Features of the hall
Apartments built in the 50s and 60s are characterized by a small area, low ceilings, and thin partitions. In those not very distant times, the task was to provide at least some kind of housing for as many people as possible; they didn’t even think about creating any amenities.
In those days, the living room in all apartments looked almost the same: a wall with a collection of works by Lenin and Pushkin, a TV on thin legs and an ottoman. The carpet on the floor covered the linoleum.
Today, thanks to the efforts of designers, even this room can become a very cozy place. All you need to be happy is to choose the most suitable design and materials and try to expand the available area.
What is acceptable in minimalism
Minimalism allows for decor, but a very unique one. For example, these could be designer chandeliers or floor vases, but they should fit perfectly into the overall interior and be truly necessary. All attention falls on the color and texture of finishing materials. It is especially interesting if they are designed in the same color scheme and seem to flow from one to another.
Minimalism can be designed in several directions, for example:
- eco. Stone and wood predominate here. If it is a coffee table, then it is made of a single piece of material. Mini fountains are welcome;
- luxurious. Everything here speaks for itself. The painting is in a gilded frame, a chic antique lampshade, bronze lamps, leather;
- high tech. One, or maximum two, colors reign here. For example, white and gray, or black. Decorative plaster, unusually shaped lamps, flat-screen TV. There is no place for trinkets and pleasantries;
- Scandinavian style. Usually this is low furniture, brick walls, and a fireplace. Finishing materials include ceramic tiles, stone, plaster and parquet. Upholstery linen or cotton. Brick is a prerequisite for interior design;
- Japanese. Low furniture, bamboo screens, wardrobe. Oriental motifs predominate throughout.
Minimalism is dominated by open spaces, varied lighting and quality materials. There is also geometry in the shapes. It is up to the apartment owner to decide which of the five types of design to choose.
Techniques for increasing space
There are two options to make the room larger:
- First and difficult: Demolish the wall into the next room. But this will require permission from special services and quite large financial costs.
- Second and simpler: Achieve the effect of enlargement through the use of light colors, mirror surfaces, and built-in cabinets.
Of course, the room itself will not change, but visually it will seem larger and more spacious.
Color spectrum
A wide variety of colors are used for the hall. It all depends on the wishes of the apartment owners.
But it’s still better to prefer calm and light colors:
- White, expanding the space and giving the room lightness;
- Beige, adding comfort and softness;
- Delicate blue or green, helping to get rid of tension and stress;
- Gray, which is an excellent background for all other colors;
- Yellow, creating the mood of a sunny day and joy.
More saturated colors also look stylish:
- Browns give a mood of confidence and stability;
- Blues create a feeling of depth and texture;
- Reds give energy.
The original design is created using black and white design.
Colors have become fashionable:
- Pistachios;
- Olives;
- Lilacs;
- Dusty rose.
An overly calm interior will be diluted by small bright accents, but you shouldn’t get too carried away with decorating. Calmness and serenity remain in fashion.
When choosing a color, you should keep in mind that cold tones will make the room more spacious, while warm tones will bring more coziness. Vertical stripes will raise the ceilings, horizontal stripes will push the walls apart, geometric shapes will add energy, and floral designs will embody coziness.
In small rooms, bright colors and large patterns are not used. However, a large number of small pictures will also make it difficult to perceive. So it is better to use plain materials or surfaces with a dim pattern.
Selection of curtains for Khrushchev
The window in the Khrushchev building is small, so the perception of space and style depends on the correct choice of curtains.
When choosing curtains, you should pay attention to the following recommendations:
- Products should not blend in color with the walls and ceiling. In this case, you can play on contrast or create a harmonious combination of color palette.
- Curtains for a one-room Khrushchev house are made to fit the entire window size. You can hang the canopy on the entire wall. This method will visually increase the area.
Cornice
The design in a small room is light and airy. It is not recommended to use massive cornices, as this will visually make the room smaller. Curtains for the kitchen in Khrushchev are fastened with eyelets.
A string-shaped cornice is suitable for curtains and light curtains. A good option is to install a ceiling cornice.
In this case, the curtains will fall from the ceiling, which helps to increase the space. It is better to use textiles in light and solid colors.
For ceiling mounting, rail cornices are suitable to cover the window and wall.
If you only need to close the window, then round structures are used.
View
The design of curtains for a small kitchen in Khrushchev suggests compactness and lightness. There should be free access to the window sill.
When choosing fabric with patterns, it is better to focus on small patterns. It is taken into account that vertical stripes make the room taller.
Ideas for curtains for the kitchen in Khrushchev and other rooms are varied. The following types of curtains are especially suitable:
- Rolled products are compact and can be installed on the ceiling, which will visually expand the space.
- Roman canvases are minimalist and elegant, which is useful for a small area.
- Pleated designs provide a comfortable level of illumination and are characterized by conciseness.
- Japanese curtains in the living room of a Khrushchev house help create a light look and do not take up much space.
Related article: Dismantling and installing a sink drain
Material
The room will look larger if you use lightweight material for curtains. It is recommended to decorate the interior with monochromatic products and models made from natural fabrics.
Curtain fabric should be combined with other textiles and pieces of furniture in texture and density.
Intricate drapery for curtains cannot be made from heavy and dense materials.
It is preferable to choose light curtains for a small room in a Khrushchev-era building. These are products made from organza, tulle, chintz and linen.
Floor finishing
Laminate flooring enjoys the greatest love among housewives. It perfectly imitates natural wood, but is much cheaper.
- If you want to amaze your household and guests with a more expensive design, then you can use stylish parquet or cozy cork.
- A carpet spread over the entire room, or a carpet that occupies only part of the space, will add additional luxury to the floors.
Wall decoration
The following are used as clothing for vertical partitions:
- Wallpaper (paper, non-woven, liquid, glass);
- Plaster (simple, creating smooth walls, or decorative, imitating the luxury of ancient decoration);
- Paint available in a wide variety of colors.
But the last two options will require careful preliminary finishing of the walls, which in Khrushchev will become a very time-consuming and money-consuming undertaking. Instead of the usual plaster and primer, you can use plasterboard sheets to ensure a smooth surface, but this solution will slightly reduce the space of the room.
- A unique design will be achieved by creating false walls from plasterboard, in which you can create niches for placing lamps, decor, and books. But this arrangement option will significantly eat up the available space.
- Photo wallpapers stand out separately: they become an unusual decoration, help create an original design, and increase the space of the room. Until recently, the optimal pictures were forest paths, sea expanses, and ancient streets. Today, images of megacities, outer space, and abstract drawings are more popular.
- Instead of the already quite familiar photo wallpaper, you can paint the walls with watercolors or create unusual drawings. Artists will be able to do this completely independently, and for those who do not have such talent, special stencils are sold.
The wall decoration with 3D panels looks original. But such options, like photo wallpapers, are used to decorate only one wall. An accent can also be created using a brighter color scheme.
Living room and hall 18 sq.m. in Khrushchev: photo selection
You can still talk about design options endlessly, but no words will convey what you can see with your own eyes. Living room interiors in Khrushchev, 18 square meters. m., real photos of which will help you understand how the techniques described above work, you can see in our selection.
Here you can see firsthand how much more spacious a sparkling, light room looks than a darker or brighter room. Thanks to our selection of photos, you can find budget and at the same time sophisticated solutions for repairs in the most ordinary Khrushchev.
Ceiling finishing
For a modern living room, a simple white ceiling is best. The ideal solution is still considered to be the use of light-colored tension structures.
But to create an atmospheric setting, you can use more saturated colors. In this case, preference is given to a glossy coating that reflects light rays to the maximum extent. Lately, light-colored surfaces have gravitated more toward matte, which adds additional luxury.
Floor slabs can also be decorated:
- Whitewashing;
- Plaster;
- Paint;
- Wallpaper;
- Ceiling tiles.
Living room decor in Khrushchev
Depending on the chosen style, paintings and photographs in beautiful frames, floor and table vases with dried flowers and plant compositions can be used in interior design.
A large aquarium will greatly decorate the living room. And a living room in a Khrushchev-era building will acquire a special charm if you install an electric fireplace in one of the corners.
Hall lighting
Proper lighting will give the room additional space and comfort. Until recently, this role was played by ceiling spotlights, but now more and more often this function is transferred to more familiar ceiling chandeliers and sconces.
Light curtains will help not limit the light flow from the street.
Furniture for the hall in Khrushchev
To furnish the room, a sofa, a couple of armchairs, a coffee table and a wall-mounted TV will be enough.
But reality requires the placement of cabinets: There is not enough space for them in other rooms either.
For furnishing use:
- Visually easy slides;
- Compact-looking sliding wardrobes;
- Modular walls.
A good option is a built-in wardrobe that occupies one side of the room from wall to wall. The façade, matched to the finish, will make the structure as inconspicuous as possible.
Mirror and glossy surfaces will help add more light and space to the room.
Even a small hall in a Khrushchev building can be arranged in the most attractive way, creating a cozy and comfortable relaxation room.
Redevelopment of the living room in Khrushchev
Why not invest in transforming your one-room “Khrushchev” into a spacious, bright “studio”? The law allows the demolition of partitions that are not load-bearing walls, so a light wall between the room and the kitchen can be easily and quickly removed. And now your little room has become almost twice as spacious!
- And don’t forget about such an opportunity as combining a living room with a balcony!
- The balcony needs to be glazed and insulated, the partition is removed, the heating radiator is moved further.
- As a result, the cramped living room has grown by 2-3 square meters.
- On a former balcony, many people like to set up a study, a mini-production, or a relaxation area where it’s nice to drink coffee while watching life outside.
As a last resort, if you cannot stand drastic changes, combining the kitchen and room can be done by partially demolishing the partition, leaving an arch in its place.
