Design Tips
A number of rules that are followed when decorating a room:
- Using reflective shiny coatings you can visually expand the space, make the room larger and taller. A similar effect can be achieved with a glossy stretch ceiling, mirror surfaces and decorative elements with a smooth texture.
- To enlarge the living room, pastel cool colors are suitable. Refreshing blue, blue, green or pink shades will fill the atmosphere with airiness. Stripes in the design of the floor in the form of a simple laminate, dark-colored parquet or carpet will help expand the space.
- You can decorate the room, as well as create the illusion of a spacious room in it, by using correctly selected photo wallpaper with a perspective image or ordinary wallpaper with graphic designs in the form of horizontal or vertical lines.
- To prevent the room from looking too cluttered, the living room in a Khrushchev-era building should be furnished only with the necessary furniture of a compact size.
- As a style solution, it is better to choose discreet directions. For example, neat Scandinavian design, laconic minimalism or futuristic hi-tech are ideal.
The photo shows the design of a living room in a Khrushchev building in the high-tech style.
Choosing curtains for a small kitchen
In addition to the fact that kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings are small, they also carry a large functional load. This room should have a lot of light, and the fabrics should be easy to wash.
That is why when choosing curtains you should pay attention to the following things:
- Give preference to translucent fabrics, they will let in the maximum amount of light.
- Curtains that fit the window look great; the rules of the living room do not apply here.
- Combinations of textures and patterns will be interesting to play with and create a unique design.
It is not customary to hang multi-layer curtains and curtains in the kitchen, but now designers have been able to create such a window design option in a small kitchen. The photo of kitchen curtains in Khrushchev shows that options are possible when complex drapery fits harmoniously into the space.
Layout options
A small living room in a Khrushchev-era apartment remains a walk-through without redevelopment. The arrangement of furniture in such a room should be carried out in such a way that objects do not interfere with free movement and do not block the passage. For a walk-through hall, an excellent solution would be to choose a more restrained style direction and install transformable furniture elements.
In a square room, designers recommend determining in advance where the furniture and decor will be located. It is better if all objects are placed at an equal distance from each other. In a square-shaped living room, there is no need to choose a special place for a furniture set, since its location will not affect the size of the room in any way. The main advantage of this layout is the saving of free space in the center of the room.
In order not to make the rectangular room even more disproportionate and not to lengthen the space, it is not advisable to place furniture near one oblong wall. The interior will look more visually balanced if you use combinations and horizontal divisions in the decoration of the walls. For example, the upper part of the plane is painted, and the lower part is covered with wallpaper with patterns. A warm color palette will help expand the rectangular long hall.
In a one-room panel Khrushchev house, the layout of a studio apartment is also appropriate. In this case, all partitions are demolished and the room is combined with a hallway or kitchen. For those who do not accept radical methods of remodeling the room, you can only partially dismantle the partitions or replace the doors with arches.
The photo shows a remodeled living room in a Khrushchev-era building, combined with a kitchen.
Basic principles when combining kitchen and living room
When combining two rooms into one, it is necessary to adhere to certain design principles:
- Colors and finishing materials should be harmoniously combined;
- It is necessary to maintain a single style for the design of both zones;
- Emphasize the unity of design with textiles;
- Furniture that differs in functionality should be similar in color and style.
the colors of the kitchen and living room overlap in certain details
the dark colors of the kitchen contrast with the tones of the light living room, creating a unique style
In addition to the feeling of design unity, in a combined kitchen-living room it is necessary to apply the principle of zoning. In the absence of partitions, the main focus for this purpose will be the ceiling. Modern multi-level ceiling designs of various shapes will help to perfectly delimit the territory, as shown in the photo. Lighting will also help to separate zones with different functions. Most often, a large chandelier or a composition of lamps is used in the living room, and the kitchen area is illuminated by spotlights. It is advisable to additionally highlight the dining area.
Advice! In place of the demolished wall, you can erect an arched structure - it’s beautiful, original and delimits the space
option of combining the kitchen and living room with the complete removal of the wall and raising the kitchen area onto a small podium
light beige tones of the living room are in harmony with the same tone of the kitchen in a darker design
the dining area was moved to the living room near the kitchen
The floor can also perform a zoning function. It is logical to use different types of materials for flooring. As a rule, ceramic tiles in the kitchen and linoleum or laminate in the living room. An interesting, but more labor-intensive option would be to build a podium in the kitchen area. Also, a rather complex design solution for zoning is the use of sliding partition doors. This option allows you to both unite space when opening doors, and separate zones from each other when closing. In this case, privacy becomes possible.
Decorative elements will be the final note in creating a single whole in the design of a combined kitchen-living room. You can use it on the apron of the working kitchen area and on the wall in the living room (above the sofa or TV) - some kind of decorative panel or cladding with the same material, for example, artificial stone, as shown in the photo below. Sometimes the same print or photo printing is used. It is advisable to place identical lamps above the resting place and above the dining group. It is popular to place some interior items in the same style - vases, flowerpots, dishes, souvenirs, etc.
Hall zoning
Due to the successful zonal delimitation of the living room in the Khrushchev, the design of a room with a modest area becomes functional, comfortable and aesthetically attractive.
Rest zone
This segment includes elements in the form of a comfortable sofa and armchairs, a small coffee or coffee table and a TV. You can highlight and mark the boundaries of the recreation area using finishing materials or decorative details.
In the photo there is a recreation area in a Khrushchev-era apartment, highlighted with patterned gray wallpaper.
Office in the living room of Khrushchev
A work area with a desk, computer desk, chair or armchair is usually equipped near a window. An ergonomic solution would be to choose a corner design with storage systems in the form of hanging shelves and drawers. The window opening in the living room with an office is decorated with transparent curtains and the work area is equipped with additional lighting fixtures. It is appropriate to install a partition, screen or shelving as a zoning element.
Sleeping place in the living room of Khrushchev
It is better to place the place with the bed away from the doorway and separate this segment with a screen, curtains, shelving or plasterboard partition. Another successful zoning option would be the use of different floor coverings or the construction of a podium. Installing sliding systems will help to isolate the sleeping area as much as possible.
Children's area in the Khrushchev hall
It is appropriate to use not too noticeable zoning, for example, lighting, color or furniture items. In a one-room apartment in Khrushchev, the children's area can be separated by a screen, curtains, or divided by a sliding partition. In this way, it will be possible to create a comfortable individual space for both the child and the parents.
The photo shows the interior of a room in a Khrushchev-era building divided into a hall and a children's area.
Dinner Zone
In the interior of a living room in Khrushchev, a dining area with a table and chairs is placed near the window or taken out onto the attached balcony. In order to highlight the dining area, you can choose lighting, contrasting finishes or a multi-level ceiling.
A stylish, effective and modern solution for a small room is a bar counter, which will perfectly replace a dining table and save space in the room.
Original lambrequins and light curtains
The most popular and practical in interior design would be light curtains made of organza or tulle for a small kitchen, creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. They are perfect for any interior design.
In order for the curtains to have a neat appearance for a long time, when choosing kitchen textiles, it is better to choose fabrics impregnated with special solutions that can repel dust and dirt. The photo shows an example of decorating a window opening with a lambrequin.
Lambrequin on the kitchen window
Living room colors
A color palette, which has its own aesthetic and physical qualities, can radically affect the visual perception of space.
Gray living room in Khrushchev
For some, a design in gray tones may seem boring, faceless and even gloomy. However, such an achromatic range is most suitable for creating a laconic interior in a small room in a Khrushchev-era building. Bright decorative objects such as curtains, sofa cushions or paintings look advantageous against a gray background.
The photo shows a living room in a Khrushchev-era building, made in gray tones with the addition of white and beige.
Brown living room in Khrushchev
Versatile, practical natural light wood tones will harmoniously fit into small spaces, both in classic and modern styles. It is better to use coffee, terracotta and chocolate palettes in doses as accent inclusions.
Beige tones in the living room interior
A fairly common color scheme that makes the interior of the room incredibly comfortable and homely. Beige tones help relax the nervous system, set the mood for relaxation and fill the atmosphere with warmth.
The photo shows a beige and white design of a modern living room in a Khrushchev apartment.
White color in the hall
The most advantageous option for the design of a small living room in Khrushchev. White shades allow you to visually enlarge the room, add freshness and additional radiance to the interior. For a harmonious combination with this color, any tones are suitable. It would be appropriate to brighten up a white room with accents in green, yellow, pink or other colorful colors.
Choosing curtain colors
Curtains for a small room should be organically combined with all interior details: walls, furniture, textiles, decorative elements. This is the only way to achieve completeness of the interior composition. For small living rooms, curtains in light colors with any brightness that allow sunlight to enter the room are perfect. For example, beige, cream, pink, light green, blue. The fabric needs to be light, especially if you decorate the curtains with a lambrequin.
When choosing the color of curtains, it is necessary to take into account the effect of color on a person’s psychological state. To create a relaxing atmosphere, use a palette of warm colors. There are neutral colors that are ideal in any design solution - cream, beige, brown. Shades of blue can add a little coolness.
Finishes and materials
Finishing solutions for the living room in a Khrushchev apartment.
Floor
A calm and cozy design of a living room in a Khrushchev-era building can be achieved through flooring in the form of parquet boards, laminate or carpet. A reliable board made of natural wood will not only decorate the interior of the room, but will also last for quite a long time.
The photo shows a light parquet board on the floor in the interior of a living room in Khrushchev.
Walls
A monochromatic wall design will help achieve a visual unification of space and lighten the interior. For this, textured plaster or ordinary light paint can be used.
The traditional way of finishing is wallpaper. The surface of the walls in the hall is covered with a wide variety of paper, modern non-woven, washable linens, glass wallpaper or liquid wallpaper.
Using wall cladding, it is possible to zone a room, as well as achieve a visual change in its configuration. For example, one accent plane, decorated with brickwork, wood panels or photo wallpaper, will help make a narrow and elongated living room in a Khrushchev-era building more even and spacious.
The photo shows a living room in a Khrushchev-era building with walls covered with plain and patterned pink wallpaper.
Ceiling
In the interior of the hall, the use of plaster, painting, and installation of hanging or tension fabric is popular. For a small room in a Khrushchev-era building with a low ceiling, a complex multi-level structure is not suitable. A coating in the form of a glossy film that reflects light and visually expands the space will look best on the ceiling in the living room.
The ceiling plane must be equipped with spotlights around the perimeter or in a chaotic manner.
The photo shows the interior of a living room in a Khrushchev building with a two-level suspended ceiling structure.
Main details
Good lighting allows you to use any shades
If you want to visually add a few meters to the hall, you can resort to the following methods:
- Get rid of ordinary windows, replacing them with metal-plastic ones, which visually add light to the room;
- Use moving living room walls (if permissible);
- Move the doors and use part of the corridor to create an interior.
- Install spacious arches instead of doors.
You can start choosing wallpaper for the Khrushchev-era hall only after the room has been completely thought out. Modern design welcomes ease of perception of space, and for this you need:
- determine the functional purpose of the room;
- decide and choose the furniture and curtains that you cannot do without in the living room. It should occupy a minimum of space while providing maximum capacity;
- remove all cabinets and shelves that clutter the space from the living room, replacing them with more suitable furniture.
Related article: What to do if wooden floors squeak without disassembling the covering
Furniture selection and location
For the interior of a living room in Khrushchev, a classic straight sofa of a simple geometric shape with laconic textile upholstery is suitable. A folding corner model with an extra bed makes efficient use of real space. This assembled design does not take up much space and provides a convenient place to store bedding and things.
In the hall, the entire wall from floor to ceiling can be equipped with shelves, racks, or a wardrobe can be installed. This product is highly functional and can accommodate a large number of clothes and other necessary items. Open hanging shelves will look light, will not overload the room and will allow you to place various decorative accessories, books and other elements.
The photo shows an option for arranging a small living room in a Khrushchev-type apartment.
For an elongated space, choose a linear arrangement of furniture. There is a sofa near one long wall, and the parallel plane is complemented by modular cabinets and a TV.
In a small room, you can use a place near the window. In this case, it is appropriate to equip the space next to the window opening with a low stand with a TV device. In order to make the room more spacious, you should place armchairs near the window or place a sleeping area.
Layout features
Since in Soviet times the emphasis in construction was on mass production, the priority was inexpensive buildings that could be assembled in the shortest possible time. Naturally, there is no need to talk about the convenience and visual appeal of such apartments.
Characteristic features of Khrushchev buildings were thin walls, cramped rooms and low ceilings. And since the construction was standard, most apartments looked the same.
The design of the living rooms was also identical, so one wall was allocated for a wall filled with dishes and books, as well as a TV, and on the opposite side there was usually a classic sofa and a carpet in a brown-red color scheme with an ornament.
However, now a huge range of finishing materials, furniture, and decorative elements made on the basis of advanced technologies makes it possible to make the interior of a living room in a Khrushchev-era building not only as comfortable and visually attractive as possible, but also individual, in accordance with the personal preferences of the owner.
Curtains, decor and textiles
The main rule in decorating a hall in a Khrushchev-era building is the complete absence of elaborate decor and complex draperies. It is appropriate to decorate the window in the room with light tulle and light porters, Roman or Japanese curtains.
Textile accessories made of velvet and velor will visually weigh down the interior of the living room, so it is advisable to choose elements from more airy fabrics, such as satin, silk, cotton or satin.
The photo shows a hall in a Khrushchev-era building with a window draped in tulle with patterns and light brown curtains.
A floor vase will fit perfectly into the corner of the living room; you can hang several small paintings or one large canvas on the wall.
An electric fireplace or an aquarium integrated into a wall, cabinet or chest of drawers will become a real interior decoration. The built-in container will give the atmosphere a special mood and save useful square meters in the hall in the Khrushchev-era building.
The photo shows a decorative false fireplace in the interior of the living room in a Khrushchev apartment.
Finishing tricks
A typical feature of a Khrushchev-era hall is its small area and low ceiling height. To effectively transform your interior, you should rely on clever design techniques.
Use of color
When designing a small living room in a Khrushchev-era building, it is recommended to lean toward the use of light colors. Thanks to the concept, the room will seem more spacious.
Creating an interesting pattern on one of the walls will break up a boring, monochromatic interior. The main thing is that the pattern is in harmony with the main shade, which is used to decorate the remaining surfaces.
It is important that the room faces a certain direction of the world. When choosing a color palette, you need to focus on the following:
- the living room, which is located on the north side, is best decorated in warm, soft shades that compensate for the lack of natural light (green, cream, beige, yellow);
- if the windows of the room face south, you can give preference to cold tones, for example, white, turquoise, light blue;
- rooms on the east side should be painted in bright and light shades (honey, pink, peach);
- Living room surfaces with windows facing west should be decorated with blue, gray, mint, and other cool tones.
To give a modern, dynamic look to the living room, apply a pattern in the format of vertical stripes to the walls.
Working with lighting
When planning lighting in the living room, it is wise to avoid using bulky pendant chandeliers. The solution will reduce the free space, which will make the room more cramped.
It is more expedient to build a row of spotlights into the ceiling. Light sources must be bright. Individual beams can be directed at the walls to create the effect of volume and depth of the room.
Creating decorative lighting behind the cornice will help to achieve a visual increase in ceiling height. Appropriate fastenings should be used around the perimeter of the room where the LED strip will be installed. Having implemented the idea, you will not have to create various kinds of niches in the ceilings.
You can also do local lighting. In order to organize a cozy atmosphere while communicating with the family, watching TV, reading books, you should place a vertical floor lamp with a lampshade near the sofa or armchairs.
Furniture
When working on transforming the interior, you should not clutter the space with unnecessary elements. In a cramped living room, it is advisable to place only important items.
You need to adhere to the following criteria:
- Furnish the room with compact and functional furniture. A small modular sofa, a folding table, and a transformable chair will fit into the interior of a cramped living room.
- Use glass design elements. A good option would be to place an elegant coffee table with a transparent surface in the central part of the room.
- Maintain harmony between bulky and small furniture. If you want to place a large sofa in the living room, you should place a miniature chair next to it.
It is better to furnish the room according to a linear diagram. Furniture should be located along the length of the long walls. The result will be visual compensation for the shortcomings of an elongated room.
Modular cabinets can be mounted on the opposite plane to the sofa. It is also reasonable to build in a TV panel here.
Textile
The choice of textiles is one of the final stages of transforming the interior of the hall. When decorating spaces, you should avoid using elaborate decorative elements, ruffles and draperies.
It is enough to cover the window with light, “airy” tulle. A good option for a living room in a Khrushchev-era building is the installation of Roman or Japanese curtains.
Lightweight fabrics do not overload an already cramped space. Roll structures fit into the interior of a small room without taking up extra space.
Lighting Features
In a living room with a distinct rectangular shape, it would be appropriate to install two identical lamps instead of one central chandelier. For a very small room, a compact flat model with bright LED lamps is suitable.
A room in a Khrushchev-era building is equipped with spotlights, table lamps and bulky floor lamps are replaced with wall sconces.
In order to give the room lightness, it is advisable to choose lamps with glass or mirror shades.
Cabinets, shelves, racks, niches and plasterboard structures can be supplemented with LED lighting or built-in light bulbs. It is better to decorate the TV area with soft and subdued lighting.
Design examples in various styles
Scandinavian style is characterized by incredible warmth, comfort, beauty and laconicism. The design uses light shades, wooden objects, natural textiles, and also welcomes the presence of rough, unprocessed textures. Various decorative items in the form of a checkered blanket and sofa cushions, live potted plants or cute handmade items are especially suitable for a Scandi interior.
Decorative simplicity, muted color palette and light provincial charm are the main characteristic features of French Provence. This style involves natural materials, a lot of light and visual space. The room is furnished with light wooden furniture with an antique touch and decorated with linen or cotton textiles. To complete the design, a few small trinkets are added.
The photo shows the design of a rectangular living room in a Khrushchev-era building in a classic style.
In a loft-style living room, it would be appropriate to arrange modular furniture pieces with simple geometric shapes. A leather sofa and armchairs in combination with a coffee table made of wood or metal are perfect for the living room. The room can be decorated with unique decorative elements, posters, figurines or art objects.
The photo shows interior design in Provence style in the living room of a Khrushchev-type apartment.
Living room in Khrushchev: real photos of modern ideas
The smaller the room, the more light it needs to be. It is good to paint the walls in the living room white or light and cool shades, such as light gray or blue. Cool colors create the impression of more space, while warm colors do the opposite. Therefore, with a small living room, it is better to avoid colors such as yellow, orange or red.
To decorate the living room, it is better not to block the windows and minimize the location of windows in the Khrushchev room. It is advisable to place a light table under the window rather than a heavy sofa. It is also good to ditch heavy curtains in favor of lightweight blinds, such as Roman blinds, thin blinds or blinds in a color similar to the color of the walls.
