What is a Khrushchev refrigerator and how to decorate it aesthetically?

What is it and why was it invented?

The Khrushchev refrigerator is a distinctive feature of mass housing in the 1950s. A built-in cabinet under the window sill with a ventilation hole on the back wall, thanks to which cold air entered inside and in cold weather the invention completely replaced the electric refrigerator.

The main advantage of the refrigerator under the window is space saving. It helps save useful space in a tiny kitchen, while taking up practically no space. Yes, a full-fledged electric refrigerator will not replace a winter refrigerator, but it is perfect for storing food all year round.

The photo shows the same kitchen and niche facades

How can you redesign it?

If you own an apartment with a Khrushchev refrigerator in a small kitchen, there are several options for using the space under the window. The first and simplest is to leave everything as is, just improving the appearance. We will talk about such an improvement of the Khrushchev refrigerator further, first we will consider alternative ways of using a refrigerated cabinet.

Make a cabinet

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking “What to do instead of a Khrushchev refrigerator?” is a cabinet under the windowsill. The base for it is already there, it remains to think over the shelves and doors, as well as seal the ventilation hole and insulate the niche under the window.

If you do not want to dismantle and redevelop the opening yourself, contact the manufacturers of plastic windows. Most likely, they will be able to offer ready-made furniture options “turnkey” – with the removal of old paneling, insulation and installation of a finished structure with walls, shelves, doors made of plastic material.

Opening the refrigerator can be not only hinged. One of the popular solutions is sliding doors. In terms of functionality, they are almost no different from ordinary doors, but they save space significantly, not requiring space for opening.

There are also examples not with shelves, but with drawers. This is more ergonomic and convenient, because in order to get an item standing at the far wall, you do not have to bend over or squat down in search of what you need. It is enough to pull out the drawer, take out a jar or a package, and push it back.

The photo shows a cabinet with sliding doors

Install a heating battery

The second idea for using a Khrushchev refrigerator is to install a radiator in a niche. The advantages of this method:

• the radiator will not take up space in the corner, furniture can be installed in its place;
• the outer wall of the chamber is covered with a decorative screen, which significantly improves the appearance of the kitchen interior.

It is better to carry out the transfer outside the heating season. During the work it is necessary to:

1. Dismantle old doors, shelves, trim.
2. Insulate the opening from the outside and from the inside.
3. Bring the pipes to the place where the battery is installed. To prevent exposed PVC pipes from spoiling the design, make grooves inside the brickwork or concrete slab.

If you need to align it (the opening) with the height of the window sill, make ventilation holes for warm air to escape.

The photo shows a battery in a niche under the window sill

Install the equipment

To avoid the hassle of finishing the winter refrigerator under the window, install built-in equipment in its place. This could be:

• Refrigerator. A small model with a glass or solid door. A convenient option for storing daily supplies if the main one is moved to the next room.
• Freezer. If your family usually freezes fresh food for storage, and the refrigerator compartment is not large enough, buy an additional freezer, which will solve the problem.
• Washing machine. The issue of placing a washing assistant in a tiny Khrushchev apartment is always acute. Give preference to a narrow model and place it under the windowsill.
• Dishwasher. The freed up space under the window can open up the possibility of placing a built-in dishwasher with a beautiful facade. In the remaining space, you can install a small cabinet for storing detergents.
• Oven. If a niche has already been left, why not use the space under the windowsill to place an oven. The main thing is that the equipment is electric (not gas!) and fits in size.

Important! For stable operation of the equipment, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions: no low temperatures, gaps for ventilation of cooling or heating devices.

Cracks and openings facing the street must be hermetically sealed with polyurethane foam, and thermal insulation must be laid. From the inside, the space is finished with plaster or drywall so as not to leave bare brick.

The photo shows a small built-in refrigerator

Remove completely

The simplest, but not the most practical option is to align the niche with the side walls and decorate it to match the general background. Finishing a Khrushchev refrigerator will allow you to make a smooth, beautiful wall, but will neutralize the additional storage space.

• To level the level, mount a thin plasterboard partition on metal profiles.
• The plasterboard must be moisture-resistant, capable of withstanding condensation on the inside.
• To prevent low temperatures from penetrating into the apartment, the niche should be carefully insulated from the inside and protected from the cold.
• The exterior is finished with wallpaper, ceramic tiles, laminate, paint.

Another option is to leave a niche, placing a worktop on top. Then equipment or a cabinet will easily fit under the window. The second option is to install a bar counter, thanks to the recess there will be enough space for the legs below.

Modernize the refrigerator

Updating a Khrushchev refrigerator does not always require its complete redesign, it is enough to improve the appearance of the structure so that it fits into a modern design.

Step-by-step instructions for modernization

4 steps to transform a khrushchevki refrigerator with your own hands:

First of all, replace the door: instead of the standard wooden one, you should install a metal-plastic one. It consists of a wide profile and a double-glazed window or sandwich panel inside. Like a PVC window, the door reliably protects the apartment from cold air and does not require additional insulation.

Let’s move on to the interior: what exactly will be stored here?

• If the products are not afraid of freezing, insulation will not be required.
• For vegetables, pickles and other supplies that are “capricious” in terms of storage conditions, the chamber will have to be insulated: seal the ventilation hole with polyurethane foam or, in the old-fashioned way, lay sisal and cover with plaster; fix mineral wool or another type of insulation along 3 walls, top and bottom.

Step #3 — interior decorative finishing. Cover with plasterboard, which is then decorated with mosaics, tiles, PVC panels (a cost-saving option).

If the door is glass, use original tiles with a pattern that creates an interesting contrast in the kitchen design. Or install decorative lighting – a colored LED strip will replace a night light, help create a chamber atmosphere.

The last nuance is the installation of shelves or drawers in a Khrushchev refrigerator. This issue should be taken into account even when installing drywall in order to secure the embedded parts for future shelves. In a standard Khrushchev, there is only one shelf – in the middle. If you don’t need a lot of height between the tiers, install 2 or even 3 horizontal partitions.

The photo shows the plastic finishing of the winter refrigerator

See the video for a remodeling option with laminated chipboard facades:

Design examples

If you are just wondering what to do with the built-in camera, study the ideas that have already been implemented – you will probably find one that suits your budget and appearance.

• Dish cabinet. The presence of a niche will not interfere even with the design of the kitchen in a classic style: equip it with beautiful glass doors with gold trim, put out some festive dishes and you yourself will be surprised how good an ordinary Khrushchev-era apartment can look.
• Open shelf. Even after careful insulation of the wall, there will be a small niche under the windowsill, allowing you to store cereals or other supplies in beautiful jars. Organize storage for bulk goods, a tea area or allocate this space for bowls and pet food.
• Bar. Glass shelves, mosaic walls, bright blue lighting are ideal conditions for storing wine and other alcohol, along with glasses and other accessories. If the option with alcohol is not considered, the place is suitable for putting out pickles.
• Pull-out drawers. The most convenient way to use the lower tier of the kitchen is a pull-out system. Thanks to the full extension guides, absolutely the entire space of the box will be in front of your eyes and nothing will get lost in the depths of the Khrushchev-era building. The facades are ordered the same as in the entire set. The depth can be absolutely any – but keep in mind that custom-made furniture will cost more than a regular modular kitchen.

Now you know how to fit a winter refrigerator into the kitchen interior, modernize it or completely remodel it. Don’t forget about high-quality insulation – it is the key to a long service life of a new piece of furniture.