A bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building with a washing machine

The bathroom is a great place to unwind after a long day at work. To truly unwind under the warm water, you need a special environment and thoughtful design. This issue is receiving increasing attention these days. We'll tell you how to design a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era apartment.

Features of the premises

Rooms in Khrushchev-era buildings, including bathrooms, have their own unique characteristics, one of the main ones being their small size. A bathroom that isn't combined with a toilet is no more than 2-3 square meters. If the toilet is in the same room as the bathroom, the area doesn't exceed 3 square meters. With rare exceptions, the area can be 4 sq. m.

Important! You can increase the bathroom space by combining the bathtub and toilet. However, this will require legalizing the apartment renovation.

Furthermore, the bathroom has low ceilings, only 2.5 meters. A characteristic of Khrushchev-era bathrooms is the inconvenient placement of plumbing, which often requires rewiring.

A Khrushchev-era bathroom has three main components: a bathtub, a sink, and a toilet. Their placement can vary depending on the room's shape and size. The photo below shows various options. The question arises: where to place the washing machine?

Dishwasher placement options

There aren't many options for where to place a washing machine in a Khrushchev-era bathroom. First of all, let's note that we will be installing a narrow front-loading washing machine; there is simply no space in such a small room for a full-size washing machine with a depth of 60 cm or more.

Without extensive remodeling, a washing machine can only be installed in a bathroom measuring 175 x 150 cm, provided the bathtub is located along the long wall. Opposite the bathtub, in the middle, is the entrance, to the right of the entrance is the sink, and to the left is open space. This space can be occupied by the washing machine. In principle, the washing machine and sink can be swapped.

If the entrance to the bathroom is located opposite the sink, then there is only one option for placing the washing machine - under the sink.

It's also possible to find a place for a washing machine in a combined bathroom—for example, opposite the toilet. If there's not enough space for a front-loading machine, a top-loading machine is another option.

All other placement methods will involve redevelopment:

• The first option is to replace the bathtub with a shower stall, which will free up a free corner in the bathroom where you can install the machine;
  
• Option two: combine the toilet and the bathroom, and place the machine between the bathroom and the toilet;
  
• The third option is to combine the bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building with part of the hallway, which can be used to create a niche for a washing machine.
  

Tips for choosing interior items

It's important to consider the bathroom furniture before renovating, taking into account the dimensions of all items. The size of the bathtub or shower will affect the size of both the washing machine and the sink. Therefore, it's important to find a combination of furnishings that will fit in the small room of a Khrushchev-era apartment and complement the style.

In favor of a washing machine with a large load, one often has to give up a bathtub and install a shower stall. On the one hand, it takes up little space, on the other hand, it is inconvenient when washing by hand, as well as when bathing small children. Therefore, before choosing a bath or a shower cabin, you need to weigh the pros and cons.

When placing washing machine under the sinkChoose compact models. This will avoid the inconvenience of washing. A wall-mounted sink will help save space, and the space underneath can be used for a cabinet with laundry supplies.

A small bathroom shouldn't be overcrowded with furniture. One small wall cabinet and shelf are sufficient. The shelf can be straight or corner. Glass or chromed metal shelves don't weigh down the space.

Important! To ensure all furnishings are placed correctly, create a drawing that includes the dimensions of all items, including the bathtub, washing machine, and sink. This will help create a harmonious interior and design for your Khrushchev-era room.

Design nuances

Bathroom design isn't just about clever furniture placement; it's about color scheme, choosing the right finishing materials, and accessories. Here's what to consider:

• It is preferable to design a bathroom in light colors, or the light color should dominate;
• the colors of the walls, floor and ceiling should not merge, ideally they should differ by one or two tones;
• It is better to make the floor color darker than the color of the walls, and the ceiling, on the contrary, lighter;
• the color scheme of a small room should be warm, these are shades of orange, pink, yellow, light green, brown, beige;
• You can visually expand the space of a room using glossy stretch ceilings;
• try to avoid using tiles with large and frequent patterns, It is best to make tile inserts with a single pattern, or use the pattern only on one wall;
• A backlit mirror helps to expand the space of a room;
• When planning the room's design, don't overdo it with decor and accessories; in a small bathroom, they should be kept to a minimum; a large number of accessories, jars, and bottles will create the impression of clutter;
• Lighting plays an important role; spotlights are the best way to highlight the bathroom design, but a hanging chandelier has no place in the bathroom; a wall lamp would be a better option;
• Instead of a shower curtain, it is better to install a glass screen; it will provide better protection from splashes and will not visually clutter the space of a small room;
• It is best to choose white furniture for the bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, as it will visually appear smaller;
• A classic white washing machine will also not spoil the design of a small room.

Decorating a bathroom in a Khrushchev-era apartment with a washing machine is virtually no different from decorating a bathroom without one. You'll need to consider the placement of the appliance relative to other interior items to ensure a harmonious and attractive design.

   

Readers' comments