Design and decoration of a balcony in Khrushchev: options, choice of materials and furniture

In modern apartments, balconies have ceased to be storage rooms where various unnecessary or seasonal items are stored. Today, residents prefer to use the space in their apartment to the maximum. And the room in question allows you to add an additional room, for example, a children's play area, a study, a recreation area or a small dining room. But before you start, you need to study important recommendations from experts in order to avoid common mistakes.

Features of Khrushchev balconies

It is difficult to identify the key features of balconies that were used in the layouts of houses built in 1959-1985. Their length was usually 2.6+ meters, width - up to 1.5 m. There are no exact dimensions, so it will not be possible to work with such rooms according to standard design schemes. Each time you need to think through the finishing, furniture arrangement, lighting and heating separately, focusing on a specific particular case.

Mikhail Voronov

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Houses built at that time were designed for a 25-year operational period. But they are still used today. The very foundation of the building is strong and reliable, so living is safe. But over the entire period of operation, some individual parts have worn out. And the main recommendation of experts is not to install glazing on those partitions that were originally installed during the construction of houses. They need to be replaced, made more durable, safe and reliable.

Selection of finishing materials for the balcony

The selection of finishing materials is not the most difficult stage in arranging balcony premises. However, the quality of subsequent repairs, its operational characteristics and convenience directly depend on it. Therefore, it is recommended to select materials that meet the following parameters:

• Light weight. You cannot load the balcony too much so as not to violate safety regulations;
• Durability and reliability. Windows are often opened, and the new room has to be additionally heated; because of this, the finishing is constantly in difficult operating conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to choose durable materials;
• Resistance to various negative influences;
• Easy to maintain to quickly tidy up the room;
• Ease of repair if you need to replace part of the finish in case of damage;
• Fire safety;
• Environmental friendliness, absence of harmful components in the finishing material.

Finishing materials for balcony walls

The walls are finished last. But this does not mean that finishing materials do not need to be purchased in advance. The entire design is thought out from the beginning, materials are purchased (lining, PVC panels, MDF panels, plaster) for work, and only then the repairs begin.

For wall decoration, they buy material that is resistant to temperature changes and ultraviolet radiation. The most popular are plastic panels, lining, both natural and artificial, and drywall.

Balcony ceiling decoration

Materials for working with the ceiling are selected depending on the walls. If you plan to install plastic panels here, then the ceiling will also be finished with PVC panels. In an economical option, whitewash is used. If they are sheathed with wood, then it is better to treat the ceiling with wooden clapboard panels or MDF panels so that it does not stand out from the general style concept.

Materials for finishing the floor on the balcony

Raw materials for working with the floor are selected separately. The floor covering does not have to be the same as on the walls or ceiling. You can put here:

• Linoleum. Ideal for offices or children's play areas. It is both inexpensive, warm and easy to install;

• Laminate. This option is more expensive, but it looks very attractive;

• Carpet. It looks expensive and respectable, but it’s not cheap either. Also, carpet is quite difficult to care for, so many people prefer to abandon it;

It is recommended to avoid ceramic tiles. It is too heavy and difficult to install. On the balcony it is better to use lightweight construction/repair materials.

Frame and frameless glazing

Another glazing option is frameless. This type of glazing places the least load on the floor slab. The operating principle of such a frame is as follows:

1. Guide profiles are installed at the top and bottom of the balcony.
2. Glass with special rollers is installed.

The opening and closing of the doors is carried out using a sliding method, accordion-type. If necessary, all the glass can be moved to one side and completely free up the balcony opening.

This glazing method has its drawbacks. One of the main ones is that the surface on which the guide profile is attached must be perfectly flat with a clearly defined horizon.

Frame glazing does not have the disadvantages of the previous version. It can be placed even in an opening that does not have a horizontal or vertical level. Its installation is faster and requires less professional skills.

Options for arranging a balcony in Khrushchev

The choice of style in the process of arranging a balcony is usually guided by which room is located nearby. If this is a bedroom, then you can make an office. If there is a kitchen, then a dining room or a tea room. If the living room is a place for rest and relaxation.

There are several design options that are often used by modern designers when working with balconies:

1. Use a window sill. It can be pulled forward to make a table or stand for a large flower bed. In the play area, you can place prefabricated toys on it - Legos and the like.
2. Storage niche located under the window sill. Equally useful in any room. You can put dishes, children's toys, work folders, etc. here.
3. Dividing the space into 2 separate zones. The first is used for its intended purpose (for example, for relaxation), the second is for storing items. Those items that were previously stored on the balcony have not gone anywhere. They also need to be put somewhere. That is why having a prepared storage area is often a rational solution.
4. Preparation of the podium. This is a special space in the floor where you can store various items. The upper part can be used for games, creating a workspace or relaxation area. Heavy and massive furniture is not placed on the podium, since it must be constantly moved to get to the storage area.
5. Preparing shelving on each side of the balcony. Shelving runs the full height of the wall to maximize storage space. Also, the shelves can be left open, as well as closed, so as not to have to monitor the neatness of folded items.
6. Arrangement of a wall table with the possibility of transformation. It can be pulled out to create a dining area, or removed when not in use.

Balcony next to the kitchen

When the balcony is located next to the kitchen, most users have no questions about how to properly manage the space. Usually the work area is moved to the balcony, and their kitchens make a full-fledged dining room. Both rooms can be separated by walls, but it is better to make a bar counter. It looks beautiful, allows you to harmoniously combine both rooms with each other, increase the functionality and rational use of space.

You can do the opposite - leave the work area in the kitchen, and move the dining area to the balcony. In this case, the main communications remain in place, which reduces repair costs.

Balcony with exit from the living room

When the balcony is located next to the living room, many apartment owners wonder whether it is worth combining these rooms. On the one hand, you can get expanded usable space. But on the other hand, you need to invest a lot of money, time and effort to build a single room that will be safe, warm, and will not cause problems with BTI.

After combining the rooms, there is much more light in the hall. Many people allocate space on the balcony, making a reading area. But you can also move cabinets or shelving here so that there is more useful space inside the room.

If the balcony is not combined with the living room, then here you can create a relaxation area or a place for drinking tea. If the room area is large, then you can create a full-fledged dining area.

Balcony adjacent to the bedroom

Since bedrooms in Khrushchev-era apartments are not characterized by a large area, many decide to combine both rooms to create a full-fledged room, comfortable and spacious. In this case, the balcony must be insulated. Also, before starting repair work, you must contact the appropriate authorities to request permission to carry out redevelopment. If this is not done, the risks of paying fines and returning the previous layout at your own expense increase.

If a merger is not planned, then you can make a work area or office on the balcony. Some people set up a dressing room or boudoir here for the hostess. If there are small children in the house, you can arrange a small bedroom for them so as not to have to go to sleep in neighboring rooms.

Design ideas

• Balcony bar. The thicker window sill serves as a tabletop.
• Dinner Zone. This solution is appropriate if the kitchen is adjacent to the balcony.
• A place to relax. Comfortable armchairs, wicker chairs, a sofa or a bed are suitable for arrangement; you can also put a small table.
• Cabinet. You can work in such a room if you need privacy.
• Game room. For children's leisure, a playground is often organized in the balcony space. The interior style should correspond to the purpose of the room; it is better to choose a cheerful color scheme.
• Flower garden.
• Boudoir. To decorate the interior you will need a dressing table and a comfortable chair. It is worth giving preference to furniture with carved decor and thick fabrics.
• Creative workshop.
• Wardrobe. A competent layout will free up a lot of space in the main part of the apartment. For the effect of visually enlarging the space, you can install a mirror.
• Gym. Filling the space with inventory and equipment directly depends on personal preferences and the availability of free space.

Living room and bar in one space.

Dining area on the loggia in Khrushchev.

Interesting room design ideas in the photo.

Corner for relaxing and reading books. Wood paneling.

Finishing materials: lining, painted white, decorative plaster.

Compact wardrobe.

A place to work on a computer.

Playroom for children.

Flower garden and warehouse on the same territory.

Mini greenhouse.

Creative workshop

A warm loggia opens up new possibilities for use by the family. One use case is to create a creative lab. A place where you can “pick up your soul” and give free rein to your creative impulse.

Set up an easel and paint, or set up a special table with additional lighting for cutting and sewing. Even on a small balcony you can place a cutting table and a sewing machine.

Restroom

A common solution when decorating a balcony in a Khrushchev building is to create a rest room. There are many design options from classic style to country and Provence.

Place a few chairs to create a seating area. It is better to choose light wicker furniture or small wrought iron chairs. Also place a coffee table. It can be made sliding or folding, which will free up more space.

Instead of chairs, you can place a bench, a small ottoman or a sofa. A recreation area in an oriental style will look no less organic. Draw lots of soft pillows instead of furniture. Make a folding table, but at a lower level so that it can be easily reached while sitting on the floor.

Now you will have a place to sit with a cup of coffee or chat with friends in a small company. The same design option is suitable for a place where you can smoke a hookah on a pleasant summer evening.

Dinner Zone

Sometimes it's nice to drink tea in the fresh air. Especially if the view is impressive and the climate is pleasant. You will need:

• table;
• a couple of chairs (if you live alone, you can have one).

The table can be folded to save space.

By the way, dining rooms on balconies are often combined with mini-greenhouses. This is no coincidence: the proximity of plants contributes to excellent relaxation.

Rest zone

The main problem in choosing furniture for a loggia is the selection of furniture. Finished furniture has large dimensions, and choosing options from the catalog is almost impossible. The only way out is to make custom furniture. Go to a wood supply store or make your own furniture.

Custom furniture has many advantages. For example, you can create secret or hidden shelves to store small items and choose materials and mechanisms to suit your budget. The convertible chair will become the bed of your choice. Near the seats, consider a hinged lid for storing useful items. Oriental style lovers can come up with a floor and throw pillows on the floor.

It doesn't matter if you live in an apartment or with children, you can always relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or knitting. For a comfortable stay on the balcony, place rattan or wicker furniture. It is lightweight and quite mobile. And upon order, you will receive furniture according to your dimensions.

A simpler option is almost “oriental”. Place pillows on the floor and relax.

Instead of a pouf, you can assemble a small bench. Fold down the seat and you get a storage box for all sorts of things. To make the seat softer, we wrap the back and seat with soft material.

Don't forget about design techniques for visually expanding space. Light colors are used in the decoration, enlivening the design with bright splashes of color. Don't really like the view from the window? We make the side walls into blanks and glue beautiful wallpaper onto one of them.

Mini office

A great idea would be to place a workplace on the loggia. The area will be turned into a secluded office of modest size. Pros: Lots of natural light. At the renovation stage, you can get sockets in the right places and lamps. All that remains is to place a table and shelves for storing necessary documents and small items. If the office is no longer needed, move the shelves to a filing area. There will still be room on the balcony to create a relaxation corner.

Game room

It is also possible to equip a small balcony for children in the Khrushchev-era building. Place soft shelves and toy boxes here. Install an interesting chair with an unusual shape or color.

It is better to decorate the balcony in light colors, perhaps with unusual or fabulous elements. But don't overload the space. The child should feel comfortable and have enough space to play.

Greenhouse

For flower lovers, we transform the renovated balcony into a charming greenhouse. Arrange with a glazing company to install a large window sill. We also ask you to make inserts from timber into the side blind plastic panels. Then you can hang pots and pot shelves with plants and all sorts of cute hangings on the side walls. The photo below shows an interesting idea for placing shelves at 45°.

Curtains will protect your pets from direct sunlight.

Tired of white plastic panels? Look at the options for finishing with plastic panels and natural stone. Moss grows on old walls too! And the load on the balcony slab practically does not increase. Today on the market you can buy finishing materials that will change your idea of ​​​​the possibilities of the same plastic in room design.

That part of the external wall of the house, which turned out to be “internal” in relation to the glazed balcony, was finished according to the general design of the greenhouse. In this case, you don’t have to worry about the weight of the wall covering (tiles, stone, decorative plaster.

Add a sofa or chair to enjoy flowers and relax at the same time. For example, with a hookah.

Even a simple chair with a blanket and pillows, located in the middle of greenery, seems like a real heavenly place to relax.

Gym

The morning begins with a pleasant awakening. A series of your favorite outdoor exercises will give you energy. To do this, you don’t have to go outside at all - if you build a balcony under the gym. Of course, you won't be able to fit full-fledged exercise equipment into such a limited space, but an ab bench, mat or compact elliptical machine will do just fine. This idea is rarely seen in practice, but as an option - why not?

As you can see, even modest and absurd balconies in Khrushchev can become your personal outlet and place of ideal relaxation - if you approach their design correctly and deviate from the usual design canons. First of all, think about what you really want: drinking coffee in the fresh air or a cozy workspace without strangers?

Principles of landscaping and original design solutions

The space between the roof and the floor can be filled with flowers that do not interfere with the main activity. A portable planter block can hide an unsightly wall block or other imperfections. However, it is worth remembering that you cannot use bulky frying pans that will take up a lot of space. An original idea would be to grow climbing plants that will cover part of the wall. Outdoor annuals are beautiful in summer and can be used to decorate the floor when making a portable structure from pots. The higher the floor, the more light will fall on the plant, which is worth considering (fewer objects to create shadows). To have flowers on your balcony in winter, you can plant gazania and petunia.

Flowers can be placed:

• suspended from the ceiling;
• placed on the floor;
• on special stands or shelves;
• on the outer fence;
• on the inner windowsill.

An original way of arranging a balcony can be called installing sliding panoramic windows, which have a frame of minimal thickness. You can create a barbecue area. But it is important to remember that the barbecue area is created with the installation of gas grills, since their use does not violate fire safety rules. Recently, unique greenhouses have increasingly been organized where fruits and vegetables can be grown.

Curtains and decor

Thanks to modern curtains and designer fabric blinds, you can protect your glazed loggia from excessive sunlight and heat. To design balcony frames, shortened models of minimal size are often chosen. Roller blinds, Roman blinds or pleated blinds are suitable. Products that differ in installation inside the frame allow you to save as much space on the balcony as possible.

To make a small balcony in a Khrushchev-era building look cozy and comfortable, the room can be decorated with soft pillows or handmade accessories. Wall paintings, handmade decorations and open decor fill the atmosphere with special warmth. It is advisable to paint the surfaces of the walls using stencils or decorate the aircraft with special stickers. Such drawings will not only diversify the monochrome wall decor on the Khrushchev balcony, but will also become the main compositional center.

Lighting will help highlight the decorated loggia. LED strip with different color modes will make the atmosphere even more festive.

Storage space

If you only use the balcony for practical purposes, such as drying clothes or storing things, the design and decoration can be done easily and simply - make the renovation within your budget. After its completion, all that remains is to place a chest of drawers or a closet for everything you need.

Choosing furniture for a balcony in Khrushchev

When choosing furniture for arranging a balcony, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. Weight. The weight of the purchased furniture should be minimal so as not to load the balcony slab and not expose all residents to danger. The ideal option is interior items made of chipboard, upholstered frameless furniture, or a combination. For example, a window sill can simultaneously serve as a table and solve two consumer problems at once.
2. Compactness. Considering the relatively small size of balconies in Khrushchev-era buildings, you have to choose compact furniture. It is better to give preference to folding options or transformers. An excellent option, for example, is an armchair in the corner of the balcony, which folds out into a small sofa, forming an additional sleeping place.
3. Lack of massiveness. Many people think that the rules only apply to furniture that sits on the floor. Therefore, they hang heavy shelves or install metal racks. But their load on the concrete slab is also present, although they are not in direct contact with it. This has a negative impact on safety.

Also, do not forget that the purchased furniture must fit into the space. A single style concept is created, and it is not recommended to go beyond it. Many people collect old furniture on the balcony that is not needed in other rooms. But in this case, the repairs made do not make any sense, since unnecessary rubbish is collected in the room, just as before. It’s better to invest more, but prepare a good and comfortable balcony - a space that can be used for its intended purpose.

Legality

To glaze a balcony or attach it to a room, you must comply with the law and obtain permission for redevelopment and construction work. This is necessary for the safety of apartment owners and neighbors. The rights and obligations of all parties are fixed in the Housing Code.

Basic rules to follow:

1. Do not violate the integrity of the supporting structures of the house.
2. Do not load the slab; it has the ultimate strength.
3. The removal of the structure beyond the perimeter of the slab must also be agreed upon with the authorized bodies.
4. All fire safety regulations must be followed

In case of failure to comply with the norms of the Housing Code and in the absence of permission for repairs, a fine may be imposed on the apartment owners. And the entire illegal structure will have to be demolished or remodeled in accordance with established standards.

How to increase the area of ​​the balcony

There are very few ways to expand a balcony room. The main ones include:

• Moving the balcony outside the slab. Builders enlarge the slab, remove partitions and glazing, adding about 2-3 square meters of additional space. But first you need to discuss this with the BTI, and also check the slab to see if it can withstand the additional load;
• Using the space inside the apartment is taking some space from the next room. In this case, the total area of ​​the apartment is preserved;
• Use design tricks. For example, the podium method is widely used to make maximum use of space.

Insulation

In order to create a comfortable temperature in the balcony space and increase the usable area of ​​the apartment, it is necessary to carefully insulate this room.

Types of heat insulators:

• Styrofoam;
• Penofol;
• Penoplex (extruded polystyrene foam);
• PPU (polyurethane foam);
• Mineral wool;
• Penofol (foamed polyethylene, one of the surfaces is covered with foil to reflect heat).

A good way to provide additional heating is to install a heated floor system.

DIY balcony finishing with PVC panels

Plastic panels are used more often than other finishing materials when the question of finishing a room arises. This raw material can be used on walls and ceilings at the same time. It is inexpensive, can last a long time if used carefully, and does not require complicated maintenance - this is not a complete list of advantages. But the most important thing is that you can install PVC yourself. To do this, use the following instructions:

1. Pre-finishing preparation. You need to get rid of all old materials on the walls and ceiling. They are peeled off almost to the ground.
2. Lathing. It is better to assemble it from wood or plastic. Metal sheathing is not used on the balcony because of its weight.
3. Insulation. Insulating materials are installed in the sheathing cells in several layers, depending on the effect that is planned to be achieved.
4. Installation of plastic panels. They start working from the ceiling. After that they move on to the walls.
5. Installation of skirting boards. They sell special plastic ceiling and floor skirting boards that hide imperfections and make corners perfectly straight.

It is worth taking measurements first to determine the amount of material to purchase, as well as prepare tools and fasteners.

Mini office for work

You can also place a workplace on a small balcony (it is unlikely that it should be called an office due to its miniature size). However, there are many advantages: no one bothers you to work (we remember that there are tiny balconies in small apartments, where you won’t find space for an office), excellent natural light, the ability to organize everything “for yourself.” All that remains is to make a table, hang shelves and install electricity.

Don't want to design a small balcony? Transform it into a modern storage area. Clear out the apartment, and the balcony will look neat.

As you can see, a small balcony can be transformed into zones that vary in functionality. Cozy, comfortable, beautiful. Think about what yours could become after renovation?