It's no secret that a large percentage of our country's population continues to live in houses built by Khrushchev. For many Soviet families, Khrushchevka became the first and long-awaited home of their own. As a rule, apartments in Khrushchev-era buildings were distributed from organizations on a first-come, first-served basis. A lot has changed since then. We usually get such apartments from our grandparents or purchase them with a mortgage as the most affordable housing. How to competently renovate a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building?

The layout of a standard apartment in Khrushchev is probably known to everyone. As a rule, these are one or two rooms (usually adjacent), a six-meter kitchen and a three-meter combined bathroom.

New owners often receive an apartment in a very poor condition. But if you spend a certain amount of time, money and effort, then an ordinary Khrushchev building can be turned into quite presentable housing.

If you take a responsible approach to the task at hand, then even the owners of apartments in new buildings will envy your new, stylish and comfortable interior.

We propose to start renovating an apartment in Khrushchev with the bathroom. We talked about the design of a Khrushchev-era bathroom in another article.

Main problems

Khrushchev apartments were initially positioned as a budget housing option, so they are completely free of any frills - both in aesthetic and practical terms.

The layout provides for a minimum of usable space - exactly as much as is needed to satisfy primary needs. The bathroom is no exception. In a standard adjoining bathroom there is barely room for basic plumbing equipment - a bathtub, sink and toilet. But we still need to place a washing machine, shelf, mirror, towels, cosmetics and household chemicals there. Therefore, issues of beauty and convenience often fade into the background, giving way to issues of saving space.

So, the first problem of renovating a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building is the extremely small area.

The second problem is related to the fact that Khrushchev buildings are, if not dilapidated, then very old houses. The very first Khrushchev buildings date back to 1959, and the last ones were built in 1985. That is, today, the “youngest” Khrushchevites are about 30 years old. Many houses have not undergone major repairs for decades, so the condition of all engineering systems - sewerage, water supply, ventilation leaves much to be desired. Since modern plumbing fixtures often require connection to new, reliable water and sewer pipes, if possible, it is better to replace the entire wiring. What cannot be replaced must be overhauled.

In addition, the poor condition of communications and the impossibility of replacing or moving them limits the freedom to remodel a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building.

The third problem applies not only to Khrushchev-era buildings, but also to any hastily built housing. This - uneven walls that require additional work in order to be tiled.

Dismantling works

It is best to plan the placement of plumbing fixtures and furniture in the bathroom after you have dismantled all the old equipment and decoration. Having a “blank slate” before your eyes will make it easier for you to fantasize. Preparatory work should begin with the dismantling of plumbing equipment. Before doing this, do not forget to turn off the hot and cold water supplies.

After the old plumbing has been removed, we proceed to dismantling the water pipes, if necessary. Next, you should get rid of the old finishing coatings. Paint is removed from walls and floors using a stiff metal brush, and tiles are knocked down with a hammer drill or hammer and chisel. If it is necessary to level the floors, then the screed is crushed with a hammer drill to the concrete. Remaining debris and dust must be thoroughly swept away.

Pipe replacement

You need to start replacing water and sewer pipes before the floor and walls are leveled. First you need to have an accurate plan for the placement of plumbing equipment, in accordance with which the pipes will be laid in the bathroom.

If possible, replace old cast iron pipes with plastic ones. They are no less reliable than cast iron, but weigh much less, so installation can be done alone. In addition, plastic pipes and tees help free up several centimeters of usable space.

The pipes are laid in grooves in the wall or attached to it with metal clamps. If you wish, you can hide them in a niche made of plasterboard, but it “eats up” quite a lot of space. Since free space in a Khrushchev building is worth its weight in gold, it is better to spend time on chiselling and plastering the walls.

When laying sewer pipes, do not forget about the slope. It should be 10-20 mm per linear meter. If necessary, increase the thickness of the concrete screed on the floor, but be sure to respect the slope of the sewer pipes. Where the pipe distribution connects to the riser, provide the possibility of installing a pass-through tap so that you can independently turn off the supply of hot and cold water.

Electrical wiring is done before finishing work, since laying wires will also require trenching the walls.

Provide the required number of sockets in the bathroom, preferably double ones. with the appropriate protection class. The switch should be located outside the bathroom.

If there will be many electrical appliances in the bathroom, install a residual current device on the wiring.

Selection of materials

If our goal is to spend as little money as possible on bathroom renovations, then the best option is to paint the walls with waterproof paint.

In addition to being cheap, this option has another advantage: by purchasing white paint and tint, you can achieve exactly the color you need, whereas other finishing options do not always provide this opportunity.

But there is one significant nuance here: in order for painted walls to look truly beautiful, you need perfectly even walls, and it is very difficult to achieve such walls in a Khrushchev-era building.

Their only drawback is that this finish is not “forever”; sooner or later it will have to be replaced with a more durable material.

The most common wall decoration is tiled and porcelain tiles. These materials have earned their popularity due to their long service life, resistance to temperature changes and waterproofing properties. Today in the store you can find tiles of various shapes - square, rectangular, hexagonal. There is no point in talking for a long time about the variety of colors and patterns - there are a huge number of variations. If you are not satisfied with ready-made solutions, you can create your own patterns by combining tiles of different colors and textures.

Think about the color scheme of the bathroom in advance; the perception of the room as a whole directly depends on it. The features of choosing and decorating walls in the bathroom are discussed in detail in another article.

Tiles are the best covering not only for walls, but also for bathroom floors, since only it can provide the proper level of waterproofing. There are other options for bathroom flooring. The cheapest of them is linoleum, the most expensive is waterproof laminate. But in terms of their characteristics, both options are inferior to a tiled floor.

The ceiling can simply be painted with white paint or covered with plastic panels.

Firstly, it looks great, and secondly, it will protect you from leaks from above. And if you choose a glossy material, then visually the ceiling will appear even higher than it actually is.

The ceiling design should fit into the overall design of the bathroom. The ceiling in the bathroom can be very different, read our review and make your design dreams come true.

It is important to remember that you can start finishing the ceilings only when the walls are finished.

Preparing surfaces for finishing

Preparing the floor and walls for laying finishing materials begins with the dismantling of old coverings, which we have already described above. After the old coating has been removed from the walls, they need to be leveled if necessary. Use special cement-based plaster for this. When the plaster has dried, treat the walls with putty. You can also level the walls using plasterboard sheets, but this method will significantly reduce the already small area of ​​the bathroom.

The floor is prepared as follows: After dismantling the old concrete screed, remove any remaining debris and dust, install waterproofing, do not forget about the 15-centimeter overlap on the walls, and pour a new screed.

Wall tiling

Procedure:

• Using a plumb line and a building level, mark horizontal and vertical lines on the wall.
• Prepare the tile adhesive and apply it with a spatula to the area of ​​the wall where the work will be carried out.
• Then use a special serrated spatula to go over the treated area of ​​the wall. The glue will form grooves.
• Place the tile against the wall and press down lightly. Adjust the distance between the tiles using plastic crosses.
• When the work is completed and the tile adhesive has dried, treat the seams with tile grout.

Selection of plumbing

Owners of apartments in Khrushchev have to be very thoughtful when choosing plumbing fixtures for the bathroom.

First of all, you need to make a choice between a bathtub and a shower cabin, since in a small room there is only room for one of these devices. A shower cabin allows us to save space, which is useful for us to install, for example, a washing machine. In addition, older people and people with disabilities find it much easier to use a shower without assistance than a bathtub.

Meanwhile, the bathtub is convenient for bathing small children or washing large items that require delicate hand washing. In addition, many people like to soak in warm water and fragrant foam at least sometimes.

The vertical flush system allows you to place the toilet close to the wall, so you’d better opt for it.

Door selection

When choosing a bathroom door, you need to consider the following important points:

• The door must be resistant to temperature changes and moisture, and not deform over time.
• It must have heat-insulating and noise-insulating properties.
• The doors should have high-quality handles and locks, as they wear out the fastest in the bathroom.
• There should be a ventilation hole in the door. If there is none, provide a gap between the door and the floor during installation.

Also read our article, which discusses in detail the choice of doors for the bathroom. This way you can avoid getting lost in the huge selection and choose a quality door.

Bathroom doors are usually made of tempered glass, plastic, wood or chipboard. If you choose products from reliable and well-established manufacturers, no matter what material the door is made from, it will definitely serve you for a long time.

To save space, you should pay attention to sliding doors or swing doors that open in both directions. You can also opt for folding doors, which are made according to the “accordion” principle.

The door to the bathroom can only be installed after all finishing work has been completed. If you nevertheless purchased a regular swing door, then during installation make sure that it opens outward and not inward to the bathroom.

In winter, unexpectedly, a major overhaul came to our forty-year-old Khrushchev building. But still, as they say, no matter what is done, everything is for the better. Looking at how the plumbers replaced the old cast-iron risers of the Khrushchev-era building with polypropylene and PVC, I finally gathered my thoughts and realized that if I don’t start a major renovation in the bathroom and toilet now, I will never start it in this house.

Initial data and idea

The bathroom in my Khrushchev apartment is separate. The clear dimensions of the bathroom are 1520*1360 mm, but with certain manipulations they can be increased by 5-6 cm in each dimension, which I will discuss below.

The main idea of ​​the new bathroom was to turn the bathtub 90 degrees and orient it along the far wall (opposite the front door). In my wife’s and my opinion, this position is more rational, although we understood that we would lose ten centimeters in length.

Preparatory work

I took about two weeks to prepare for the immediate start of work in the bathroom to decide on the design of the future bathroom: draw up the wiring of water supply and sewerage, ventilation, tile laying scheme, etc.

So, what is a bathroom like in a typical Khrushchev panel building? In fact, it’s just a cabin that was cast somewhere at DSK and, already assembled, installed in its place in the Khrushchev-era building during construction. The cabin walls have a scanty thickness of 3-5 cm and are made of reinforced gypsum concrete. The material is very weak and easily crumbles with a hammer drill or even a hammer. In the figure below, the walls of the “cabin” are shaded and, as we see, they are adjacent to two load-bearing walls of the Khrushchev building, in one of which (between the kitchen and the bathroom) there are ventilation shafts.

In renovation practice, the most common option is to demolish the Khrushchev-era partition between the toilet and the bathroom, which supposedly makes the bathroom more spacious and creates a lot of additional space. However, in my opinion, this is the most common misconception: no matter how much I tried to hypothetically design such a “spacious” combined bathroom in my Khrushchev-era apartment building, nothing worked out for me.

As I already said, the dimensions of the bathroom in my Khrushchev-era apartment are 1360*1520 mm. We had a 150 cm bathtub on the long side, which we decided to replace with a 140 cm one and put it on the short side. For this, from the existing dimensions, I was missing 4 cm, which I decided to obtain by demolishing the wall of the bathroom adjacent to the load-bearing wall of the Khrushchev building with ventilation shafts. This "plasterboard" was broken with a regular mason's hammer in just three to four hours. The hardest thing was to take out almost two full bathtubs of construction waste. The reinforcing mesh is carefully cut with a grinder.

Unfortunately, I cannot demonstrate the old, pre-renovation look of the Khrushchev-era bathroom, but believe me, everything was very sad there.

I warn you that by demolishing the Khrushchev wall, you deprive the ceiling of one point of support. It is composed of the same gypsum concrete and is part of a solid “cabin”. It can also be dismantled, but I decided to simply strengthen the bathroom ceiling by supporting it with 40*50 mm timber and 10*100mm dowels - this is quite enough.

Two of the four walls in the Khrushchev-era bathroom turned out to be crooked, with a blockage of up to 3 cm, so I had to start leveling them.

After I renovated the kitchen and hallway in my Khrushchev-era apartment, I already had some plasterer skills, but in the bathroom I decided to use a different method of leveling the walls, which I really liked in the end. Holes are drilled in several rows in the wall, self-tapping screws are screwed into them, the heads of which are aligned and thus the reference points of a new, flat and strictly vertical plane are obtained (in the first photo below you can see the screws sticking out of the wall on the right). We prime the walls and wait 1.5-2 hours. Next, we take slabs of moisture-resistant plasterboard 1500*600 mm, which are ideally adjusted to the dimensions of our wall in Khrushchev (1520 mm) and “glued” to the wall using a special adhesive solution for plasterboard. Unlike plaster, the adhesive composition hardens faster (up to 20 minutes), so the slabs do not slip. The composition is applied in “buns” every 15-20 cm, on which the gypsum board slab is placed and tapped with a mallet or pressed with a rule so that the plane of the slab coincides with the plane of the previously exposed screw heads.

The joints between the slabs are sealed either with the same compound or simply with plaster. The time it takes to level the wall takes only 20 minutes, that is, exactly as long as the adhesive mixture diluted in the bucket hardens.

Just try to move 120 kilograms from its place, and then carry it out so as not to bomb half of the apartment in the Khrushchev building (already renovated, by the way). I watched videos on YouTube of how these cast-iron bathtubs are cut with grinders, drilled with drills, and even smashed with pound weights! (cast iron is a brittle material and can be chipped/broken). However, my wife’s uncle stopped me in time and said that all these baths are easy to take out if you do everything correctly and technically.

While the guy was at the entrance to the house, I managed to loosen the bathtub, put it on its back and remove the legs. The thresholds were covered with thick rugs, and soft tourist rugs were laid along the path of our movement from the apartment. In this vertical position, we carefully carried the bathtub onto the landing of the Khrushchev building and then further up the stairs we took it out into the street without any problems. On this day, our apartment lost its last original element - an old Soviet cast-iron bathtub.

So, now I have nowhere to wash in the Khrushchev-era building, so I need to act quickly and efficiently so that the new bathtub is in place in at least three to four days. The first thing to do is water supply and sewerage.

Water supply and sewerage

I had replaced the old cast-iron sewer system in the Khrushchev-era building a year earlier; now I just had to change the routing of the PVC pipes in the Khrushchev-era building and do one very labor-intensive piece of work - chiseling the wall for the sewerage system and water supply at the future location of the sink (on the right in the picture).

Grooving the load-bearing walls of a Khrushchev building is not a good thing, and it is doubly bad if you grate horizontally and not vertically. But on construction forums and a number of websites, information was found that if the depth of gating does not exceed a third of the thickness of the Khrushchev wall, then this type of work is still possible, or, as builders put it more simply, you can gable up to the first reinforcement, no further.

Armed with a powerful hammer drill and a grinder with a diamond blade for concrete, I began this dirty work. For self-defense, it is imperative to have a respirator, safety glasses and gloves.

In total, it took me about 4 hours to do the gating. The depth and width of the groove is such that it is possible to install a sewer pipe with a diameter of 32 mm into it. Be sure to provide a slight slope of the pipe (5 degrees) on the horizontal section to ensure water flow. We remove the sewer pipe from the groove using angular elbows (at 45 degrees) and install an adapter from a diameter of 32 mm to 50 mm (the main diameter of the sewer). This part of the sewer will already be hidden by the bathroom (blue mark on the wall), so there is no need to engage in further gating.

We assemble the sewerage following the same rule - the slope towards the riser should be about 5 degrees, so that the water does not stagnate in the pipes, but drains normally.

A little trick: to make PVC pipes easily joined, lubricate them with liquid soap.

This is the wiring left behind by the plumbers who replaced the riser in the house.

I don’t know if it could have been done somehow more practical and simpler? I think it was possible. Two polypropylene ball valves (32 mm) and a jumper between them are not a basic option. I asked the plumbers to make such a design so that I could install the heated towel rail myself, without involving anyone. Without a jumper, during the installation of the towel, I would have to leave my entire Khrushchev-era apartment without hot water.

I drew a diagram of the future distribution of water supply and sewerage for the Khrushchev-era bathroom on a piece of paper. It is necessary, including in order to correctly calculate the number of fittings and pipes needed to purchase.

With this scheme, I went to the construction market, consulted with the seller again and bought everything I needed. From him, the seller, I borrowed a special soldering iron for polypropylene pipes for a week. I had no experience working with such a tool, but I have seen how plumbers do it, and YouTube is always at hand. For training, before the main work, I took a couple of extra couplings to play around with - the soldering process is quick and not at all complicated.

What you need to know when installing a water supply system from polypropylene pipes:

Pipes come in different diameters, but 16 mm (1/2 inch) pipes are most often used for water supply, and 32 mm (1 inch) for heated towel rail connections.

Pipes are available separately for hot and cold water supply. Pipes for hot water have internal reinforcement, which is visible in the cut (red).

Sellers may say that the water in our pipes is not that hot, so you don’t have to worry about it and install identical pipes for cold water supply, but in this case, due to the temperature, they can and will definitely cause deformation (stretch), which can be quite unpleasant. For example, in my case, the plumbers who changed the risers during the overhaul of the Khrushchev building made do with one type of pipe (for cold water) and when hot water began to circulate in the system, these pipes simply spread apart and my lintel became crooked (look at the photo of the toilet above).

You can solder pipes in one person, but it’s more convenient to do it with two people: one holds the soldering iron, and the second puts fittings on it, heats it up and joins it. My wife helped me solder the pipes - it was the best March 8th for her)).

It is better to assemble small elements and components separately and then dock them to the main water supply. The picture above shows the components that will “go” to the kitchen: outlets for the kitchen faucet and outlet for the washing machine.

The pipes are cut with special scissors, but if they are not there, then this can be easily done with a grinder or a hacksaw, in which case you will just need to process the edges of the pipes with sandpaper or the same grinder so that there are no nicks and the cut is smooth.

The soldering iron must be warmed up to operating temperature. We tightly fit the fittings that need to be connected onto it on both sides, count to 8 and then quickly remove the fittings and join them evenly. The most important thing in this matter, after the docking has taken place, is to under no circumstances adjust or move the fittings, even if they are not docked quite exactly as you would like. Such a loose connection can then leak.

It is also necessary to control that the pipe enters the fitting to a sufficient depth (determined by the inner boundary of the fitting socket).

The ideal joint is one where the rim/ring of molten polypropylene evenly goes around the pipe. Under no circumstances should you cut it!

Well, that’s basically all the main recommendations. I don’t know whether it’s correct or not, but I soldered my water supply in the Khrushchev from the kitchen to the riser in the toilet, and not vice versa. It took me the whole day to dismantle the old and install new water supply and sewerage systems in the Khrushchev-era building. There are plastic plugs screwed into the faucet terminals (red in the photo), so far there is water only in the kitchen. We turn on the water, open the tap in the kitchen and check the system for leaks. I was lucky - not a single leak was found.

One more point regarding the connection of pipes to the mixers. For a washbasin faucet, the distance between the pipes is not particularly important, because the connections will be made with flexible hoses, but a bathroom faucet has a fixed distance between the pipes - 150 mm. Therefore, the distance between the centers of the fittings that are connected to the mixer must be exactly 150 mm. If you missed the mark by a couple of millimeters, then it’s okay - you can then adjust it using “ducks” (special sleeves onto which the mixer pipes are screwed).

The next stage of work is laying tiles on the floor. I decided to tile the entire floor of the Khrushchev-era building, including under the future bathroom: the overpayment is insignificant, but the effect is much more pleasant.

I did not do any preliminary leveling of the surface, any self-leveling floors, etc. The subfloor of the Khrushchev house was treated with Ceresit ST16 coloring primer in the evening, and the next day in the morning the wife’s uncle arrived - he is our tiler. He laid the floor under the level, and the unevenness was corrected by the thickness of the adhesive solution.

Keramin tiles. Manhattan collection (gray). We laid the same tiles two years earlier in the hallway and kitchen of our Khrushchev apartment building. We decided that in our small Khrushchev house everything should be done in the same style - no Gzhel and gypsy stuff, which irritated my uncle, the tiling worker, for quite a long time.

In place under the bathtub lay the tiles left over from that renovation; as you can see, they have a different tone from the new purchased tiles.

After the glue dried the next day, I hollowed out a niche in the plaster wall that will be located above the bathtub and is intended for shampoos and other small bottles. Alabaster grabbed the water pipes in the groove and then plastered everything. I didn’t do this before laying the tiles because I had to adjust to the tiler’s schedule.

Installation of a bathtub and production of a screen for a bathtub

While I was waiting for the couriers with the new bathroom, I started leveling the second crooked wall of the Khrushchev building (the wall with the door). The same slabs of moisture-resistant plasterboard were used, the joints between which were covered with plaster. The corners that are visible in the frame were intended for attaching shelves to them across the entire width of the wall (for basins, etc.). During the work, the decorator suggested a slightly different method of manufacturing and attaching such a shelf (I will describe it later).

I also installed an outlet with several degrees of protection (a special outlet for bathrooms) and soldered the pipes for the heated towel rail. Later, it remains to screw the corner brass “American” into them and hang a “towel” on them.

Finally, the new bathtub arrived. We make sure to inspect the product together with the couriers on the street, after which they bring it into the apartment and place it on its back in the bathroom.

Here we need to start talking about the eternal: what kind of bathtub should it be - acrylic, steel or cast iron? You can argue and give arguments endlessly, but I won’t do this, because this is the topic of a separate article. Personally, I liked the German steel bathtub Kaldewei Saniform Plus 140*70. Is steel noisy? Doesn't hold temperature well? Calm down dears, all this is not about her. There are steel bathtubs on sale with a wall thickness of 2 and even 1.3 mm, and this one has a record 3.5 mm. I read a bunch of negative and sometimes terrifying reviews about modern cast iron bathtubs, about the unsatisfactory quality of casting, about how the enamel is already starting to turn yellow literally after a month or two of use...Kaldewei Saniform Plus turned out to be the only bathroom about which there was not a single negative review, but on the contrary, the owners were happy with everything. So I bought it and did not regret it.

I installed the 40-kilogram bathtub in one person, without assistants, which would have been impossible to do with a cast iron product. I installed a siphon/semi-automatic device on it, installed the legs,

and then carefully placed it on the floor. There were two levels on the sides of the bathtub (long and short), along which I installed the product strictly horizontally using adjustable legs. No lifting towards the drain!!! Absolutely all baths have a bottom slope, which ensures normal water flow. To eliminate the slightest wobble, the bathtub must be wedged: wooden wedges are driven between the wall and the side.

A noise test showed that the noise of falling water in this bathtub differs little from what it was in the old cast iron one. If you continue to look at this matter skeptically, then buy a couple of sheets of automotive sound insulation and glue them to the bottom and sides of the bathtub.

Now that the bathtub is wedged and does not wobble, you can start making the screen. To begin with, general provisions:

If you want to make a really good renovation, then refuse any purchased screens for the bathtub.

The screen under the bathtub should be tiled - this is both beautiful and hygienic.

Forget about the last century and under no circumstances make these poor niches for feet. Previously, when they washed in basins or in the bathroom, housewives may have needed them, but today we live in the age of washing machines, so what the hell with these useless niches.

The screen should provide emergency access to the pipes, so a small part (in the siphon area) should either be left open or covered with a piece of tile, which can be easily removed if necessary. It is not at all necessary to install inspection hatches made of steel or plastic.

And also, make the screen strictly vertical, do not experiment with any inclined surfaces. They can seriously spoil the geometry of the room.

Well, now let's start making a screen for the bathtub with our own hands. For the screen frame we will need 27*27 mm steel profiles for plasterboard. Using videos on YouTube, I made preliminary markings under the bathtub (at the bottom left of the frame you can see pencil marks and a long line along the entire length of the bathtub). In general, the markup is done like this:

From the side of the bathtub on the wall along the level we draw a vertical line to the floor - this is the first notch on the floor.

From the first notch we retreat inward a distance equal to the width of the folded edge of the bathtub side and place a second notch.

From the second notch we retreat a distance equal to the thickness of the tile and adhesive layer (third notch) and, finally, we retreat another 12 mm (thickness of the drywall sheet) and get the fourth notch.

The fourth notch will be the edge of our steel frame for the bathtub. Using a level and a ruler, we retreat the resulting distance on the other side of the bath. Draw a straight line between the serifs. We will attach the profile using it.

The steel profile is trimmed with a grinder; to give rigidity to the structure, two profiles are folded and twisted with self-tapping screws. To save myself from the unnecessary drilling of holes in the floor of the Khrushchev building, I glued the lower profile with silicone sealant. The most important thing in this matter is to first reliably degrease the surfaces to be glued with white spirit or acetone. Next, apply silicone sealant and firmly press the profile to the floor. After about an hour and a half, it will be practically impossible to dislodge it. The top profile is glued to the side of the bath in the same way. You can insert bars into the gaps between the bathtub and the profile, again to add rigidity.

The vertical ribs near the wall already need to be mounted on dowels (here you can’t do without drilling), and the middle vertical ones - on self-tapping screws.

Before sealing the space with a sheet of drywall, we run a grounding wire to the bathtub (attached to the black eyelet on the left in the top photo).

Finally, a sheet of drywall with a cutout for access to the siphon under the bathtub takes its place. Cutout dimensions 260x400 mm. The drywall is attached to the profile with self-tapping screws. So, the manufacture of the screen for the bathtub in my Khrushchev apartment is completed.

Room cladding

Again, in the evening I primed all the walls and the screen under the bathroom with Ceresit ST19 primer-paint. When working with it, I strongly recommend that you carefully cover the bathtub with an old blanket or sheet and immediately wipe off the primer if it gets on the enamel or tiles - it will be too difficult to remove it later, after it has dried.

At the stage of preparatory work, I compiled a layout of tiles from the collections Keramin “Manhattan” and the Italian Alta Ceramica (collection “La Petra di Volta”. The apron in the kitchen was laid with Italian tiles and we are delighted with it.

The tiling of the bathroom took two and a half working days. The most difficult job was in the diagonal laying of Italian tiles, but our tiler successfully completed the task.

Ultimately, the niche was made not dark, as in the layout diagram, but light. The frame already shows a new Wassercraft faucet with a short spout, located not at the end of the bathtub, as usual, but on the side, so that it is convenient to regulate the flow of water without getting up from the bathtub.

And here is the shelf above the front door, already tiled. Made from two sheets of thin plasterboard (6mm) screwed with self-tapping screws to a wooden frame (boards 100x18 mm). Basins and containers with clean towels are now stored on this shelf.

The wiring for the fan and hanging cabinet was pre-installed.

Well, that’s how it happened somehow. Upon completion of the work, even the skeptical uncle of the wife melted - he really liked the result of our idea and his work. On the right under the bathroom there is space for access to communications.

Installation of hanging cabinets and more

After all the seams were taped, it was time to install the rest of the Khrushchev bathroom furniture. I liked the mirror cabinet from the Russian manufacturer Aquaton. All small rubbish (deodorants, shaving products, wife's cosmetics) could easily fit into it and there was even some space left. Visually, the cabinet practically does not eat up space in the Khrushchev-era bathroom; because of the mirror, you can’t even immediately understand that this is a cabinet at all.

I bought the fan from the Spanish manufacturer Cataco - always with a cord. That is, the power supply for the fan is combined with the light switch in the Khrushchev-era bathroom, but it is always possible to turn off the device with this same cord.

The inspection hole was closed not with a wretched hatch, but with a piece of tile to which the counter strips of furniture magnets were glued. The seam between the tiles was sealed with fugue-colored sealant. The result is a seemingly monolithic screen under the bathtub, but if something happens, the sealant will simply be cut off and the tiles will be removed with a suction cup - access to communications is open.

The heated towel rail was one of the last to be hung. In order not to damage the brass “American” ones when tightening the thread, I recommend holding some kind of thick rag between the wrench and the nut. Well, yes, the threads are packed either with tow and unipak, or with thick Teflon thread. For greater reliability, I also recommend buying several gaskets for an inch pipe (I forgot what material they are made of, but they do not press through as they are rubber).

I ran water on the towel - everything was sealed. Again, lucky.

For a long time we couldn’t decide on a hanging cabinet and washbasin for the bathroom, but at the very last moment we found a wonderful product from AM&PM Like 80 cm. After installing the bathtub and covering it with a screen, there was only 79 cm of space left to install the hanging cabinet and at first I was worried that -for this unfortunate centime, you will have to take the cabinet already. But as it turned out, 80 cm is the width of the washbasin, and it protrudes beyond the dimensions of the cabinet by 1 cm in each direction, so the width of the cabinet is 78 cm, which naturally suits us. You can say it's perfect))

The choice in favor of a hanging cabinet was because visually it is not as bulky as a floor-mounted one. Plus, again, there is always access to the siphon under the bathtub (remember about the inspection hole). The photo also shows a socket with a protective shield.

The Wassercraft faucet is from the same series as the one on the bathroom - cute, angular, just the way we like it)) The sink has a bottom valve with a click-clack system (press - you can draw water into the sink, press again - flush the water).

This is the room we ended up with at the end of the main work.

It's hard to imagine an apartment without a bathroom. This is often the first place you want to visit after a hard day at work to relax and wash away all the negativity. Therefore, you should pay enough attention to the design to make your pastime even more enjoyable.

However, the situation becomes more complicated if the bathroom is in a Khrushchev-era building, where it is usually very small and cramped. This article provides practical advice on the correct layout and conservation of bathroom space in a Khrushchev-era building.

Compact bathroom in Khrushchev

Thinking through the design of a small room and fitting all the necessary elements into it is not so easy. Therefore, it is worth starting the repair by measuring the room using a regular tape measure.

Next, you should look at ready-made options for bathrooms in Khrushchev-era apartments on the Internet or at the end of this article. This will allow you to assess the situation visually and help you draw up a floor plan for your room.

You should first think about the arrangement of the main elements, and only then devote time to decorations and interior items, including shelves and small cabinets.

The choice of plumbing fixtures today is very large, so it is quite possible to choose the right size for placement in a cramped Khrushchev-era apartment. Moreover, there is a choice of wall-mounted plumbing fixtures, which often also help save space.

Corner bathtubs are often used or showers are installed instead. If you want to purchase furniture of non-standard sizes, you can always order it by indicating your individual dimensions.

You definitely need to take the correct measurements, take into account the thickness of the facing materials and decorative finishes, since just a couple of sentiments play a big role, and the furniture simply may not fit.

If you are not sure of the correctness of the measurements, it is better to invite specialists who will make plumbing fixtures or renovate the bathroom.

Bathroom layout in Khrushchev

Combined bathroom

One option to save space is to combine a bathroom and toilet, which will add at least an additional 7 square meters. m.

In addition, this has a number of other advantages, such as:

• Increased practical space, giving greater comfort when planning.
• The dimensions of the plumbing fixtures may be larger than with a separate solution.
• Savings on materials due to the absence of the need for additional wall finishing.
• More convenient and faster cleaning.
• Increasing the level of aesthetics by hiding the engineering system and placing plumbing according to ergonomic standards.

A good solution for a combined bathroom can be zoning the room. Of course, it won’t be possible to fully implement it in a small room, but it can help separate the bathroom from the toilet using a combination of finishing materials.

A glass partition can visually enlarge the space, dissolving into the interior while fulfilling its main function of separation.

Also, instead of a regular bathroom, a corner one will be more compact.

Shower cabin as an alternative

As you know, a full-fledged bathroom requires a lot of space, and a small and compact bathroom is not always convenient. As an alternative, a shower stall would be an excellent practical solution.

Despite the plaque that can form in it and the weak water pressure, which makes showering difficult. The cabin has many advantages, in particular the following:

• increasing space;
• reduction in water consumption several times;
• creating additional space for other elements;
• replacing old plumbing with modern ones.

The best size for a cabin is 80 x 80 cm, sometimes 90 x 90 cm may be suitable. A cabin with larger dimensions is unlikely to fit in a small Khrushchev building, and it will also be too bulky.

Washing machine in small bathroom design

Placing a washing machine in a small bathroom is often very difficult. First of all, you need to correctly plan the placement of all plumbing fixtures so that not only everything fits, but also that it is as comfortable and convenient as possible.

When choosing a washing machine, you must remember that if it is wide, then even with the correct layout it is unlikely to fit. Therefore, it is important to choose a model with the smallest width, preferably front-loading.

The ability to accommodate a 34 cm wide washing machine without significant redevelopment is also quite possible. In this case, you can use a bowl-shaped washbasin.

To the side of the front door, such a washbasin should be installed along the wall, and to the left of it there will be space for a washing machine. You can even put it under the washbasin and it will look quite attractive.

It is much easier when the bathroom is combined. This allows you to expand the space and find a place to install this equipment. You can place it opposite the toilet, choosing vertical loading for convenience.

It can also be placed between the bowl and the toilet, or it is possible to organize a special niche for this.

In addition, if the plumbing has not been changed for a long time, then most likely there are bulky coil pipes in the bathroom, taking up part of the space.

If they are dismantled and replaced with modern ones, a sufficient amount of free space will be freed up, which can be used to install a washing machine.

Which finish is best to use in a Khrushchev-era bathroom

Ceramic tile

Ceramic tiles are most often chosen to decorate a bathroom. It is strong, durable, easy to clean and not afraid of moisture. In addition, today you can find a huge number of different design options from monochromatic colors to all kinds of designs and patterns.

In this case, it is important to choose the optimal tile size. The smallest size 15x15 cm will definitely not fit. Due to the large number of seams, the effect of bringing the walls closer together will be observed, which, on the contrary, will make the room even smaller.

Too large tiles larger than 20x30 cm will make the interior look rough and massive, so it is also better to refrain from this choice. In connection with the above, it is best to stick to the golden mean and use tiles of about 20x20 cm.

Advice: When using a rectangular shape, you should lay the tiles horizontally, as this will visually expand the room.

In addition to size, it is also important to pay attention to color. First of all, for small rooms it is worth choosing lighter colors; a dark color will further reduce the space, this also applies to overly bright colors.

You need to choose no more than 2-3 basic shades so as not to overdo it with color. If the main part consists of cold shades, then to add coziness it is worth choosing accessories in warm colors.

Conversely, if warm shades predominate, it is worth choosing cooler colors for accessories. Also, preference should be given to a glossy surface, which can increase the space by reflecting light.

Mosaic and panels in the interior

Mosaic also belongs to ceramic tiles, but is a special type of it. It consists of squares that differ in texture and color. A bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building must be very carefully decorated with such elements.

It is unacceptable to choose a bright design, as this will make the room even smaller. At the same time, abstract compositions and spatial drawings of living nature, on the contrary, help to increase space.

It is better to use panels and mosaics in a small size and not for the entire bathroom. It will look good to highlight individual areas, for example, mirrors, the location of the bathroom.

Regarding the toilet, it would be inappropriate to highlight this area. It is worth remembering that such areas should fit harmoniously and match the tone of the rest of the tiles.

PVC panels

Plastic panels are also popular when decorating a bathroom. This material is also not afraid of moisture and is more economical compared to tiles. Although it is worth noting that in terms of design choice, PVC panels are also inferior to ceramic tiles.

An interesting solution when choosing this material would be the arrangement of panels of various sizes and designs. A combination of contrasting tones also looks good, but in a small bathroom it is better to stick to lighter shades.

Ceiling and floor

Before laying the cladding on the floor, you should first cover it with waterproofing and lay heating mats, which will ensure a comfortable temperature under any heating conditions.

You can use materials such as ceramic tiles, polymer composition, porcelain stoneware. The tiles are suitable for medium or large sizes. Regarding color, it would be better to choose a solid color.

The main nuance in the design of the ceiling is its light color, which is often best to choose white. An excellent solution would be a glossy stretch ceiling, which will reflect light and thus make it appear higher.

However, regular painting is also quite suitable, or you can use suspended plastic structures, fiberglass, or a slatted ceiling.

Lighting and plumbing

The location of the plumbing in the bathroom plays an important role. A small space needs to be used as efficiently as possible to accommodate everything you need.

First of all, you need to choose a bathroom. A regular oval bathroom takes up a lot of space, so as an alternative, you can install a corner, asymmetrical or rectangular model. Right angles will avoid gaps and fill the space as much as possible.

The additional installation of a shower stall along with a bathtub is unlikely in this case. However, it can replace a bathroom and thereby save even more space. The box should be purchased as a corner or rectangular one with sliding doors.

You can also choose rectangular or corner washbasins. There is a wide selection of wall-hung sinks that can be installed above a bedside table or washing machine.

The toilet should be narrow. You can choose a design where the tank is hidden in a wall or niche.

Cabinets are suitable hanging or hidden under the washbasin. Free walls or corners can be used perfectly for this.

Regarding lighting, it is excellent to use LED spotlights embedded in the ceiling.

You can hang a small sconce above the mirror.

Another suitable option would be flexible luminous tape, both on the ceiling and on the walls.

Thus, using the right layout and design solutions, even a small bathroom in a Khrushchev can be compactly and beautifully furnished. The main thing is to think through everything in advance and choose small-sized plumbing fixtures. From the color scheme, you should not use dark tones or bulky bright designs and patterns.

You may also be interested

Any renovation in Khrushchev-era apartments (and the bathroom is no exception) is a very responsible undertaking that will require from you, in addition to taste, rational thinking. Typically, bathrooms in apartments of this type have an area of ​​no more than 5 square meters, and even have a not very convenient layout.

All this makes it very difficult for a non-professional to renovate a bathroom with his own hands.

The small area of ​​the bathroom also complicates the process of selecting and arranging plumbing fixtures and furniture. Installing a washing machine is often not discussed at all.

However, not everything is so sad, and even in a small bathroom you can create a cozy interior if you try hard.

Photo of a bathroom design project in Khrushchev: green floor, white walls

Complex design of a beautiful bathroom in a small Khrushchev building

Choosing a style for renovation

When thinking about decorating a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, do not forget about the design of the entire apartment. For example, a high-tech bathroom will look alien in an apartment with a classic interior, despite the fact that it itself will be very comfortable and beautiful. Here it would be more appropriate to use elements of classical design and natural materials - a wooden cabinet or shelf, gilded sconces near the mirror, marble panels.

The sewer riser can be designed as a marble column, and the washbasin can be replaced with a ceramic or porcelain bowl standing on a countertop made of artificial or natural stone. However, we should not forget that classic design is, first of all, luxury and elegance, so a small room should not be overloaded with decorative elements. For examples of design styles, you need to refer to the photos on our website and on the Internet to choose the direction you like.

Photo of a bathroom with a washing machine under the sink and bathtub

Country style for non-professionals is the most successful, as it implies extraordinary simplicity and closeness to nature. Pebbles, driftwood, natural fabrics and rough crafts can replace most finishing materials and decorative elements.

It is also better to choose the design of the bathtub in accordance with the chosen style - a free-standing bathtub with curly legs will decorate both a classic and country-style bathroom. If it is standard, you can simply add some characteristic detail, for example, the standard front panel can be replaced with a roughly painted wooden one or even a curtain made of canvas or linen.

Photo of a small toilet in a Khrushchev-era building decorated with light brown tiles

A bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building in the style of minimalism, at first glance, seems to be the simplest and easiest to renovate. Indeed, nothing superfluous is allowed here, and all structures have their own functional purpose. But it’s enough to remember that the origins of minimalism are the Japanese style, which has been developing its own rules for thousands of years.

Impeccable lines of surfaces and many other nuances create an elusive play of this style, and any mistake turns such an interior into empty and uninteresting. Small details create this simple style. However, a competent bathroom design in the style of minimalism is perfectly suited for Khrushchev-era apartments - the internal space of such premises visually expands, and its functionality surpasses any other interior options.

Before choosing new plumbing fixtures and bathroom furniture in a Khrushchev-era building, it is necessary to determine the minimum that should really be in the bathroom. After all, many, if they have a bathtub, are ready to give up the washbasin in order to put a washing machine there, or, on the contrary, exchange it for a compact shower. In any case, if there is a shortage of space, you should not install bulky storage cabinets in the bathroom or try to equip it with all the known plumbing fixtures, including a bidet.

Photo of the bathroom - toilet and water heater and design. In red and white shades

Even the most modest size and area of ​​a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building allows it to accommodate a minimum set of items - a washbasin, a toilet, a small cabinet for storing detergents, and a place for bathing. The shower stall in Khrushchev is generally very popular.

Angled and asymmetrical fixtures and furniture are the best ways to organize the space of a tiny bathroom. For example, an asymmetrical hydromassage bathtub with a volume of 300 liters fits perfectly in a small bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, because its length is only 150 cm and its width is 51 cm and 96 cm. It is important to plan such moments in advance during renovation.

Minimalism at its finest. Photo of real repair

Vertical wall space can be used above the washing machine, toilet and door. Hanging cabinets and shelves should not be very deep (up to 25-30 cm), otherwise they will visually clutter the bathroom space. The same rule applies to the washbasin cabinet, and it is better to avoid shelves above a small sink altogether, since bending over the sink to shave or wash in this case will be very inconvenient.

Color solution

Many bathroom design projects are carried out in light pastel colors, which visually expand the space and make it airy and weightless.

Combined bathroom in light colors

In this case, white color can be the main or additional color both in finishing materials for repairs and in furniture or plumbing fixtures. Light pistachio and lemon colors of patterns on the wall or furniture fronts give the bathroom an extraordinary freshness. Delicate cream or peach shades create a special coziness, while traditional blue makes the room cool.

Often a bathroom renovation involves installing an acrylic insert, and the color of the new border must be matched to the color of the enamel or acrylic material. It is generally better to abandon horizontal borders and patterns in a small bathroom in favor of vertical stripes or patterns. The use of two or three colors that harmonize with each other is quite enough to create coziness in a small bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building.

Photo of a dazzling white bathroom

Source: interiorgid.ru

In order for the renovation of a combined bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building to produce concrete results, a complete redevelopment of the premises is often required, which, of course, is quite expensive and troublesome.

1. Area: when we hear the concept of “Khrushchev”, the first association that comes to mind is a minimum of space. Of course, the option of a combined toilet and bathroom is much more pleasant, but such happiness does not happen in every Khrushchev building.
2. Communications: renovation of a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building today requires a global redevelopment, because only in this case can expansion and increase in space be achieved. However, such a plan is most often hampered by laid communications, because they tie plumbing to specific places, which is not always beneficial for changing a room. In addition, during the renovation of the bathroom, an unplanned need may arise to replace communications or wiring, which is quite expensive.
3. Uneven surfaces: one of the main problems of Khrushchev's houses was rather rough and uneven walls. As a rule, when renovating a Khrushchev bathroom, you have to level both the walls and the floor, which is quite expensive and takes a lot of time. It should also be taken into account that when leveling, mortar and putty are used, which take up a considerable layer, and reducing the space does not have the best effect on the bathroom area.

Similar difficulties are encountered on the path of any renovation, and even more so in the bathroom of a Khrushchev house. However, any troubles can be solved; the main thing is to think everything through in advance.

Planning

Renovating a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, like renovating a bathroom, requires a detailed plan, because otherwise any little thing can spoil and complicate your actions. A preliminary plan will help to properly organize the space, increase the usable area, and put all the little things in their places.

A project like this involves arranging furniture, plumbing fixtures, electrical appliances, and even little things like a laundry basket and toothbrush holders.

Consider the finishing options and its shades, because later it will be difficult to change anything.
The plan will help organize the already meager bathroom space functionally and attractively.

Video on the topic: Bathroom renovation in Khrushchev

Description: Anatoly Aristov, general director of the company Favorite Apartment and Favorite Bathroom Turnkey, talks about the renovation of a bathroom in Khrushchev, and the owners share their impressions of the Favorite Bathroom Turnkey.

Video on the topic:

Description: Bathroom design in Khrushchev. TOP 15 bathroom design options.

In this slideshow, I have selected the best options for what renovation should look like in a small bathroom that contains both a bathtub and a toilet.

Often we are faced with a situation where, when we think about how to change the decor in the bathroom, nothing comes to mind due to limited room for maneuver.

Photo of a water heater in a bathroom interior

Despite the general opinion of designers from every corner of the world, today even a child knows that a full bath takes up a lot of space. An advisable solution would be to replace the bathtub with a shower stall or at least a corner bowl. If we exclude drastic options with redevelopment, combination with a bathroom and removal of the wall, the most painless choice would be such a replacement.

Pros of a shower cabin:

1. the amount of water consumed is reduced by 5-6 times,
2. the free space will be much larger,
3. creates space for a washing machine or laundry basket.

It is worth noting that replacing plumbing fixtures is quite simple with your own hands. A new shower stall is a little expensive, but the cost will be worth it when you see your bathroom feeling spacious and comfortable.

• Renovating a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building will be functional and reasonable if the USSR-style plumbing is replaced with modern design options. Consider the idea of ​​a wall-hung toilet: when the cistern is hidden in the wall and the floor underneath the structure is free, the room seems quite spacious. The installation is quite durable and can withstand weight up to 200 kg.
• Repairing a bathtub in a Khrushchev-era building will also affect the sink. The radical method involves completely removing the sink and using the faucet above the bathtub as a washbasin. Not everyone likes this option, so it’s better to get by with a modern hanging model. A free floor has the best effect on a spacious room.
• Communications must be hidden, for which use a plasterboard box. Not a single toilet renovation in a Khrushchev building can be completed without this solution. In any room of the Khrushchev house, it is beneficial to use such an idea as additional shelves for bathroom accessories.
• Of course, a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building is unlikely to accommodate a washing machine, but it’s not a good idea to have it in the kitchen. The device can be installed under a wall-mounted washbasin, next to a new shower stall, near a narrow corner of a triangular bathtub, or even make a special niche in the room. However, keep in mind that the location of the washing machine needs to be thought out in advance.

By following these tips together, your new bathroom will be unrecognizable. The advantage of such solutions is that any replacement and redevelopment can be done with your own hands, and this will not harm the family budget.

The main question is how much does the repair cost? The modern market offers a lot of goods of varying prices, both domestic and imported. It is very important not to chase cheap goods, because bathroom renovations do not take a year or two. Remember, no matter how much new plumbing costs, its service life should be up to 10 years.

If you nevertheless decide to demolish the wall and radically change the room, be patient and have resources, because you will have to deal with the BTI service (without their permission you cannot make changes to the apartment plan) and a lot of related problems.

Under favorable circumstances, DIY repairs will be a pleasure, not to mention the results.

Bathroom design in blue tones

Choice of shades

As we have mentioned more than once, the primary problem of rooms in a Khrushchev house is the minimum area. This issue can be resolved as effectively as possible in two ways: replacing the plumbing, which we mentioned above, and choosing a light finish.

Let's talk in more detail about the choice of cladding and its shade:

The traditional choice of every second housewife is ceramic tiles. Repairing a toilet in a Khrushchev-era building, as in a bathroom, requires high-quality, moisture-resistant and durable materials, such as tiles. Its advantage is that you can do the installation yourself; it is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, sharp temperatures and high humidity.

Only tiles can protect a room from dampness and fungus, and, most importantly, they cost quite reasonably. The choice of decorative material is huge, so you don’t need to worry about how much it will cost.

Design project of a small bathroom in Khrushchev in pink and white colors

• the room only needs to be enlarged, which only light shades have successfully done for many years,
• pairs like yellow and orange, white and sand green and turquoise, pink and purple look good,
• tones should be soft and not irritating to the psyche,
• saturated colors such as red, black, blue, brown are best used as a complement to basic white, beige, olive and light gray,
• to highlight certain areas of the room, use mosaic tiles of the appropriate shade,
• floor tiles should be slightly darker than wall tiles (example: white wall and gray floor),
• the design or pattern should be minimal, preferably just a few tiles; a bathroom that is dotted with polka dots or flowers is not the best choice for a modern do-it-yourself renovation.

Under no circumstances choose large slabs - they will divide the meager space in the Khrushchev-era building into even smaller zones. A medium-sized rectangular tile looks organic.

It is better to lay the material on the walls horizontally, so the bathroom will visually expand in width. And diagonal laying is perfect for the floor.

Find out how much tiles cost from various manufacturers, both domestic and imported. You should not trust single points on the market without a certificate and warranty period.

Buy materials in stock and in one store.

Source: vannalife.ru

Video on the topic: Bathroom design (Khrushchev)

How to place a bathtub and a toilet in a combined bathroom in Khrushchev

Problems of Khrushchev's bathrooms

As is already clear, the main disadvantage of combined bathrooms in Khrushchev buildings is their small size, as a rule, their area does not exceed four square meters. It should also be noted here that at the time when the Khrushchev-era apartment buildings were designed, due attention was not paid to the placement of household appliances, which means that in order to fit a washing machine into four square meters, you will most likely have to resort to remodeling the premises.

Redevelopment, as you know, is not an easy task in itself, and before it begins, you should carefully consider where and how to place the plumbing. In addition, not all redevelopment ideas can be successful: difficulties arise with the sewer riser, which cannot be moved, and therefore, the plumbing fixtures will need to be installed not where you want, but where the riser allows.

And finally, you need to pay attention to the interior and decor of the bathroom in order to visually expand the space, and the walls of the room do not psychologically put pressure on those in the bathroom.

Video on the topic: Bathroom renovation photo in Khrushchev

Description: In the recent past, the bathroom was undeservedly given the most cramped space in the room, and no attention was paid to its design.
The traditional color combination was considered to be a range of dark and light tones of ceramic tiles. Such an interior is not at all pleasing to the eye, and is unlikely to lift your spirits.

Today everything has changed, new trends in design art will help you create a room full of comfort and style, and boundless imagination will turn your bathroom into a real paradise.

The modern world provides a rich variety of different products for the correct, harmonious and beautiful design of a bathroom.
Also, a wide range of various accessories allows you to give each bathroom, the design of which is taken even from an ordinary renovation magazine, a unique appearance for every taste.

With the right approach, any bathroom, regardless of its size, can shine with the colors of individuality. The most important thing is beauty and comfort.

Photo of a bathroom in Khrushchev: toilet, sink, bathtub

The walls and ceiling must be light; if ceramic tiles are used for wall cladding, it is better to avoid large, bright patterns. Tiles with a discreet or no pattern at all are much more suitable for a small bathroom.

The same applies to texture - a smooth glossy surface will visually expand the space, but if preference is given to textured coatings, then it should be an unexpressed and medium-sized texture.

We combine a toilet, washing machine, sink and water heater

Regarding the ceiling: it can be whitewashed, finished with a light, smooth panel, or even better, a stretch ceiling with a glossy surface can be installed.

And if we are already talking about mirror surfaces, then the mirrors themselves cannot be neglected either - due to the reflection of the wall, the bathroom in the Khrushchev-era building visually expands significantly.

We design an interior - the best photos and ideas that work

When designing an interior, you first need to decide directly on the decoration of the walls, ceiling and floor. As mentioned earlier, the colors should be light, so the walls and ceiling can be done in the same color scheme: creamy muted tones, with the ceiling being lighter than the walls and the floor darker to create a kind of gradient from light to dark, which will visually make the room taller .

Not only the walls and ceiling, but also the floor can be made glossy; the only drawback of such coatings is their soiling, so it is better to immediately remove drops of water from the walls and floor. An acrylic bathtub liner will save your money, time and nerves. This is one of the fastest and easiest ways to restore your bathtub.

If you are about to renovate your bathroom and have limited funds, here is an inexpensive finishing method described.

Bathrooms with light tiles can give the impression of a cold operating room, so it makes sense to add a few pops of color to the interior. For a long time, the emphasis was on the horizontal division into the upper light and dark lower parts - this classic technique is good for large rooms, but for bathrooms in Khrushchev-era buildings, vertical lines are more suitable.

Therefore, for decoration, you can lay out a narrow strip of darker tiles from floor to ceiling - additional lines will visually raise the ceiling.

It is also worth stopping at the choice of ceramic tiles: for small bathrooms it is better to choose medium-sized tiles - large square or rectangular parts can focus attention on the fact that the room area is small.

Photo of a small bathroom in Khrushchev. Combining a washing machine and sink

The same rules apply to mosaics made of small squares, which are now so popular - the colorful design of the walls will narrow the room even more, so it is better to leave the mosaic solely for decoration, and with a calm, monochromatic combination of colors. As for plumbing, with its diversity today, you can place everything you need in small spaces.

The most bulky piece of furniture in the bathroom, of course, is the bathtub itself - now manufacturers offer not only long bathtubs, but also non-standard ones with a reduced length, which can easily free up space for a washing machine.

Photo of the rainbow bathroom

For small rooms, sitting bathtubs combined with shower cabins are practical - they take up little more space than a regular shower room, but functionally they are significantly superior to them.

For the tiniest bathrooms, separate shower stalls are perfect, and if you choose glass doors or shower partitions, the space will be perceived as one with the entire bathroom.

Corner bathtubs, which are also functional - their design includes shelves for storing care products, will help to significantly save space in the room. There should be no difficulties when choosing a sink for the bathroom - now the market offers extremely compact sinks with dimensions of no more than 55x40 centimeters.

Photo of the bathroom where they were able to fit a washing machine.

You can experiment with the placement of the sink, for example, placing it overlapping the bathtub so that the side of the sink partially overlaps the side of the bathtub. For very small rooms, manufacturers have provided corner sinks that will not take up a single centimeter of usable space.

The models of toilets are also very diverse now; for small rooms, toilets with installations placed in the corner have long been successfully used - due to the hidden flush cistern, the room looks modern, and at the same time additional space appears.

An effective technique for small bathrooms in Khrushchev-era buildings is to use sinks and toilets that are attached to the wall and do not touch the floor. Due to its “floating” in the air, such plumbing fixtures are not perceived as bulky, and the room retains spaciousness.

It is especially justified to use such “floating” sinks to place a low washing machine underneath - now manufacturers of household appliances offer automatic machines with a height of no more than 70 centimeters; this design greatly saves space.

Photo of the bathroom - strictly, concisely, beautifully.

With the right approach, even small bathrooms in Khrushchev-era buildings can accommodate all the necessary household appliances and plumbing fixtures, while the room will seem spacious.

To do this, just listen to our advice: choose the right tiles for walls and floors, combine plumbing fixtures and choose a suitable washing machine - and even such a problem room as a combined bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building will become cozy, comfortable and functional.

And again we combine the washing machine and sink to save space

Source: flaterra.ru

Bathroom design ideas in Khrushchev

Khrushchev is not a death sentence

With the advent of modern plumbing, the situation began to change; now even in such a small area that the Khrushchev era allocated for the bathroom, it is possible to change its design for the better, to make it more convenient and functional. When using compact modern plumbing fixtures, the bathroom expands not only visually, but also accommodates devices that were previously unimaginable.

First of all, the design of a bathroom changes noticeably for the better when replacing a standard bathtub with a modern version, preferably a corner one. Such a replacement will immediately free up space, quite sufficient for installing a washing machine, because the Khrushchev apartment has such a small kitchen that it is difficult to install a washing machine in it.

Properly “hiding” a washing machine

Modern plumbing manufacturers offer interesting solutions, thanks to which the small area that a bathroom in a Khrushchev has is used most optimally. There are two original models of washing machines on sale, each of which changes the design of the room in an original way, and a small bathroom becomes more spacious.

Photo of the bathroom. Small but beautiful. Pink and beige colors

One of the models involves installing it under the sink, sold complete with a washing machine, thanks to which the bathroom receives an improved interior design. The second model surprises buyers who saw it only in the photo. What can we say about those who were able to see it in action!

The washing machine is called flop. Its installation saves not only a small bathroom area, but also water. It is installed above the toilet, combined with the flush function in it. This true miracle of technology has such an original design that only its presence in the bathroom gives the room a unique design.

Or maybe... remove everything?

A revolutionary solution used in bathroom refurbishment is the installation of a floor drain and the complete abandonment of a bathtub or shower. Only the shower unit itself is installed, and an impact-resistant glass partition is installed to protect the bathroom walls from splashes. The glass can be frosted, which will give some intimacy to taking a shower, and for convenience and visual expansion of the space they are made sliding.

Photos of such a room arrangement presented in magazines amaze with the spaciousness that the bathroom has after reconstruction. Many simply do not understand how the Khrushchev-era building gets such space.

Everything is done simply - the pipes are hidden in the wall, and if it is impossible to hide them in the plane of the wall, they are covered with boxes decorated with tiles. At the same time, the upper surfaces of such boxes serve as shelves for toiletries.

The toilet is installed either in a corner position, which significantly saves space, or without requiring a tank and attached directly to the wall. The walls are made in light colors, and the floor is covered with tiles, the color of which is identical to the color of the walls.

The washbasin is combined with a washing machine, or a glass one is installed, completely invisible against the general background. The interior is complemented by a large mirror, which gives a unique visual effect, and wall cabinets, their color merging with the walls.

This design, complemented by shiny heated towel rails, and bright spots in the form of towels and other accessories, will turn the standard Khrushchev-era bathroom into a room that is pleasant to visit.

There are many Khrushchev buildings in the country today. Previously, people were less picky about design, and it was enough for them that the necessary attributes were available in the apartment. But today tastes have changed. Almost all residents are unhappy with the layout bathroom in Khrushchev.

Due to the simple design, it is sometimes impossible to place the necessary plumbing equipment in this room. Sometimes you even have to sacrifice something in the name of comfort. The meager dimensions of the room do not allow imagination to run wild. Therefore, every element here is carefully thought out in order to optimally use the space.
Unnecessary elements are excluded. It is better if the bath is combined with a toilet, and even takes over a section of the corridor. In a separate bathroom the situation is even more complicated. Therefore, a combined layout becomes an option that expands the possibilities for placing the necessary elements. Remodeling will require additional costs. But, this will allow you to place everything you need and divide the space into zones.

Bathroom design in Khrushchev

Another problem is the location of communications. Often you have to make wiring and hide pipes in the walls. Then the surface is leveled (the builders at that time did not try very hard in this direction). Sometimes it is even better to tear down and rebuild the wall yourself than to straighten the original version.

Before thinking through the design, make accurate measurements of the room. Then they search in magazines and the Internet for ready-made interior solutions with the given parameters. After this, they begin to develop their own design. The question of where to locate the main plumbing equipment is being resolved. Then they think through the decorative elements, choosing shelves, cabinets, etc.

Plumbing manufacturers know what problems residents of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings face. Therefore, they are developing equipment suitable for small dimensions.
First they think about the bath. Old cast iron ones today seem to residents to be too bulky for such a small room. But, the corner option will take up much less space, freeing up space for other details. And in some houses they refuse a bath altogether. Instead, shower cabins are installed.
Saves space and attachments: toilets and sinks . They are attached directly to the wall. Such details will allow you to rationally calculate the design of the bathroom.

Saves space and attachments: toilets and sinks

In some cases, if it is impossible to combine a separate bathroom, they abandon the washbasin and install taps above the bathtub.
All parts are selected in miniature sizes. Furniture items of specified non-standard dimensions are ordered if the store does not have them.

Let us consider separately the methods of finishing the ceiling, walls and floor.

Traditionally, tiles or mosaics are used to decorate walls.

In a square-shaped room, the main elements are placed in the corners. Then the space in the center remains free. The same placement is done if you choose a shower instead of a bath.
A person should feel free in any position. It is necessary to ensure that it is comfortable to stand, sit or do cleaning. Foot niches will help with this, allowing you to get as close to the bath as possible.

If the bathroom is combined, then adhere to standard gaps between installed elements and surfaces. So, the free space in front of the bathroom is made from 70 to 100 centimeters for convenient entry and exit. Towel racks are installed so that they can be easily reached from the bathtub. The distance between the toilet, the wall and other objects should be 20 centimeters, and 40 centimeters in front of the toilet. The sink is located 25 centimeters from the toilet and 20 centimeters from the side wall. There should be at least 70 centimeters of free space in front of it.
Access to communications is hidden but left free.

In a square-shaped room, the main elements are placed in the corners

Designer novelty with a rectangular shape, the font is installed at the end of the room. Then the sink is located near the exit, and the toilet is located further from the entrance.
More often bathroom in Khrushchev equipped with a shower instead of a bath. Moreover, ready-made shower cabins are giving way to fenced-in areas on the floor. Such a shower is compact, lacks high sides and minimizes the risk of flooding neighbors. The only nuance that needs to be adjusted to is that the floor will become higher by about ten centimeters. This is necessary to install a drain ladder. It is separated from the rest of the room by a glass partition. The best option for this is sliding transparent doors.

Competent room design includes properly thought out pieces of furniture. Designers suggest abandoning cabinets with doors wide open. It is better to choose open shelves or give preference to cabinets with sliding doors. A bathroom vanity unit is an excellent choice. But if installation is impossible, you will have to equip a hanging option, placing it above the washbasin next to the mirror. Such models do not have to be deep. A tall cabinet - a pencil case - looks advantageous.

In addition to placing bath accessories, this is a good element that divides the room into zones.
Not only bathroom in Khrushchev differs in small dimensions. The kitchens here are also extremely small. Therefore, most often, the washing machine is located in the bathroom. The equipment is chosen in compact sizes.

Often the washing machine is installed under the sink

Often the washing machine is installed under the sink built into the wall. Another option is to place it on a podium, above the toilet. There are special washing machines called “flop” for this purpose. With them, in addition to space, water is saved, since the equipment is installed in an integrated way with a drain barrel.

Color solutions can visually enlarge the space. Alternating colors helps with this. For example, dark inserts are added to light tiles. Thanks to the mosaic on the ledges, they look more compact.

Light shades make the space larger, and combinations with dark ones make it deeper. Mirror surfaces seem to push the walls apart. Hanging plumbing increases the space vacated by an open floor. Strict lines can eliminate the feeling of clutter.

It is better to make the general background a neutral color. Then one of the walls is highlighted with a bright shade. At the same time, a rich “spot” can be created with the help of additional elements: a rug, a bath curtain or a laundry basket.

Color solutions can visually increase space

It is advisable that bathroom in Khrushchev had several light sources. The top one is mounted in the ceiling as standard. Floor lighting is provided below. It can give the room a special shine. But he is rarely chosen. It is more appropriate to place side light above the mirror. You need to achieve bright, uniform light. Additional lighting can be installed in the shower and niche.

A mirror must be installed in this room. It is more convenient to place it above the washbasin. In this case, it is not necessary to strictly supplement the plumbing fixture. The mirror may have an irregular shape, be longer or wider than the washbasin. In the shower, mirrors are also installed on the walls. The main thing is that they are not located opposite each other. If the bathroom has a window, then the mirror is installed opposite. It should also hang opposite the entrance.

White bathroom

The infinity effect will be achieved if you decorate the wall with a picture with perspective (a sailing ship), or imitate a panorama (opening in a window). Experiment, develop your artistic abilities and use your creative imagination.

Conclusion

Knowbathroom in Khrushchev - not a sentence. If you think through everything down to the smallest detail, correctly arrange plumbing fixtures and furniture, and insert decorative elements, the design will turn out beautiful and modern. In a small room they achieve such elegance that sets the tone for the rest of the rooms. With the right approach, a cramped, uncomfortable bathroom will turn into a favorite place where residents will relax and gain strength for an active and successful day.

Bathroom design in Khrushchev

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