.

Another idea is to insulate a balcony or loggia and use it as an office, a place to relax, or make it part of a kitchen or room. A beautiful arch that separates the loggia from the rest of the room and at the same time connects them will look light and original.

On the plan we see that after the renovation, the 1-room apartment turned into a studio apartment. The wall between the kitchen and the room was removed, and the usable living space was expanded by adding a balcony to the room. There was a separate sleeping place. The cabinets are installed in niches, which helps preserve the volume of the room and make the most efficient use of the apartment space.

If creating a studio is not desirable, you can enlarge the room, kitchen or bathroom by moving the partitions accordingly. By moving the walls, we get a bathroom with space for modern household appliances, or a larger kitchen.

You can get extra space in the room by getting rid of a closet or closet. This nook can be used as a sleeping or working place.

Two-room

The Khrushchev kopeck piece is more spacious than a one-room apartment, but most often has an inconvenient layout. The kitchen and bathroom are small, the corridor and hallway take up a lot of space, and the rooms are located inconveniently.

In this case, changing the location of the interior walls helps.

  • On the one hand, you can add additional partitions. Adjacent rooms, having a “tram” shape in plan and facing different sides of the house, can be divided by a corridor. In such a corridor you can install a wardrobe, and the rooms will free up space that was previously used for cabinets and walls. If desired, you can even get a three-room apartment by constructing a structure from plasterboard.
  • On the other hand, the wall between the rooms can be removed and you will get one spacious room. Different zones in it can be distinguished using the arrangement of furniture, shelving, portable partitions, or delimiting zones with color.

In many Khrushchev buildings, the doors to the rooms and kitchen are located inconveniently. The place in front of them, as well as the passage to them, cannot be blocked. “Dead zones” arise – free space that cannot be used. This problem can easily be solved by moving the doors to a more convenient location. Sometimes it is possible to make a separate room from a passage room by moving the door to another room.

Sliding doors or accordion doors also save space. An interesting design solution is the bevel of the walls, their location at an angle, which allows you to use every centimeter of space.

Here is an example of reconstruction in a tram-type apartment. Here two adjacent rooms are separated by a corridor. Thus, one of the rooms ceased to be a passage room. In addition, there was space for a storage room. A partition appeared in the long room, separating the bedroom from the living room. Now this apartment has become a three-room apartment.

Three-room

The layout of this apartment has undergone major changes. The elongated room in the center of the apartment has turned into a cozy compact bedroom. The freed up space was used to enlarge the living room, which for convenience is divided into two zones. The bathroom took up part of the corridor, and the hallway was moved to where there used to be utility rooms.

This apartment uses an interesting design move. The living room is connected to the hallway by a sloping corridor. Part of the area of ​​the former hall was allocated to a bathroom and a children's room, which took the place of utility rooms. The apartment has been rebuilt to suit the needs of those living in it.

How to visually expand the space?

There is another way to make an apartment larger - to expand its boundaries visually. To do this, various tricks and tricks are used.

One of them is the choice of furniture for the apartment. For a small apartment, smaller furniture is suitable. Folding sofa beds, extendable tables, and folding chairs save space well. In the arrangement diagram, such pieces of furniture take up less space.

For a small apartment, it is important to choose multifunctional furniture that can be used in different ways. A sofa with a lifting mechanism, benches and ottomans with a hinged lid can be used as additional storage space.

A folding bed-wardrobe or a loft bed, under which there is space to work, also helps save space. An interesting option is a transforming bed, which folds up during the day and takes up much less space.

You can visually expand the room using transparent and mirror surfaces. Transparent furniture is invisible, but performs its function. A transparent partition allows color to pass through, does not clutter the room, but at the same time separates one “room” from another.

Mirrors on walls or cabinets reflect the room, adding depth and making it appear larger. A ceiling that reflects the space underneath will help to visually “raise” a low ceiling.

Another way to make a room seem larger is to use certain colors in the interior. The room looks more spacious if it has light wallpaper. Horizontal stripes on the wallpaper will help visually expand the room.

Wallpaper with small patterns is suitable for small rooms.

In a small room, lighting is very important. A room seems larger if there are no dark corners. And here for lighting it is necessary use lighting fixtures that do not take up much space– table and wall lamps, LED backlighting, built-in point light sources.

In a small, low room, shelves, high racks and cabinets will help to visually raise the ceiling. In addition, they allow you to make maximum use of wall space.

It is easy to make a passage room visually more spacious if you remove the doors in it. Often these doors still won't close. But a beautiful large arch will expand the space.

In this room, light furniture and horizontal surfaces on the wall visually expand the space. Photo wallpaper on the wall with a picture of a field stretching into the distance also adds volume to the room.

This is an ordinary room in a small apartment, but it seems more spacious than it actually is. All the techniques mentioned above were used here: light walls and furniture, long shelves and a cabinet, a transparent table. The room is filled with air and light.

When thinking about redevelopment, it is important to include in the project personal space for each family member. It can be separated by a light partition, screen, or visually highlighted with color.

The kitchen usually has a working and dining area. The border between them can be a bar counter, a sofa or an arch. The work area can be moved to a wall with a window, where it will be light and comfortable for the hostess to cook. An interesting option is to move the work area to a balcony or loggia. In this case, communications need to be transferred there. There you can also set aside an area for storing food and kitchen utensils. In the redesigned kitchen, space is freed up for the dining area, where you can put a table, a corner sofa, hang a TV on the wall - and this area will also turn into a relaxation area.

Well, now the photos (I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos, the photos were taken with what was at hand):


Standard layout.

New wall arrangement. We decided to make sure that there was no walk-through room, maybe some people won’t like the long corridor to the room, BUT it’s convenient for us. A wide entrance was made to the kitchen-living room. By the way, the doors to the rooms will be sliding and will fit into the walls.
To comply with all standards, if there is gas and a gas water heater in the apartment, there will be a partition in the form of sliding doors between the kitchen and living area.
The ledge between the rooms is made for a bed in the bedroom, and in the living room a TV can be conveniently placed there.
Photo of the apartment before:

Photos in the process of remodeling:

I would also like to tell you what is planned in the end:
the kunya will be U-shaped, due to the dismantled winter refrigerator, the countertop will extend instead of the window sill, after much deliberation it was decided to install an oven in this niche.
All appliances will be built-in, including the hood. The lower facades will be:

The countertop and upper facades will be white; boar tiles of size 10*20 were purchased for the apron. Behind the last cabinet there will be a hidden column and a pipe box to the countertop.
Can anyone please advise what to put on the floor? I am in favor of having one covering throughout the entire apartment, because... There will be no thresholds, and my husband says that we need something more practical and moisture-resistant. As I already wrote above, there will be sliding doors between the kitchen and living room areas and there will be a guide on the floor.
The partition looks something like this to me. When open, it will cover the bathroom wall and the refrigerator box, and when completely closed, it will cover the opening to the kitchen. It will consist of two doors moving along one guide
I wanted to highlight the niche behind the TV with something, and after watching the blogs of other users, I wanted to make it out of white brick. Who has it, write how it is in operation.
there will be a dining table near the balcony window
And chairs for it:

It was decided to make shelving in two small niches... but we can’t decide which ones exactly. Maybe you can tell us?)))

I myself am more inclined to the first option...
All furniture will be white, except for the sofa. In general, at first we were inclined towards wenge-colored doors, but... I really want a high floor plinth, but now everything is seen in white.

In the living room, the walls are seen in the color of mocha or café au lait...maybe I’m wrong, but I think this would be a great combination with both the kitchen set and white accents.

In the hallway there will be a closet and my workplace. I'm passionate about scrapbooking and need a comfortable corner for creativity. Therefore, it was decided to do it in the closet)))
There is still room for outerwear and storage of other things.
In the middle there is already a terminal for sockets.

Because I smoothly moved into the hallway, then the question is: is it worth making porcelain tiles at the threshold? Or should I make it laminate?

I'll add a few more lines about the bedroom...
Don’t just throw tomatoes at me, if sometimes in moments of inspiration you don’t always have a computer with design programs at hand)))
A vision of how the bedroom will look:

I liked these wallpapers:
True, in the niche I just want to make a plain wall (choose a color to match the color of the wallpaper, brown), because lamps will be located on it.

During the time of Khrushchev, not entirely successful apartments were built in residential buildings. The areas are very small, the layout is not well thought out. The main task of those times was to provide each family with separate living space. As for the comfort of living, it was not included in the tasks at all. The advantage of such apartments is that they are easy to redesign, since the load-bearing walls are external, and the internal walls are partitions that can be demolished or moved without reducing the load-bearing capacity of the entire building. Despite this, it is necessary to have a reconstruction project and coordination with the relevant organization. The fact is that any changes to the building's design must be registered.

Any change in the configuration of walls and partitions in an apartment is considered a redevelopment. As for load-bearing walls, they cannot be touched at all. If there are unloaded walls or partitions, then everything is not so serious, but it is necessary to draw up a project, after which it will have to be approved and only then can you begin to implement your plan.

At the same time, there are options for alterations that cannot be agreed upon under any circumstances:

  • Expanding the area of ​​such premises as the kitchen, bathroom and toilet is possible only through technical premises. It is prohibited to place them above living rooms. In this case, you can reduce the area of ​​the corridor, built-in closet, hallway, etc. Therefore, there are controversial options for some redevelopments. The photo below shows the disputed areas.

The fragment marked in red is practically located in the corridor, but BTI documents indicate that this is a living space. If you submit documents for redevelopment in this option, they will not be accepted. In order not to quarrel with the law, you must first install a partition that will fence off the corridor and in this form a project to increase the area of ​​the bathroom is submitted.

When expanding the kitchen area, you cannot do:

  • Expand with a bathroom.
  • If the kitchen is expanded at the expense of the living space, plumbing fixtures and a stove cannot be installed in the kitchen.
  • If there is gas in the kitchen, then it cannot be combined with the living room.

This point can be circumvented if you install doors of any design, including sliding or accordion doors.

One-room Khrushchev house: redevelopment

Young families, as a rule, buy one-room apartments. A one-room Khrushchev apartment can be easily converted into a studio apartment, which is an excellent option for young people. In this case, get rid of the partitions separating the room and the kitchen, as well as the hallway.

In both cases, a room such as a bathroom remains untouched, since it cannot be moved if it is not the first floor.

The photo above shows that the redevelopment partially affected the bathroom, due to the movement of two walls a considerable distance. This is the wall facing the hall and the wall separating the hallway. Due to a slight increase in area, it was possible to place a washing machine. In small rooms there is always a lack of space when it is necessary to install modern household appliances. Although the hallway is not large, there is enough space in the room and you can install a dressing room.

Another photo shows another option for redevelopment of a 1-room Khrushchev house. This option is different in that it combines the kitchen and the hallway. The doors to the room are moved further from the entrance, which made it possible to make more optimal use of the living space. As a result of this design, there was space in the hallway for a chic built-in wardrobe. This did not affect the functionality of the kitchen, and its area increased by 0.2 square meters.

Recently, many residents have been practicing another way to increase their living space - combining loggias and balconies. But for this you need to carefully insulate the walls of balconies and loggias, as well as install heating there. As a result, you can get another room with an optimal temperature, where you can place, for example, a study.

There is another option for redevelopment of a one-room Khrushchev house located in a brick house. There are very small areas of the bathroom and kitchen, but the partitions are placed in a standard manner.

In this case, it is advisable to abandon the bath in favor of a shower. This will allow you to optimize the useful space in the bathroom by arranging the plumbing correctly and placing the washing machine there. At the same time, one of the walls turns out to be beveled, and the area of ​​the kitchen does not increase significantly, but increases, although the area of ​​the hallway decreases somewhat.

The living space can be increased by expanding onto the balcony, insulating it appropriately. On the balcony you can install a wardrobe and a desk. Such redevelopment is quite relevant if the family consists of five people: 3 children and 2 adults. At the same time, it is advisable to install one bunk bed for children. In the next photo you can see a similar option for remodeling a residential apartment.

Unfortunately, not everyone likes having a studio apartment, just as not everyone appreciates a bathroom with a combined bath and toilet. Many people don’t like the lack of walls, when they can’t sit in the kitchen unnoticed by others, especially since this is true if you have children, and even in a one-room apartment.

In this case, redevelopment is carried out by moving partitions, depending on priorities. The side wall of the hallway needs to be moved towards the room, and the front wall needs to be moved, almost close to the door to the bathroom. After such actions, the area of ​​the hallway increases and now it becomes possible to install a built-in wardrobe and dressing room in the hallway.

Naturally, the area of ​​the room is reduced, so you will have to compensate for the lack of space at the expense of the kitchen. Despite this, after moving the wall closer to the bathroom door, space was created for the refrigerator. As a result of this redevelopment, the dining part of the kitchen moved into the room. To optimize space, you should install sliding doors or accordion doors.

At the same time, the room received an L-shape, where you can install a partition to divide the room into an adult and a children's area. Using the same principle, you can turn a one-room apartment into a two-room apartment. This has serious implications when you have children.

There is another option for redevelopment of a 1-room apartment, but only with a different original layout. In this case, the alteration is minimal and comes down to installing a plasterboard partition. It is installed so that it occupies no more than half the space, so that lighting is available in the second part.

As an option, it is proposed to redevelop a corner one-room Khrushchev building into a studio apartment with a separate sleeping area. This part of the apartment can only fit a bed and a wardrobe, but there is one significant advantage: the bedroom turns out to be isolated.

Two-room Khrushchev house: remodeling

In the buildings of those years, there were much more two-room apartments than one-room apartments, but they had the same problems: small areas and ill-thought-out arrangement of rooms, with the presence of passage rooms. If you move the walls, most problems can be solved. For example, it is possible to separate adjacent rooms, after which you can turn a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment. To do this, it is enough to mount another partition that will separate the room from the corridor. As a result, additional usable space appears where you can place a dressing room and storage room. The second room thus obtained is longer and narrower, and is divided into two parts by means of a plasterboard partition.

The photo below shows the second option for unsuccessful planning of the living space of those times. Here, to get to the second room, you need to go through the first. The layout is so unfortunate that not only are the spaces small, but there are also dead zones that distort the functionality of the rooms. Sometimes, at the end of the second room there is a storage room that cannot be fully used.

After remodeling according to this option, the bathtub acquired a square shape, and the hallway connected to the first room. In this case, it serves as a living room, from which the entrance to the kitchen is formed. The next, further room is divided into two bedrooms. The partition between the two bedrooms is mounted in such a way that there is space for small dressing rooms in one and the other bedrooms.

An ordinary two-room Khrushchev apartment in a panel house can be turned into a studio apartment by combining the living room and kitchen. The main task of such a modification is to move the entrance doors. Due to this, the large hallway will serve as a dressing room. At the same time, the toilet and bath are combined, and the kitchen and living room are combined due to a partially disassembled partition.

If desired, the second room can be divided into two parts using a plasterboard partition, which will separate the working and sleeping areas. In order for light to penetrate into the bedroom, it is enough to raise the partition to a height of no more than 1.5 meters.

Quite an interesting option for converting a 2-room apartment into a 3-room apartment. Here the hallway is slightly sloping, which made it possible to increase the area of ​​the bathroom, and the partition that was installed between the kitchen and the room is partially removed. The second room is divided into 2 parts, the area of ​​which is increased by a storage room and a closet. As a result, 2 bedrooms were formed, and since the apartment is corner, each of the bedrooms has its own window.

The corridor has taken on an interesting shape, since its walls are located diagonally. The result is a good option, although the functionality of the corridor is significantly reduced.

Three-room Khrushchev house: changing the arrangement of rooms

Khrushchev series 11-57.3.2 are distinguished by the very small size of the toilet and bathroom. Based on this, remodeling the apartment is simply necessary, given that the planet is already in the 3rd millennium and the presence of modern plumbing and household appliances indicate such a need. To optimize the living space, it is necessary to remove the partition between the bathroom and toilet. The part of the corridor that adjoins the bathroom is fenced off with a wall where the doors to the bathroom are located. The only problem is strengthening the waterproofing in this part where the corridor used to be.

The original layout did not allow for a cabinet. In a small section of the corridor, which went under the bathroom, there was a small closet, but its size is so small that it allows you to hide only small-sized things in it. Therefore, we have to move the wall of one of the bedrooms so that a wardrobe can fit into the free space.

To combine the kitchen and living room, you need to get rid of part of the wall. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the corresponding load-bearing walls and ceilings. Since the kitchen stove is gas, doors are needed. As an option, you can install sliding ones.

Another renovation option is also possible, allowing you to increase the area of ​​the bathroom, as well as turn some room into a living-dining room, from which you can exit to the kitchen. At the same time, you need to create two bedrooms.

To do this, the walls between the bathroom and the toilet are removed, and part of the corridor is seized for the bathroom. Now the entrance to the kitchen will be from the living room; on the opposite side of the living room, the entrance to the second bedroom will be formed.

As for the door block located in the second bedroom, it must be dismantled and the opening blocked.

The next redevelopment option is designed to increase the usable area of ​​the bathroom and kitchen. As for the bathroom, it is expanded in the classic way: the partition between the bathtub and toilet is removed, and the wall is trimmed. The kitchen expands into the room. This solution allows you to create a place to relax, where you can install a sofa and TV.

It turns out that you can divide the walk-through rooms in this way. Although the area has decreased, they have become more functional. Dressing rooms can be placed in the vacated areas.

Four-room Khrushchev house: remodeling

This is such a poor layout that as the number of residential premises increases, the problems become more and more numerous. The presence, again, of a small kitchen and a small bathroom, with walk-through rooms, aggravates the overall picture. The photo below shows one of the most ill-conceived options. Shown here is what it was like before the remodel.

Despite the fact that this apartment has a relatively large hallway, it (the hallway) is not fully used, and the existing normal corner is occupied by a storage room.

The problem is also related to the fact that there are seven doors leading into the hallway. A remodeling option is proposed, when all rooms are redesigned into the correct shape, such as a square. This approach makes it easier to use the functionality of the apartment as a whole. Two rooms are used as a dining room and a living room, and two bedrooms remain untouched. Entrance to the enclosed dressing room from the hallway.

The bathtub and toilet remain not combined, but their area is increased due to the alignment of the walls. The area previously occupied by the corridor requires increased waterproofing.

Conclusion

Khrushchev's buildings have long outlived their usefulness not only from a technical point of view, but also from a moral point of view. In addition, modern planning takes into account the shortcomings of the past and does not allow such miscalculations. Those who still live in Khrushchev are thinking every minute and every second how to quickly carry out renovations in order to get rid of these tiny kitchens, toilets and baths, as well as walk-through rooms, where the usable area of ​​​​small rooms is not optimally used.

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that there is another problem, no less serious - the organization of the redevelopment project and its approval. Unfortunately, the bureaucrats do not want to meet the Khrushchev owners halfway. It is very difficult and troublesome to obtain such a solution, and even quite expensive. In this regard, many apartment owners are improving their lives on their own and remodeling their apartments quietly. Under certain conditions, when you have to sell the apartment, you will have to pay a fine for spontaneous redevelopment. If everything is done without violating the technology, then the passport for the apartment will be redone, of course for a fee.

But here lies another problem related to the fact that some apartment owners, when carrying out redevelopment, still violate the requirements and norms, which sometimes leads to bad consequences.

Based on this, we can conclude that it is advisable to coordinate any work with the relevant organizations and obtain permission for this, otherwise you may have to deal with the law, which will entail administrative or criminal liability.