Small housing can be comfortable and have a presentable appearance. When planning renovations, you should not be afraid of drastic decisions and limit yourself to “cosmetic” changes. If necessary, alter the layout. It is changed in order to expand the space or convert housing for professional purposes. Apartment with an area of 44 sq. m can be either two-room or one-room. There are many of these in “new buildings” and old multi-apartment panel buildings. They are the same type and unremarkable. Residents often have a desire to change something or change the entire apartment beyond recognition. They have many options for repairs and design solutions. There are dozens of design styles to suit every taste and budget - from functionalism and minimalism to avant-garde trends, ethnic motifs and glamor.
Compact space is not a death sentence, but an opportunity
In modern “Khrushchev” apartments, the designer’s flight of imagination is often frustrated by typical planning problems - the rooms in them are far from the ideal of convenience, and it is simply impossible to move the bathroom or kitchen. On the other hand, most partitions are not load-bearing and can be moved quite easily with the right approach.
But the layout of the apartment is 44 sq. m may still improve. For example, you can remove the hallway, and use the freed up squares to expand the bathroom or kitchen space. It is also advisable to separately arrange an area for storing things.
These changes are compensated by the correct choice of colors. If you use white as a base color, then you can combine any solutions with various shades of interior elements.
At the same time, light colors help to visually expand all rooms. And realized minimalism can be perfectly complemented by elements in eco-style. For example, the design of the floor and any wall will look like natural wood. Housing will benefit from the warmth and comfort of the environment.
Palette for the bedroom
The design of the bedroom should be more comfortable. The walls can be covered with panels made of fashionable eco-leather material - nubuck.
Such panels will serve as reliable sound insulation and will allow you to sleep well. The bed textiles complement, but do not repeat the overall color scheme, with shades of dusty rose.
The final touch will be the lighting of the room. The soft light from the balls on a long stem complements the pattern of the walls, several of which are covered with stylish wallpaper, with a pattern of winding stems of tropical plants.
Living room decoration
Compact living rooms should attract attention, standing out among other rooms. It is recommended to use contrasting designs, such as purple or yellow.
At the same time, the living room has a dining area. To equip it, you should not use pieces of furniture that burden the furnishings. On the contrary, a glass table and chairs with a metal frame will look great here.
Visually expand the living room in a two-room apartment of 44 square meters. m. Wallpaper of bright colors will help. Large graphic designs are preferred. But you only need to cover one wall with such wallpaper. It is important to provide good lighting.
In addition to large windows, it is advisable to use light curtains, and when choosing furniture, choose a wardrobe with mirrored doors.
Is any housing subject to alteration?
It is clear that without redevelopment, a two-room apartment cannot be converted into a three-room apartment. Take, for example, Khrushchev. Initially, this apartment was not particularly comfortable, so I wanted to turn a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment immediately after moving in. But in those days, no one thought about the comfort of housing when designing buildings.
At stake was the fulfillment of the global task of providing people with separate apartments, and what kind of layout was completely unimportant
An example of redevelopment of a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment
If you have such a legacy at your disposal, in principle you should rejoice. It will be quite easy to convert Khrushchev's two-room apartment into three-room apartment.
What can be changed
Do you think they just took a two-room apartment and turned it into a three-room apartment, demolishing everything that was in the way and adding what was missing? Ah, no! There are regulations for everything, so before you destroy, you should familiarize yourself with the letter of the law. So what can be adjusted when redeveloping a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment?
1. You can demolish the partition separating the bathroom and toilet, but only if these two spaces are subsequently combined. The area of the newly formed zone can be expanded, but only by adding the quadrature of the corridor.
Combined bathroom
2. It is permissible to increase living rooms due to the corridor area. The wall separating them will be demolished.
Expansion of the area due to the corridor
3. When reorganizing a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment, interior doorways can appear anywhere, since the partition walls in this layout are not load-bearing.
4. If the kitchen is not gasified, it can be combined with an adjacent room. The result is a spacious multifunctional space.
Kitchen and living room form a single space
5. If there is a shortage of space, you can make a three-room apartment out of a two-room apartment by using niches, pantries, and built-in cabinets.
Bedroom in the closet
6. It is allowed to expand the room space due to the balcony.
Expanding the room with a balcony
7. The entrance to the house can be equipped with two doors with a vestibule between them.
What is prohibited
When turning a two-room apartment into a cozy three-room apartment, keep in mind that the law is strictly prohibited:
1. Touch the load-bearing walls.
2. Carry out work that will lead to blocking access to communications.
3. Attach the bathroom to the kitchen or combine it with living areas.
4. Move centralized heating radiators to loggias and balconies. And in general, it’s easy to move them from the place indicated on the house diagram.
5. Combine the living space with the kitchen, where gas equipment is installed, without installing a sliding or other type of lockable partition.
6. Dismantle a section of the load-bearing wall when trying to make a three-room apartment out of a two-room apartment with the addition of a balcony.
7. Connect apartments from adjacent floors by dismantling interfloor ceilings.
The last point is not relevant in our case, but knowing this rule will not hurt.
The nuances of agreeing on the redevelopment of a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment
“It is wiser to agree on the plan for transforming a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment before it is implemented”
A repair project of this level must be approved by the relevant authorities. All regulatory documents that stipulate the issue of increasing the number of rooms are subject to registration and approval. So that you can easily turn a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment and not have problems later, document every little detail, including the fact that it is planned to reconstruct the balcony.
Redevelopment must be approved by the relevant authorities
As practice shows, it is wiser to agree on a plan for converting a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment before it is implemented. This will save you from large fines and gigantic problems that will certainly arise if general building communications, as well as some of the load-bearing structures, were affected and (simply a disaster!) damaged.
But even if it was possible to make a three-room apartment out of a two-room apartment without incident, an unauthorized alteration will be impossible:
- nor sell;
- nor give;
- nor leave as an inheritance.
Never try to redevelop a two-room apartment into a three-room apartment in unsafe or too dilapidated houses. In this case, the working draft will never be approved, so do not waste either money or time on its development.
Where to contact
The district local government body on whose territory the property is located can give or not give the go-ahead for the formation of a cozy three-room apartment from a two-room apartment.
The address of the institution and the scope of its powers can be provided by the Management Company servicing your home.
Kitchen interier
It is very difficult to move this room in a Khrushchev-type apartment. Therefore, they usually take a different route - they remove the internal light partition, slightly expanding the space of this room. For kitchen furniture, you can choose the classic design of wooden facades
A good color scheme would be to design in blue tones. The room will become cozy and family-friendly. A white work area and a light apron will help brighten up the room.
It is advisable to use tiles as a floor covering, but not necessarily plain ones. The pattern on the floor in the center of the kitchen will look original.
About the “nine-story building”
One of the most characteristic layouts with an area of just over 40 sq.m. are apartments of the Soviet period, in which the room has the shape of a rectangle with an obligatory removed segment located on one side of the room.
Such apartments have one main advantage, which is a fairly large kitchen area.
The only negative that you have to deal with in this case is the small area of the hallway, in which sometimes there is not even room for two people to turn around. In this case, all that remains for the designers is to correctly arrange the pieces of furniture and choose the right color schemes in the apartment.
Bathroom decoration
If you enlarge the bathroom at the expense of the hallway, then the resulting space can be used to place a bathtub, for example, a corner structure. It is advisable to highlight this area - brown tiles look good against the background of light gray walls.
Vertical stripes on the walls will help visually enlarge the room. To add lightness, it is advisable to use simple decorative elements, such as a mirror without a frame.
Layout features
“Khrushchevka” is easy to recognize among other apartments by its characteristic features, for example, wide double-leaf windows in the shape of a square. Or along small windows on the edge of the end panel in the kitchen.
What else distinguishes this type of apartment from the same “Stalin” apartments and other options:
- Availability of a passage room.
- Small kitchen - from 4-5 to 6 square meters. m.
- Combined bathroom: toilet and bathroom are located in the same room. A Khrushchev-era bathroom is usually so small that it cannot accommodate a standard bathtub 150-180 cm long.
- In Khrushchev's kitchens, housewives cooked on gas stoves.
- Many apartments have a balcony and a storage room, the latter being no different in size from an ordinary room in houses of this type. There are no balconies only in apartments that are located on the first floor of the building.
If we talk about the house in general terms, it has centralized heating, there is no garbage chute and there is no elevator. Such buildings usually have 5 or 7 floors, less often - 9 or 3-4. According to the layout, all apartments in the Khrushchev block face one side, except for the corner ones - their windows face the opposite direction overlooking the courtyard.
“Khrushchev”, from the point of view of planning, has advantages and disadvantages, but it is impossible to judge them objectively.
Among the advantages of such apartments are noted:
- Availability of a balcony and storage room.
- Typical layout: small corridor and kitchen, two approximately identical rooms.
- A passage room that often borders the kitchen and leads to a second room.
- The shared bathroom is another plus. It saves space in the apartment.
The disadvantages of the “Khrushchev” apartment include:
- low sound insulation or too thin walls;
- low ceilings - only 2.55 meters (some buildings have ceilings of 2.70 meters);
- a cramped hallway or its literal absence;
- small area of the apartment as a whole: a standard two-room apartment in a Khrushchev building has an area of no more than 43, 44, 46 square meters;
- small area of the room - bedroom or nursery;
- lack of a balcony on the ground floor - there are practically no “Khrushchev” buildings with a loggia on the ground floor;
- a walk-through kitchen, which is combined with the living room and is so small that the equipment only fits a gas stove and a short countertop.
“Kopeck apartments” may differ slightly in area and layout:
- “Knizhka” is a Khrushchev house with consecutive rooms – kitchen, living room, bedroom and a total area of 42-43 square meters. m.
- "Tram" - a two-room apartment with an area of almost 47 square meters. m and adjacent rooms, one of which is a corner one.
- “Improved” - a layout without a walk-through room, a separate bathroom and a tiny kitchen. The total area of such an apartment is usually 43-45 square meters. meters.
- “Butterfly” is an apartment with a kitchen in the middle and two rooms at its edges. The area of such a “Khrushchev” building is usually 46 square meters. meters. It has a separate bathroom almost in the kitchen.
The “book” layout is good because it has adjacent rooms that can easily be combined into one or the entire apartment - into a full-fledged studio. However, the disadvantage of this layout is that no matter what the redevelopment is, one of the rooms will remain a walk-through room. Only if you don’t put up a partition and create a corridor leading to the next room.
Regardless of the “original” layout, the “Khrushchev” can be changed and made functional - to combine rooms or increase the space of one of them.
Variety of design solutions
If you have purchased a small apartment, then do not despair. You can always choose ways to arrange the interior so that it is original and cozy. The photo shows an apartment of 44 sq. There are several options for getting out of this situation.
Main characteristics of two-room apartments of the Khrushchev type
The first use of such layouts in 4- or 5-story buildings did not differ in the large square footage of the rooms. The buildings were made of brick or panel type.
Main parameters:
- The ceiling height reached 2.5 meters.
- Weak sound insulation properties.
- Reinforced concrete floors.
- The roof type is flat.
- There were about 3-4 apartments on one floor.
- Some rooms were equipped with gas water heaters.
- The first floors do not have balconies or loggias.
- The main living area is 30-46 sq.m.
- The average bedroom area is from 8.5 sq.m.
- Living room – from 14 sq.m.
- Kitchens – from 5 sq.m.
Many Russian families at that time acquired their own housing for the first time.
Currently, houses of this type are in disrepair and are subject to demolition, since their operation was not designed for a long period. But later, during their construction, technologies were used that increased the reliability and durability of the entire structure, as well as their service life up to 100-150 years, taking into account planned major repairs, which were to be carried out every 50 years.
Some buildings were supposed to last no more than 30-50 years and had the status of temporary housing.
At a time when housing was urgently needed for a large number of families, this type of house construction was considered the most optimal option. A large number of small-sized apartments in the building could accommodate many people in need of housing. The architectural features of such houses were not distinguished by an elegant facade; simplicity and minimalism were used. There were no elevators or garbage chutes in five-story buildings of that time.
Panel and brick high-rise buildings were erected in a matter of months.
Currently, Khrushchev buildings require re-equipment of electrical wiring, because they do not support the modern amount of electrical equipment. It is necessary to automate resources such as heating and water distribution equipment. Thermal insulation is weak, which requires additional installation of external panels to improve these properties.
The standard area of a two-room Khrushchev apartment is about 43-44 square meters.
This is interesting: The subtleties of the design of a small living room with an area of 17 square meters - we explain in detail
Arrangement of a sunny corner
This design solution assumes that the apartment will be redeveloped. The entire room can be divided into two compact bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Separate the kitchen from the living room using furniture.
It is important to make the most of the space. Therefore, a bar counter is used as a dining table. Also in the living room you need to install a comfortable sofa that converts into a bed.
A bean bag chair will look original, and a compact set with a large number of shelves will help eliminate furniture clutter. For the kitchen, it is advisable to choose yellow furniture and built-in appliances.
The effectiveness of the design is ensured by a successful combination of colors. Yellow color gives the home a touch of tenderness, white visually expands the walls, brown brings warmth, and blue reminds of the severity of lines.
Bedroom
The two-room apartment has a small room with an area of about 10 m2. It is used as a separate bedroom, which is what the two-room plan created by Soviet architects provides.
Despite the small size of the room, all the necessary furniture fits in it:
- Comfortable double bed.
- Dressing table by the window.
- Daybed for relaxation.
- Bedside table with lamp.
The bedroom interior is decorated in bright blue. The decor combines seemingly incongruous objects: a kitsch-style wall poster and a Buddha head on the bedside table. The interior looks bright, thoughtful and harmonious. It is clear that the two-room furnishing plan was drawn up by a professional.
Play of colors in design
The positivity of the environment is ensured by pink shades. A soft sofa with colored pillows and bright curtains are the basis of comfort and cordiality in the house.
Wooden furniture is preferred, and the design has hints of Provence with white painted walls and a light ceiling. A set in turquoise shades is suitable for the kitchen. A round table with neat chairs will look great.
For the bedroom, choose a bed with metal headboards, as well as a table with an original base. The beamed ceiling is decorated with a chandelier. Textiles with rustic motifs are suitable for decorating windows.
The bathroom should not stand out from the overall composition. Pink ceramics and simple furniture are chosen for it, and an original mirror completes the interior.
It is quite possible to decorate the interior of a small two-room home if you use your imagination. Playing on the contrast of colors, selecting furniture, using decorative elements - all this will help create a cozy and original environment.
Furniture selection
Furniture for rooms is chosen taking into account what functions these rooms will perform, and focusing on one’s own needs. If the hall is only a relaxation area, then it will be enough to put a large comfortable sofa, a coffee table with armchairs, and place a TV there. If your family loves to read, a bookcase will come in handy.
In the bedroom, the bed usually takes the central place; in addition to it, there may be bedside tables. If you have free space in the bedroom, you can place a wardrobe and a chest of drawers.
In the bathroom these are usually shelves and cabinets. In the hallway there is a shelf for shoes and a hanger. If space allows, you can also place a wardrobe.
In a child's room, first of all, there should be a comfortable sleeping place, a play corner, a table for studying, and storage systems for clothes. If there is free space, a sports corner will be relevant.
Photo of apartment design 44 sq. m.
Hallway
The entrance area greets you with a bright door and richly colored walls, setting the tone for the entire interior of the apartment. To the left of the entrance is a closed wardrobe for outerwear, opposite is a built-in system for large items and shoes. To the right of the door is a light console for decoration and storage of small items, and above it is an abstract painting by N. Pavlov “Autumn. Puddle”.
Little Greene wall paint, Natural Selection console. The floor is covered with Italon porcelain tiles: the kitchen is decorated with the same material to create a unified space.
Beautiful examples
This photo convincingly shows that the hallway in a two-room apartment can look brilliant. Light gray walls and snow-white doors go together perfectly. A simple stretch ceiling harmoniously displays the floor with simple two-color geometric shapes. A small shelf in the corner does not distract too much attention. Overall, the result is a spacious and bright room.
And here a corridor and a small area of the kitchen are shown. Imitation brickwork on the wall looks impressive. The emphatically rough floor is the same in spirit. White doors in such an interior provide additional harmony. Slightly old-fashioned armchairs around the kitchen table create an attractive composition, illuminated by pendant lamps; Light gray walls also look good up close.
Bedroom
To create coziness in the decoration of the bedroom, they used not only paint, but also wallpaper. For the same purpose, the headboard was decorated with textiles, and the windows with thick curtains. Ceiling-high mirrors were placed behind the bedside tables - this popular technique adds depth to the space.
Paint & Paper Library paint and York wallpaper were used for finishing. Bed from Nuvola, textiles from IKEA, bedside tables from Parra. Ceiling lamp Eglo.
Partial dismantling
Old housing stock and its real estate are purchased by buyers who are distrustful of new buildings. Of course, the felt-tip pens differ in taste and color, but with serious refurbishment, it is difficult to renovate old apartments the way you want.
Firstly, load-bearing walls can only be partially dismantled, that is, a passage can be installed, or the design of the project can decide to cut out the opening. Two-room apartments with a niche are now very popular. But only with official permission from municipal authorities.
The best solution for expanding square meters is to combine a balcony and a small room. At the same time, the balcony can be completely rebuilt as an insulated loggia.
In the old building, the apartments are distinguished by wide corridors; with ingenuity and a successful design move, such corridors, as if by magic, can turn into “seclusion corners”. A tea table, an armchair, a blanket, properly adjusted lighting. Installing power supply for gadgets or lamps will make spending time in such a place cozy and useful.
For a family of two people, the square meters of the old kitchen will be enough, but the family will grow and children will appear. You should immediately think about the layout of the kitchen “plus” living room. There may not be a second major overhaul. By taking care of the merging of the living room and kitchen in advance, you will save yourself a lot of hassle.
What is included in the renovation project and why is it needed?
All photos of the project Computer sketch of the kitchen interior of a two-room apartment
All the interiors presented above cannot be brought to life without a renovation project. It is only at first glance that it seems that it is enough to take a selection of interesting ideas from a magazine and implement them in your own apartment. In fact, renovating an apartment is a finely tuned process, no less complex than building a house.
To make your home beautiful, safe and comfortable, you need to start with design. offers the following renovation project options.
Preliminary design
- Measurements of premises with reference to utilities
- Unique planning solution
- Sketches of rooms in 3D in the 3Ds MAX program
- Consultations on the selection of materials, equipment and furniture
All photos of the project Layout of a 2-room apartment 74 sq. m in the residential complex "House on Bakovka"
All photos of the project Computer sketch of the bedroom interior of a two-room apartment
Working draft
- Plans for dismantling and installing walls, partitions, doors, windows and radiators
- Layout diagrams of plumbing equipment, lighting fixtures, sockets and switches
- Floor and ceiling plans, wall layouts and sections
- Specifications of selected materials, doors, equipment and furniture
All photos of the project Plan for dismantling walls, partitions, doors, windows and radiators
All photos of the project The floor plan is included in the working design of the renovation
The renovation project includes the necessary specifications that allow you to determine the budget for the interior.
All photos of the project Computer sketch of the interior of the bathroom of a two-room apartment
All photos of the project Selected bathroom fixtures
In addition, the design stage helps you choose the style, furniture and materials, as well as imagine what your apartment will look like after all the work on its transformation is completed.
