The corridor is a special place in our apartment. Of course we don't spend a lot of time in it, but we pass through it many times during the day. It is also the room on which the first impression of the rest of the house is built. Thus, the design of the corridor in Khrushchev is very important. Often such a corridor is dark, cramped and not very easy to arrange. Therefore, the interior of the corridor must be carefully thought out.
Colors of the floor, walls and ceiling space in the Khrushchev corridor
Apartments in buildings built during the reign of Nikita Khrushchev can boast of one unpleasant feature. Namely, extremely modest dimensions. This fact is especially noticeable in the corridor. The distance from floor to ceiling is only two and a half meters. Therefore, you should be extremely careful when choosing colors for decorating walls, ceilings and floors.
Any color has its own individual characteristics and properties. For example, White color and light colors of various shades can visually expand the free space. Still, you should not overuse white; it is advisable to use it in its pure form only on the ceiling. Light colors of various colors are suitable for walls. warm colors: brown, green, yellow. It is not advisable to use easily soiled and overly light colors. In the corridor, very often people lean and rub against the walls, which leads to their contamination. And the lighter the color, the faster it will get dirty.
The floor in a Khrushchev building is the only detail that does not require a special color approach. The flooring can be made of any color (excluding light colors) - this will have virtually no effect on visual spatial perception. Which allows you to show all your imagination.
Finishing materials for walls and floors of Khrushchev
Khrushchev apartments cannot boast of having a large amount of free space. Therefore, to tidy up the walls, you should use materials and methods that do not reduce the already small amount of free square footage. The walls should be leveled using a variety of plasters and grouts. Even if the wall surfaces have a very large curvature, the use of drywall is not advisable. It greatly conceals the free space in the corridor. As a last resort, if the height difference is very significant and cannot be smoothed out by plastering, you should treat the walls using a grinder with a diamond blade. This way you can reduce the number of unevenness to an acceptable amount and then use regular plaster. This type of finishing will be the optimal solution when carrying out work in Khrushchev-era buildings.
The color scheme for the finishing material of the floor should be chosen based on what colors were used for the walls. The floor should be slightly darker than the walls and ceiling. An excellent choice is to use bog oak or dark-colored linoleum as flooring. It is advisable to take good quality materials. The corridor is a place where crowds often occur. And the wear resistance of the floor covering must be very high.
Furniture for the hallway in Khrushchev
Since the corridor in apartments of this type is extremely small, it is worth limiting yourself to having a minimum amount of furniture. You should not place bulky wardrobes there, since the already narrow hallway in the Khrushchev building will become even narrower. It is best to place this kind of furniture in another room. You should limit yourself to a small wall hanger with a shelf above it for hats. You should purchase a special stand for shoes.
It is desirable that each shelf can accommodate two or three pairs of shoes, which can be arranged in one row in width. This is necessary to save free space. In addition, a mirror is needed in the corridor. Especially if there are women among the apartment residents.
You should not use a mirror on a stand. An excellent solution would be to use a wall mirror. In addition, it will help to visually increase the amount of free space if you install a mirror across the entire surface area on one of the walls of the corridor. The room may seem too empty, in which case it is advisable to install an umbrella stand or a small trellis. All of the above is a mandatory minimum of furniture that is needed in the hallway and corridor. If the dimensions are small, they should be limited. If it is difficult to find furniture for the corridor in a Khrushchev-era building, it can be made to order, according to your size.
Lighting in the corridor of a Khrushchev-type apartment
Properly placed light sources in the room will help visually increase the amount of free space. An unusual and interesting solution is to install a large mirror on the wall, from floor to ceiling. With proper lighting of the mirror plane, the free space visually increases very significantly.
In addition, it should be remembered that in small room There should be no dark corners or other unlit places. This creates the impression that there is much less free space than there really is. To avoid this, light sources should be installed throughout the entire ceiling area. Ideal for this Spotlights with 35 W halogen lamps.
Installation of most lamps of this type may require a plaster or suspended ceiling. Both of them conceal the volume of free space in the corridor in height. But don't be upset. If you use a stretch ceiling made of reflective fabric, you can easily compensate for this drawback. In addition, to simplify the lighting in the corridor, you should make the ceiling white or very light colors. They, unlike matte or dark paints, do not absorb light, but reflect it.
Renovation of the hallway in Khrushchev photo
Gallery of corridor design in Khrushchev - photos for inspiration and options for implementation.
Repairing a corridor in a Khrushchev or Brezhnevka building and its design is not an easy task, requiring special attention and scrupulousness.
Everyone knows that the designers of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings didn’t really bother with the layout of apartments and rooms, and it seems that corridors were the last thing they remembered.
There was no talk of any design whatsoever. But times are changing. The design of an apartment today is the face of its owner.
And who would want to let guests into a dingy little room, where more than 3 people cannot be in the corridor at the same time, because it’s cramped, and no one will even stutter about the beauty of this space.
But it is not all that bad!
Because even from a small room with low ceilings and improper lighting you can make a piece of candy, if, of course, you know how. Well, we know. And let's share our experience.
You will never be ashamed to invite guests again; on the contrary, you will be proud of your apartment and will be happy to show it to visitors!
Well, any apartment, as you know, begins with an entrance hall and a corridor, so we will talk about them in this article.
Where to start – color and textures
And you need to start with a choice color range. The design of the entire corridor in Khrushchev or Brezhnevka will depend almost entirely on the colors that you choose.
And you need to choose colors that will visually increase the space in the apartment and make your corridor voluminous and light.
There is nothing worse for a corridor than black or gray wallpaper on the walls and black tiles on the floor. So you will bury your corridor, and the apartment will get it too.
No matter how many light bulbs are hung on the ceiling and walls, nothing will save the corridor. And don’t think that very few people use black tone and gray wallpaper, no, just the opposite!
For some reason people love to glue them in the hallway! A serious mistake that must be avoided at all costs!
A small corridor requires light, soft colors. Everyone probably knows that black visually makes it smaller, and light, on the contrary, expands and enlarges the space in the apartment.
Women know this especially well, so you can completely trust a woman in choosing the design of the corridor (at least the color scheme for it).
And most importantly, it is better to use not monochromatic and cold colors, but textured and warm ones, as in the following photos.
And since we touched on the problem of choosing a texture, let's talk about that too. Light wooden textures will look very good in the corridor, but definitely not stone ones.
Rough, heavy and sharp-angled textures are best reserved for large rooms; for small ones, the same soft and smooth surfaces are suitable.
In the next photo you can see just such a successful use of wood trim.
It is also worth considering that the color of the floor should be slightly darker than the color of the ceiling and walls in the Khrushchev, so the room will become somewhat more voluminous and will not turn into a box without walls, floor and ceiling.
And please do not use bright or multi-colored wallpaper. They may be perfect for the design of a room in an apartment, but not for a corridor or hallway.
Finishing and design of walls in Khrushchev
The task is difficult. In Khrushchev, and in Brezhnevka too, there is nowhere to turn around, and even more so in their corridors.
There are several options for increasing (at least visually) the space of a narrow corridor and a small hallway:
- Cover the walls in the apartment (in the hallway, including) with light-colored wallpaper. This is exactly what we have been talking about for so long. It is only worth emphasizing that in order to get rid of excessive “officiality” and “sickness”, you just need to choose the right furniture, which we will discuss below;
- Division of space. You can play with wall decoration. For example, decorate part of a wall in one style, and then smoothly (or even abruptly) transition to another. This is a common technique that is used to design a hallway in an apartment. And, in principle, it is correct and truly effective. The main thing is to know when to stop;
- There is no need to make arches in the walls, much less hang curtains on them! It just eats up space. Forget about them. They have long gone out of fashion, and Khrushchev buildings are not at all suitable for small corridors.
In terms of wall design, in general, this is all that can be done.
We will only add that to decorate the walls in the corridor or hallway of a Khrushchev-era building, you can use wallpaper (a cheap but short-lived option) or tiles (it doesn’t look very impressive in the corridor, but it will last you a long time).
Instead of tiles, you can also use porcelain stoneware, liquid wallpaper (they can look very impressive in the hallway; see photo) or decorative plaster.
Ceiling and lighting
With the ceiling everything is quite simple. Suitable here too light colors: cream or light beige, and white will be the most ideal option.
You can also make ceilings from plasterboard, for example, in the form of clouds. This will give the corridor volume.
It is advisable not to make symmetrical drawings, because they will slightly distort the space. Be careful with this. But in general, everything here is much simpler than with walls.
The situation with lighting is much more complicated.
In Khrushchev and Brezhnevka there is usually one light bulb in the middle of the corridor, but this really spoils the whole picture. It doesn't illuminate anything.
Darkness kills the entire design, and even the most bright interior becomes dull and inconspicuous. And it happens that this unfortunate light bulb is on the wall. This definitely needs to be fixed.
If you are making a ceiling from plasterboard (that is, a stretch ceiling), then several light bulbs along the edge or edge of the stretch ceiling will look very nice.
The main thing is that the light is enveloping and not unidirectional. Enveloping light will make the room voluminous and visually wider.
But one chandelier in the center of the hallway or corridor will look poor and will not be able to provide sufficient lighting.
But even this can be fixed, just add another lamp to the wall or illuminate the ceiling with several LED lamps. All in your hands! You are free to choose and improvise.
You can see interesting projects in the photo below.
Besides, in a good way to expand and at the same time divide the space in the apartment (room) will be the use of ceiling skirting boards and dividing tapes.
Furniture and mirrors in the hallway
In the corridor and hallway, it is better to use Khrushchev as much as possible less furniture. Small bedside tables with a stool or chair, wardrobes or wall shelves with hooks will save space.
The main thing is to use light shades again. Light wood and plastic are what really work well for narrow and small corridor Khrushchevka.
Simple wall mirrors will have little effect on the situation. Everything they say about large floor-to-ceiling mirrors is not entirely true. Yes, your entire corridor will be reflected in such a mirror. And what?
It is still clear that this is just a reflection. Sometimes such a mirror even confuses and interferes with the entire interior of the corridor. But mirrors can also be used, only together with an LED strip.
The secret of combining mirror and LED strip and their effect on space is still unclear, but if it works, use it!
You can see interesting design options with mirrors in the photo.
Improvise, try and don’t be afraid of anything - these are the three golden rules that will help you in renovating any room, not just a small one, not just a corridor, not just a Brezhnev or Khrushchev-era building.
Happy renovation!
So, the main one distinctive feature All Khrushchev apartments have small rooms and low ceilings. So before you start there do-it-yourself corridor repair in Khrushchev, you need to carefully consider what tools and materials you will need.
Repair of ceilings in the corridor of Khrushchev
The question arises: where to start repairing? It's better to start with the ceiling and walls. Ceiling decoration is one of the most difficult stages, since their height in Khrushchev-era buildings is, as a rule, no higher than 2.7 m. Many owners of small apartments simply prefer to paint the ceiling with white paint or lime. And this has its certain advantages, since light colors of the ceiling can visually increase the space.
There's a good selection now suspended ceilings, which will also look good in the hallway.
You can choose a glossy or matte ceiling, satin, as well as various others. If there are cracks in the ceiling, then you need to cover them with plaster, and thus make the surface smooth. The same goes for walls.
As already noted, if the corridor is dark and small, then be sure to choose light ceilings. Dark tones will look good on ceilings or walls only when they have a contrast with light shades.
We carry out wall repairs
The walls in the Khrushchev-era corridor can be covered with wallpaper as in the photo. It is very important to glue exactly the first strip of wallpaper. Then we glue the others to the first strip, overlapping or end-to-end. You need to carefully remove all air bubbles from under the wallpaper so that they lie flat. It should be noted that on the walls of the corridor they will also look good modern wallpaper, for example, liquid wallpaper, or those that have a special coating that allows them to be washed.
And after the wallpaper is pasted, you need to attach the baseboard.
Next we carry out floor repairs. On the floor, as in any other room, you can stick, for example, linoleum. Or you can send the floor with laminate. But you should always remember that all materials used for repairs must be selected so that they do not take away centimeters of free space from the corridor, which is already small.
Decor in the Khrushchev corridor
So, in order to visually enlarge the room a little, you need to know some tricks with mirrors. It is better to place them not opposite light sources, that is, not opposite windows. That is, according to the rules, the light should fall on a person from top to bottom.
We spend practically no time in the hallway; we gallop through it several times a day, and for an apartment dweller it becomes something completely unremarkable, like an appendage to the door. Especially in a small Khrushchev, where there is nowhere to turn around. But despite this, even the smallest hallway can play a huge role if a person enters an apartment for the first time.
Features of cramped hallways
The condition and attitude towards the hallway can be judged by the character of the residents, their cleanliness and, ultimately, their hospitality. On the one hand, it’s sad that the design of a small hallway in a Khrushchev-era building, the photo of which we posted on the page, can be severely limited in size. On the other hand, repairs and redevelopment will not take much time and effort.
The nightmare layout of the corridors in most Khrushchev buildings can easily confuse a novice designer, and even more so the owners who decide to renovate it. Narrow corridors, standard - 1.25 m, a cluster of partitions, and often corner layouts - all this has to be taken into account, and if we summarize all the difficulties of working with a small hallway, we get the following:
Functions and tasks of the hallway
Any hallway, in addition to its aesthetic value, is designed to at least conditionally separate residential area from the entrance to the apartment. It is important both from a hygiene and aesthetic point of view. There is even some psychological factor- the guest's perception of the residential area must be prepared.
When developing a hallway design, it is very important to understand that any excess furniture, no matter how useful it may be, can simply create interference when moving around the apartment. Moreover, if the layout is made in such a way that several doors open into the hallway. Therefore, despite the fact that the hallway is not formally a living space, it needs to be equipped taking into account the fact that it is still part of the apartment that carries a certain aesthetic load.
Features of choosing furniture
We are still talking about the functionality of the room, which means that we still cannot do without furniture. For example, instead of large closet for clothes, you can fit into the interior a small wardrobe for accessories and small items, which is designed for clothes for two or three people maximum. Such a cabinet can easily fit hats, umbrellas, and shoes underneath.
Repairs in a small hallway will most likely affect the flooring. It also has its own characteristics. Since the floor here wears out very intensively, it is worth choosing a wear-resistant and moisture-resistant material for its construction. Why not use clinker tiles, stone or ceramic tiles for these purposes?
At the same time, the most advantageous look are those flooring materials that do not differ too much in color from the main tone of the floor in the apartment. This will create the impression that the hallway flows into the living area, creating the impression of a much larger area than it actually is.
Small hallway lighting
Undoubtedly, a dark hallway is one of the most difficult rooms to remodel. Therefore, the importance of lighting is difficult to overestimate. The light must be sufficiently bright and uniform, and this can only be achieved with the help of several point light sources. It is good if one bright light source is located near the top of the mirror. This will allow you to see all the details of the clothing, and in addition, it will provide additional lighting for the hallway.
The choice of hallway lamps based on color and brightness is also very important. Incandescent or halogen lamps should be bright enough, and it is preferable to use economy lamps in a natural daylight color. It is also very good if the wardrobe has its own lighting from the inside. In addition to additional light, this will have a positive effect on the ease of use. The narrow and high hallway in the Khrushchev-era building loves vertical light, which is reflected from the ceiling and softly diffuses throughout the room.
Decoration Materials For walls, it is also worth choosing those that will not become very soiled and will be washed well; in addition, it would be nice if the wallpaper or other finishing material was wear-resistant. Thus, taking into account the design features of a small hallway, you can get rid of its main disadvantages and make it comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Good luck with the renovation everyone!
Corridor area in standard Khrushchev hardly exceeds 3-4 square meters. m., so decorating its interior is not the easiest task. In order for such a complex area of the apartment to turn out spacious, bright and cozy after renovation, you need to think through four important points: decoration, furniture, lighting, mirrors. If you pay attention to these factors Special attention, the design of your hallway will surprise you with its functionality, comfort, and aesthetics.
Finishing: hiding flaws
Finishing is an excellent tool for correcting the shortcomings of a small corridor. The main thing is to choose the right material and color.
Walls. Most suitable option for cladding the walls of a small hallway -. Choose vinyl or non-woven ones - they are durable and can be wet cleaned, so they will not cause any hassle in cleaning.
Floors. The flooring in the hallway should be as wear-resistant as possible, so we recommend paying attention to the following options:
- linoleum;
- tiles with anti-slip coating;
- laminate.
Ceiling. Everything is simple here - it is best to paint the ceiling or wallpaper it. Drywall and other hanging coverings will steal several centimeters of the corridor, and given that there are so few of them in the Khrushchev-era building, do not regret these cladding options.
Separately, it is necessary to say about the color scheme of the finish. Considering that the hallway in the Khrushchev-era building is small, you need to use light shades, but since it is in this room that dirt from the street regularly gets in, it is important to take care of the practicality of the color scheme. Therefore, the best option is a combination of shades:
- beige – brown;
- white – gray – black;
- blue - blue;
- sand – honey – brown;
- light yellow – orange.
Another appropriate option is light wallpaper with a contrasting small pattern: splashes of water and small stains of dirt are practically invisible on such a finish.
Advice. If your hallway is long but narrow, widen it with wallpaper with horizontal lines. Also, to even out the proportions, you can make the far short wall several shades darker than the long ones.
Furniture: choosing practicality
The first rule that should be followed when choosing furniture for a corridor in a Khrushchev building: it should be as compact and ergonomic as possible.
Of course, even a tiny hallway cannot do without a closet. So that it does not take up much space, place it taking into account the subtleties of the layout of a particular corridor. So, if the room is long and narrow, install the cabinet against a short, blank wall. In a rectangular and square corridor, you can resort to traditional furniture and place the closet on any side convenient for you. In a hallway with a corner layout, the best location for the headset is the main corner. And in vestibule corridors you can often find a small niche that should serve as a storage room - place a closet in it, thereby saving usable space.
Use a special shoe rack to store shoes and related accessories. It can be presented in three variations:
- closed - shoe rack in the form of a cabinet or bedside table with a seat;
- open - shoe rack, which is a structure of three to five open shelves;
- slim is a narrow and tall shoe rack up to 20 cm wide with folding shelves that open at an angle from 30 to 90 degrees.
Also in the hallway you need to find a place for all sorts of little things: keys, telephone, Notebook, umbrellas, etc. Perfect option– a multi-level hanging shelf with the following elements: a stand for letters and notepads, a compartment for a telephone, a number of small hooks for keys and large ones for umbrellas.
Lighting and mirrors: increasing the space
To avoid the uncomfortable effect of dark zones, several types of artificial lighting should be present in the corridor:
- central light - ceiling chandelier or spot lights;
- local light - devices that illuminate a specific area;
- directional light - lamps that highlight the necessary piece of furniture.
Advice. Use lighting with matte shades - they soften the harshness of the light, so even with large quantities With the lights on, your eyes will not feel the strain.
And, of course, mirrors will play a good role in a small hallway - they will help to visually expand the space and bring a feeling of transparency. The main and largest mirror should be located near the closet. You definitely need to install a couple of small lamps around it: this way the light will be reflected in the mirror and spread throughout the corridor. Several decorative mirrors in different parts of the room will not be superfluous.
Hiding the shortcomings of a small hallway in a Khrushchev building is much easier than you think. Just take into account our simple recommendations and then you will definitely be able to design an interior that will not only perfectly perform its functions, but also delight you with impeccable comfort and stylish appearance.
Hallway in Khrushchev: video
Corridor design in Khrushchev: photo
