Words such as "Khrushchev", "Stalin" are incomprehensible to modern Europeans, uninitiated in Russian reality. These concepts characterize the layout options, more precisely, imply the unofficial name of residential buildings. Apartments Khrushchev appeared during the reign in the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev. They are typical small-sized rooms with low ceilings, small separate bathrooms and toilets. Given the relevance of the housing issue, many Russian families are happy with such an acquisition, and are trying by any means to make them cozy, comfortable for living.
Differences between Stalin and Khrushchev
Stalin women have high ceilings, a comfortable layout, they have always been considered an elite housing. Only the best representatives of the Soviet intelligentsia, as well as valuable employees of various government departments, received housing in such houses. The Khrushchevs are tiny, the ceilings in the rooms are not high, such housing went to ordinary citizens.
Advantages and disadvantages of Khrushchev
Small-sized housing is characterized by a lot of minuses. Household and residential premises have a minimum area, there are difficulties with redevelopment. The bathroom and toilet resemble a closet, they are absolutely not like their "brothers" even in European hotels. The window size in Khrushchev is so small that the installation of modern double-glazed windows requires an individual approach. In such houses there is practically no noise and sound insulation, conversations are heard in the apartment of the neighbors.
Despite the huge number of shortcomings, millions of Russians live in such apartments all their lives. There is a similar layout and advantages. Compared to the stalinkas, the Khrushchevs have more modern engineering communications, so it is easier to create conditions that are comfortable for living. The wiring in the stalinks is not designed for severe overloads, often short circuits occur. In Khrushchev, no such problems were identified, only in case of violation of the network operation rules.
Ceiling Features
The ceiling height in Khrushchev is 2.5 meters, which is a serious problem. If the owner of the housing is of medium height, he will be able to reach the ceiling with his hand. When warming the floor and using a stretch ceiling, the height decreases dramatically, the apartment turns out uncomfortable and uncomfortable for residents. In stalinka, the ceiling height is from three meters, you can make stretch ceilings, insulate the floor.
How to make a beautiful ceiling?
In Khrushchev, crowding begins at the entrance. Narrow platforms, problems when moving up stairs with bulky goods are commonplace for such houses. In large-block buildings (GI), ceilings reach 2.5 meters. Kitchens and sanitary rooms resemble small storage rooms. In panel structures I-355, I-515/5, I-515 / 9sh, ceilings have the following height of 2.55; 2.48; 2.55 m respectively. In the 606th series, ceilings are 2.7 m, but housing is considered an economy class option.
In 111-90 and 111-96 large-panel houses, ceilings reach a height of 2.64 meters. It will have to make a lot of effort in order to visually expand the tiny space. The ceiling height in Khrushchev helped to save on construction, to build more housing. In addition, heating costs were significantly reduced, the number of square meters increased.
If the ceiling height in Khrushchev was three meters, the houses would be one floor lower, and a much smaller number of families would receive the long-awaited apartments. In those days, many people huddled in barracks and communal apartments. They were sincerely glad even to small apartments.
Tension and hinged structures for ceilings can significantly change the appearance of the room. Since the standard ceiling height in Khrushchev is 2.5 meters, a similar design option does not suit them. The room will seem squat, the structure will “eat up” additional centimeters of free space.
In the case of a professional approach, the height of the ceilings in Khrushchev will not become an obstacle to the implementation of design ideas. Along the perimeter, the ceiling height is made smaller, in the center they form a niche with original mirror inserts or they stretch a glossy ceiling. Small Khrushchevs are not a reason to refuse to use modern finishing materials, to be limited to painting or whitewashing.
Wallpapering the ceiling
This is the easiest way to decorate the ceiling structure in Khrushchev, it does not imply a reduction in free space. The material can be simple wallpaper or special polymer ceiling tiles with a beautiful design. The use of such materials guarantees an aesthetic ceiling. First, the base surface is leveled, glued onto liquid nails or certain adhesive compositions of a plate or wallpaper. The cost of such repairs will be minimal, but the result is impressive.
Stretch ceiling
If you want to equip a suspended ceiling structure in an apartment, choose not multi-level options, but a classic single-level system. It involves the use of profiles with a slight thickness, so the space in the room will be stolen to a minimum. The distance between the main surface and the tension web should not be more than 3 cm, then the ceiling height in the Khrushchev will almost not decrease. Built-in lighting devices are able to lower the ceiling by almost 5 centimeters. It is better not to use them in apartments of this type. If you want to hide utilities under the ceiling, you will need at least 15 cm, which is unacceptable in the case of small-sized dwellings.
The ideal solution, given the size of the window in Khrushchev, would be to use a mirror or glossy canvas in white. Scattering and reflection visually expand the room.
If you have Khrushchev, planning its ceiling is a laborious process. When installing the tension option, consider the risk of frequent cuts, punctures. The possibility of reflowing the canvas increases in those places where lighting fixtures are installed, so the use of LED lamps will be the best solution.
Redevelopment
If you have Khrushchev, its layout is probably inconvenient for living. That is why many owners of such housing are trying to change something in it. Such events require consideration of the features of the architectural and technical plan of the building, coordination of redevelopment with BTI. There is no need to tear down the walls in order to adjust the rooms. First you need to move the doorway. As a result, you will win in the square.
If the door is located in the center of the smaller wall, it is moved to another place, as close as possible to the corner of the room.
Swing doorways have a significant drawback - a huge space for closing, so they are changed to a compartment or an accordion system.
At the next stage, redevelopment visually expand the space due to window blocks. In this way, the number of square meters in the apartment cannot be increased, but with a frameless design of window openings, the visual effect is sure to please.
Division into zones
Zoning a trapezoidal or rectangular room helps to create a working corner, a "bedroom", a living room in a small apartment. There are certain rules of this process that require a logical separation of one zone from another, taking into account the location of the source of natural light.
The working area is located in the far corner, separating a translucent screen from the territory for recreation. We do not recommend placing the workplace between the window and the entrance, it should be in the corner of the room. It is more practical to make a bedroom a single relaxation room, without distinguishing zones in it.
Choose an interior
In a small apartment, it is difficult to imagine, for example, the antique style, it requires large spaces, high ceilings. In Khrushchev, you need to combine light colors with wall decoration, a minimal amount of furniture.
Minimalism is ideal for arranging rooms. A contrasting and austere interior will maximize the use of free space. The design should be dominated by a light tone: ivory, white, sand, beige, gray as a contrast and complement.
The color chosen for the background should be present on all types of planes: walls, floor, ceiling, large elements of furniture. For decorating surfaces, dark shades are allowed.
Conclusion
Having become the owner of Khrushchev, do not fall into despair. Remember that with a skillful approach, you can make a cozy family nest from a small apartment.