Do-it-yourself redecoration of the Khrushchev

In detail: do-it-yourself redecoration of the Khrushchev from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

When renovating apartments in Khrushchev, the main goal is to combat worn-out communications, expand a small space and save money. The latter is especially important for residents of Moscow Khrushchevs in connection with the adopted housing renovation program. Of course, I don’t want to invest in renovating an apartment in a house that is going to be demolished. But what to do if the resettlement schedule is unknown or the resettlement is not planned for the current or at least the next year, but only after five or even ten years? We found out from the pros.

In many series of Khrushchevs, the internal walls are not load-bearing, this makes it possible for redevelopment with the unification or expansion of the premises. So, the bathroom can be expanded at the expense of the corridor, and the kitchen can be partially combined with the next room, provided that it is installed in the resulting doorway, if a gas stove remains in the apartment and a gas water heater is present.

One of the characteristic features of the Khrushchevs is the heating pipes inside the interior walls. To form an opening, you will have to retreat from the outer wall enough so as not to destroy the heated part of the interior partition. Or, having dismantled the wall as much as possible, weld pipes to the riser and place a new wall-mounted radiator.

The level of the floor in different rooms of apartments in Khrushchev often differs and during repairs, its leveling becomes a mandatory step. Be careful when calculating the thickness of the screed - slabs are not designed for heavy weights. You should also take a differentiated approach to the reconstruction of the floor in rooms with a screed (kitchen and bathroom) and with a wooden floor on logs (usually in rooms).

Video (click to play).

For the same reason, use only lightweight materials such as drywall to erect new partitions.

Calculate the technical equipment of the apartment in accordance with the capacity allocated for the apartment. In Khrushchevs, it usually does not exceed 3 kW, which forces a thoughtful approach to the choice of a particular piece of equipment and a general set, giving preference to class A.

To minimize risks, change the aluminum wiring to copper and install a separate circuit breaker for each stressed line.

The thickness of the internal and even inter-apartment partitions in Khrushchev is so small that it becomes difficult to create hidden electrical wiring and install sockets and switches.

If replacing partitions is not part of your plans, open wiring can be a good solution, moreover, it fits into completely different interior styles - depending on the design of the switches and sockets chosen.

The thickness of the outer walls in those Khrushchev buildings, which are built of reinforced concrete panels, is only 30–40 cm, which provides insufficient thermal insulation. Insulation of the walls, which should not take place from the inside of the house, but from the outside, is a rather difficult job, if it is done within the framework of one apartment, in addition, it violates the appearance of the facade of the building.

When replacing radiators, add one or more sections to each room. But do not abuse this advice - a significant increase in the number of radiators or sections in an apartment can disrupt the thermal balance of the entire house.

After the renovation, the joy from the retained ceiling height is likely to be higher than the frustration from the visible joints of the slabs - therefore, plaster and paint the ceiling instead of “eating” priceless centimeters with the stretch profile.

In small areas, it is important to minimize the thickness of the finish layer so as not to “eat up” precious space.So, for example, by abandoning tiles in the bathroom in favor of paint, you can save 1–2 cm on each wall.

Do not use high skirting boards that visually shorten the height of the ceiling, or at least paint them in the color of the walls. And choose the ceiling cornices, which with their larger side go to the ceiling.

Another opportunity to compete for height is high interior doors that visually raise the ceiling. But being non-standard by the standards of manufacturers, they always entail a rise in the cost of the project. As a more affordable alternative, you can offer a false extension of the door upwards - for example, installing a transom or painting a part of the wall above the opening in the color of the door.

To make the 5.5 square meters of the kitchen functional, place wall cabinets up to the ceiling and use a wall with a window. When installing kitchen cabinets along it, the only limitation is the height of the window sill - it is lower than the standard work surface. The decision must be made individually - sometimes the level of the cabinets above the window sill is acceptable, if there is still an opportunity to wash the windows when they are not fully opened.

In other cases, a variable (lowered in this part) headset height is acceptable. Or a narrow dining table can be a continuation of the window sill, the required height of which just coincides with the window sill. A completely cardinal option, which is sometimes found in design projects, is a partial laying of the window opening from the bottom to the desired level of the countertop.

When organizing a U-shaped kitchen, remember that, according to ergonomic requirements, the passage between two rows of cabinets should be at least 120 cm. Sometimes, in order to comply with this parameter, the lower cabinets, which do not accommodate household appliances, require a non-standard, shallower depth.

Apartments in "Khrushchevs" have a number of shortcomings, so the task of repair is not only to decorate the premises, but also to eliminate all the shortcomings of Soviet housing construction. Nevertheless, every home craftsman can cope with this work. And the recommendations and useful tips that you will receive in this article will help you with this.

The disadvantages of Khrushchev, which must be eliminated during the repair process, include the following important points:

small walk-through rooms - this disadvantage can be eliminated by redevelopment and competent zoning of the space;
creaking wooden floors - you can get rid of this drawback by laying new floors or pouring a screed;
low level of heat saving - therefore, all such apartments need insulation.

The disadvantages of Khrushchevs include creaking wooden floors and small rooms.

In addition, when repairing Khrushchev houses, like any other apartment itself, it is necessary to align the walls and ceilings, as well as replace old communications.

It is necessary to start repairs in Khrushchev with the replacement of communications. And this applies not only to sewerage and water supply, but also to electrical wiring. The fact is that old wires, which, roughly speaking, have served for half a century, are not able to provide an adequate level of security. If you are not strong in electrical engineering, it is better to entrust this work to professionals.

Most often, repairs begin with the replacement of communications

Also, the old cast-iron sewerage and metal pipeline are subject to replacement. If this is not done right away, then soon there may be a need to re-perform the repair, and not only in your apartment, but also in the apartment of the neighbors on the floor below.

As a rule, it is impossible to turn Khrushchev into decent housing without redevelopment. Most often, the meaning of the latter is to remove the interior partitions and, accordingly, reduce the number of rooms. So the redevelopment of a one-room or even a two-room apartment usually comes down to turning it into a studio.If the apartment is three-room, it can be used to make a “two-room apartment” with a spacious living room and bedroom.

I must say that the elimination of partitions allows you to solve several problems at once:

significantly increase the useful area of the apartment;
make housing lighter, which is especially true for apartments located on the north side;
increase the area of the kitchen, which in Khrushchev is always too compact;
decorate the apartment design beautifully and modernly - studio apartments look interesting and modern.

Redevelopment is not complete without removing partitions

Also, by redevelopment, you can expand the bathroom, which is another problem of the Khrushchevs. If it is split, it is advisable to remove the septum. On the one hand, this will make it less convenient to use, but more spacious and roomy. In addition, you can add a little space to the bathroom at the expense of the hallway.

It is allowed to remove partitions if they are not load-bearing. If the walls are load-bearing, the redevelopment must be coordinated with the BTI.

The disadvantage of removing partitions is that the space for all functional areas is common, while the need for a separate kitchen or, for example, a bedroom remains. This problem is solved by dividing the space into zones. There are several ways to implement this technique:

using different finishing materials - different materials on the floor and walls will visually create the boundaries of the zones, as a result of which the interior will look more orderly;
furniture - with the help of shelves, cabinets and other furniture elements, you can not only delimit the space, but also limit the view of various zones, for example, hide the bedroom area;
lighting - different lighting devices will also help to visually delimit the space.

To limit the view of a particular area, you can use portable screens.

There are other ways to increase the usable space of the apartment. The most effective solution is the rational use of free space. For example, in the kitchen, you can turn window sills into work surfaces. Instead of a pantry for storing various things, you can use the mezzanine under the ceiling, while at the expense of the pantry itself, you can expand the bathroom or living space.

I must say that in terms of increasing the usable space, the owners of apartments with a balcony have the most opportunities. If the latter is well insulated and finished, then it can be used as an additional room, for example, an office, a resting place or even a sleeping place.

Another interesting solution is combining the balcony with the room. True, for full accession, i.e. Removing the wall between the balcony and the adjacent room requires permits from a number of organizations. And if you just remove the window block without touching the wall, you won't need permission. In this case, the wall can serve as a functional element, for example, in the kitchen, it can be used to make a bar counter or a cutting table.

If you have a studio apartment that does not have a balcony, you can win a few square meters by using folding furniture. As a rule, the bed takes up the most space, so a wardrobe bed will help to increase the space. Another interesting solution is a pull-out bed from a pedestal, however, it is not always possible to implement it because of the low ceilings in Khrushchevs.

You can use a sofa bed or chair beds. Such furniture is especially good as extra sleeping places in case of the arrival of guests.

If the floors in the Khrushchev are concrete, then it will not be difficult to level them. But what if they are wooden? There are several solutions to this problem. The most common is to level the floors with plywood or OSB.In this case, it is necessary to first repair the base: if the old boards are fastened or rotted, they need to be additionally fixed on the logs or even replaced.

For leveling floors with a dry screed, it is not necessary to resort to the help of professionals

Then plywood sheets are laid on the floor. If the subfloor has large drops, it is best to make an adjustable floor. Its principle lies in the use of special racks that allow you to adjust the position of the sheets according to the principle of ordinary furniture adjustable legs. In this case, thermal insulation material can be laid between the plywood sheets and the base. It will not only make the floor warmer, but also improve sound insulation, which is also very important for apartments in Khrushchevs. You can lay carpet, linoleum, laminate or even parquet on top of plywood.

There is another technology for leveling wooden floors, which is easy to implement with your own hands - this is a dry screed. Its principle is that the floor is covered with bulk material, most often expanded clay, after which the embankment is leveled in a horizontal plane. For alignment, you can use beacons, as for a conventional screed.

Read also: DIY home renovation ideas

On top of the bulk material, special gypsum fiber sheets are laid, which are joined together in a folded manner. Any finishing materials can be laid on such a rough coating, as well as on a conventional cement-sand screed. The advantages of a dry screed, in addition to ease of installation, include the fact that it simultaneously insulates the floor and provides sound insulation.

Any renovation involves replacing old Soviet wooden frames with modern double-glazed windows. However, this is not enough to solve the problem of energy saving - Khrushchevs in any case need full insulation. It can be implemented in two ways - from the outside and from the inside.

To preserve an already small area, it is preferable to insulate outside

As it is not difficult to guess, it is much easier to carry out internal insulation than external insulation. But do not rush to follow the easy path, as it has a number of disadvantages:

the walls insulated from the inside completely cease to be heated. As a result, moisture may form between the insulation and the wall, and cracks may appear on the walls;
the ceilings are cooled, to which the cold wall is adjacent;
the useful space of the room decreases - in a large apartment this disadvantage can be neglected, but for a two-room apartment with a standard area of 43 sq m and even more so for a one-room apartment, the decrease in space does not go unnoticed.

Therefore, it makes sense to resort to internal insulation only if for some reason it is impossible to carry out insulation from the outside, for example, you were not given permission to change the appearance of the facade or the apartment is adjacent to an unheated elevator shaft.

As a rule, insulation on the outside is carried out with foam - this is an inexpensive and at the same time effective thermal insulation material. But if your apartment is located on the ground floor, it is more advisable to use extruded polystyrene foam (polystyrene foam), which has a higher compressive strength. Accordingly, this material is more resistant to other mechanical loads, including shock.

The insulation is glued to the walls with special glue and additionally fixed with dowels. The surface of the insulation is reinforced with fiberglass mesh and covered with decorative plaster. This insulation technology is called “wet facade”.

For wall insulation from the inside using a frame method, i.e. under drywall, it is better to use basalt wool - it is an environmentally friendly, fireproof and vapor-permeable material. It is better to use foam or extrusion material under the plaster.

Even the owners of modern apartments in new buildings have to deal with curved walls, so there is no need to talk about the quality of the walls in Khrushchev at all. Plaster is the traditional way of leveling them, but many apartment owners refuse it. The fact is that the plastering process is dirty, lengthy and very laborious, especially if the walls and ceilings have large differences.

There is no need to talk about the quality of the walls, so they are leveled without fail

If you have not dismantled the partitions, then you may have to face the plastering of the shingles, which has its own difficulties. Therefore, it is much easier to sheathe uneven surfaces with drywall and then putty. At the same time, it is possible to place the insulation in the spaces between the gypsum board and the walls, as well as hide all communications. As a result, repairs in your Khrushchev will significantly accelerate.

The only thing that can be plastered is a bathroom using a cement plaster mixture. This rough finish tolerates moisture well. Subsequently, you can easily glue the tiles to it or mount any other topcoat.

In general, the decoration of the walls and ceilings of the Khrushchev does not have any features.

The interior design and, in general, the visual perception of the entire apartment depends on the finish, so it also requires a competent approach. Since Khrushchev, even without internal partitions, remains a small apartment, it is advisable to use light colors in the decoration, especially if your home is located on the shaded side of the house.

Wallpaper gives the effect of three-dimensional image

Light colors will make the apartment not only lighter, but also visually more voluminous. I must say that it is not at all necessary to use exclusively white color; rather, on the contrary, it is better to replace it with pastel colors. Otherwise, you risk turning the apartment into hospital wards.

Another problem of Khrushchev's apartments is low ceilings. Visually correcting this disadvantage will allow ceiling coverings with reflective objects. For example, stretch glossy ceilings do this task well. In the bathroom, you can even use a suspended mirrored ceiling.

To see in advance how well this or that design solution will look in the apartment, you can prepare a three-dimensional project on a computer using specialized programs. If you are a beginner, you can order such a project from specialists.Here, perhaps, are all the main recommendations for performing repairs in Khrushchev. The rest of the work is done in the same way as in the repair of any other apartments.When there was a shortage of urban housing stock in the country, the problem of a shortage of apartments was solved by the construction of "Khrushchev houses". These 4-storey and 5-storey buildings were remembered for their closeness, but this was the best solution for resettlement of Stalin's communal apartments after the war.In these houses, the architects obviously skimped on the area of the kitchen, bathroom and hallway - the beginning of a narrow corridor. Original ideas for repairs in Khrushchev are an opportunity not only to modernize the old housing stock, but also to make it as comfortable as possible.Small houses were built in the 60s and 80s by entire microdistricts and cities, up to the 90s. In the Brezhnev and perestroika times, projects of improved planning appeared. But the so-called Khrushchev buildings, designed for 50 years of operation, have remained the basis of urban development in the Russian Federation. They are actively removed only in the capital.

In the regions, the main method of improving housing conditions is a do-it-yourself overhaul of the Khrushchev. The degree of transformation depends on the "neglect" of the apartment and the financial capabilities of the owners of far from elite housing. Image - Do-it-yourself redecoration of Khrushchev

In those days, a number of similar projects were introduced into mass construction:

Brick 4-storey houses on a reinforced concrete frame.
Panel buildings made of reinforced concrete panels with a large number of load-bearing walls.

Modernization of old cramped apartments is done in different ways - from "cosmetic" to major repairs. Some projects are so successful that it is difficult to guess in a prestigious apartment with an insulated balcony and underfloor heating the former "Khrushcheba", as you can see on the photo in the network.

The degree of transformation varies:

replacement of windows and a number of other measures to insulate the apartment;
leveling and facing surfaces;
renovation with redevelopment;
partial dismantling of walls and partitions with the unification of the areas of adjacent rooms;
rethinking the usable area through zoning and the addition of an insulated balcony;
partial dismantling of walls and walls in the form of arches with the installation of glass partitions;
transfer of interior doors and construction of additional passages so that there are no passage rooms;
active use of visual methods of expanding the area;
renovation of the bathroom and kitchen with modern cladding materials (preliminary dismantling of pipes, baths, sinks, sinks and toilet bowls) with the installation of compact plumbing.

Even if nothing can be changed in a house without an elevator and a garbage chute, this can be more than compensated for by interior furnishings with a fashionable apartment design.

Attention: It will not be possible to remake the Khrushchev without significant expenses. With a minimum investment, you cannot do without dismantling old coatings, communications and plumbing, it is important to make a high-quality leveling of surfaces.

For redevelopment, you will need permission from the BTI and the city architectural supervision, so that the demolition of the walls does not threaten collapse.

If you make high-quality cladding with modern materials with your own hands, it will come out inexpensively and beautifully, as in the photo of the repair in Khrushchev.

Before choosing wallpaper, linoleum or paint, draw up an algorithm of actions. Competent renovation planning and a sensible choice of interior style will facilitate the workflow and help save energy and finances.

Tip: If the family has a modest budget, it is better to break down the transformation of the Khrushchev into stages, performing step by step, so as not to start an "eternal" repair. After completing one room, proceed to another so that the apartment does not look like a battlefield with barbarians for a decade.

First, make a revision, getting rid of old furniture, mezzanines, doors and everything that is morally outdated. Use surface "modernization" techniques on sturdy, level surfaces.

Draw up a work plan for each room and separately for the types of work covering the entire apartment (insulation, replacement of pipes and plumbing, leveling the floor or ceiling).

When buying finishing materials, do not forget about ideas for the visual expansion of space (mirrors, photo wallpaper with optical illusions and 3D effect, vertical and horizontal lines).

Use zoning techniques and space optimization with built-in furniture if it is not possible for everyone in the family to have a separate room. This somehow compensates for the lack of personal space and makes the time of cooking, relaxing or working on a PC more comfortable.

Choosing a design style, you can decorate rooms in different ways, but do not forget that adjacent rooms should not contrast, but complement.

The style should match the functionality of the room well if there is no single solution. For example, marine - for the bathroom, romanticism - in the bedroom, fusion - in the living room and hallway, and Provencal style - in the kitchen.They can be combined with a common color scheme - cold, warm or neutral, depending on the type of natural light (north, south).

When decorating the ceiling, walls and floor, do not forget about low ceilings, so multi-level structures will be inappropriate. It is better to choose simple finishes after leveling surfaces, such as self-leveling floors and liquid wallpaper for the ceiling.

If it is impossible to take permission to redevelop the Khrushchev, it is really possible to make an arched opening in the secondary wall with a grinder and strengthen it with a steel corner.

If at some stage you need the help of specialists or specialized firms, do not ignore this opportunity. They will place your order quickly and professionally. You can save on dismantling and cleaning surfaces from old coatings.

When finishing, use finishing materials of the latest generation, abandoning traditional wallpaper, linoleum and whitewash, so that in a couple of years you will not have to "modernize" the design.

Today, it is difficult to do when renovating in techno, loft or hi-tech style without innovative materials, lighting techniques and a combination of spectacular textures.

Attention: It is advisable to use ready-made space planning projects during the renovation of the kitchen in the Khrushchev or for the transformation of the entire living space. This was done by professionals who know all the secrets of the optimal layout of every square centimeter of space.

Small-sized one-room Khrushchev buildings are difficult to radically expand, even if you give a more modern look like a studio apartment.

At the same time, partitions are transformed between the living room and adjacent rooms - the kitchen and the hallway (corridor).

Renovation of a room in Khrushchev usually ends with the purchase of modern furniture, lighting fixtures and necessary accessories.

Curtains are one of the most affordable ways to complete a design.

When choosing the style of curtains, it is important to choose not just the drapery you like or multi-layered sewing, but to be guided by the style.

Japanese minimalism is suitable for the living room - with its free space, compact low furniture and flat screened curtains.

For the bedroom, two-layer curtains of an asymmetric cut are suitable, where the lower panel is solid translucent, the upper one is of an arbitrary shape.

Massive chandeliers with many bulbs are not for Khrushchevs with their limited space. It is better to use economical diodes and flat and hemispherical ceiling luminaires.

Spotlighting is a popular zoning technique. This is very handy when you can add lighting in different places with one touch of a button at arm's length:

in the kitchen above the cutting surface;
table lamp, floor lamp or sconce at the computer desk;
over the head of the bed in the bedroom;
along the perimeter of the ceiling in the nursery from the diode tape;
by the mirror in the hallway.

The look of the renovated Khrushchev building largely depends on the choice of furniture. It should be compact and versatile:

a sofa bed with a convenient transformation mechanism in the living room or bedroom;
bunk beds and furniture complexes on 2 levels in the nursery;
transformers and folding planes of any format;
extended window sill with tabletop function;
a bar counter in the kitchen instead of a dining table or as a way to differentiate between the cooking block and the dining area in the living room (after the demolition of the partition);
stackable chairs and stools;
folding seats in the hallway and on the balcony;
upholstered furniture with boxes and drawers under the seats;
built-in wardrobes and narrow pencil cases in any empty corner;
glass shelves and multi-level corners that create the illusion of no furniture;
instead of closed cabinet furniture - lightweight double-sided shelving and whatnots, which are used in zoning as partitions.

When choosing textiles and wallpaper colors, keep in mind that a large pattern and black color "steals" space, it is better to refuse them.

Chromed metal and glossy surfaces enhance illumination.

Khrushchev's metamorphoses require large investments, but with the right choice of design, the result will surpass all expectations.

Not everyone has the means to hire a construction team to do the renovation. In addition, people who are not always found on the ad will really do everything to their conscience. If you do not need a global remodeling of the premises, you can make cosmetic repairs yourself. This is a very fun and easy process. The main thing is to purchase everything you need, observe the phased work, do everything carefully and with heart.Here's what you need to purchase before redecorating:

Spatulas - wide and narrow;

Primer;

Putty (dry or ready-made);

Wallpaper;

Ceiling tiles and glue for them;

Flat brush, rag;

Skirting boards for floors and ceilings;

Floor covering (linoleum, laminate);

Roller with a long handle;

Cuvette;

Glue for linoleum (if you lay it);

Film, scotch tape for covering furniture.

Move furniture out to make space. Place the things from the closets in large bags, bags and also transfer them to another room. If the cabinet is heavy, there is no way to turn it over to another room, disassemble it by carefully folding the components. If this method does not suit you either, move the cabinet away from the wall, cover it with a wide cellophane film on all sides, secure it with a stapler or tape.After all unnecessary has been removed from the room, proceed to dismantling. Tear off the old skirting boards first. If they are made of wood, it is convenient to remove them with a nailer. If these are plastic skirting boards on screws, a screwdriver or screwdriver will help.Now you need to remove the old wallpaper. Starting from the bottom of the wall, pick them up with a spatula and tear them off. If in some places they are glued "conscientiously", soak a roller in hot or warm water, walk it over the old wallpaper. Wait 10 minutes and you can easily peel off the paper. You can use a special tool that also moistens the wallpaper, and then removes them without problems.If this phrase scared you before, now you will see how easy and interesting it is to do. Pour the required amount of primer into a cuvette, dip a roller into it, remove excess liquid product. Cover part of the wall with it, and then all the walls in the room.The primer dries quickly. Within an hour you can start filling the walls. The putty can be bought ready-made - soft, in sealed plastic bags. This method is suitable for those who do not have a construction mixer, but have a car, since it is unrealistic to carry or carry such a large amount of heavy putty, and you will need a lot of it.Can be purchased dry in paper bags. In this case, you pour some of it into a bucket, add water according to the instructions and mix with a construction mixer. If not, dilute the product in small amounts and mix with a spatula.Let the putty brew a little and proceed to the next stage of work. Align the walls as follows: scoop up a putty with a small spatula, put it on a large one. Fill the entire blade of a large spatula with the product, attach it to the wall, spread the mass evenly over its surface. Do this until the section of the wall is flat.Will tell you how to carry out these works and make repairs with your own hands, video. It clearly shows how to level, plaster the wall.Watch a video lesson about plastering walls with your own hands: