Chairs

The advantage of Soviet chairs is the material they were made from. Most of the pieces are made of wood, and many do not even require restoration, and they fit perfectly into the interior of modern dining rooms or become an addition to a home office.

Beginners begin their first attempts to remake furniture with chairs, and they respond with gratitude.

Soviet chairs in a modern kitchen Chair with re-upholstered upholstery Chairs in dining room

Bedside table

The popular Scandinavian style has captivated our compatriots with its laconicism and cozy atmosphere. White walls, contrasting accents, a bit of bright decor and fresh flowers – this is how you can briefly characterize this trend.

Scandinavians value a variety of textures and natural materials in their interiors, so the Soviet bedside table will fit perfectly into the decor. Thanks to the thin legs, the structure looks visually light: it seems that it takes up less space than it actually does.

Unlike furniture with a plinth, it is much easier to clean under the cabinets.

Bedroom with a retro nightstand Soviet nightstand in the living room

Sideboard

Some interior elements are passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes they become works of art, and sometimes they become the main family heirloom.

In the first photo, the sideboard was restored by removing the old layer of varnish, removing scratches and protecting it with a new coating. It was fitted into a niche created by modern built-in cabinets. And in the second picture – a 45-year-old Soviet sideboard, which was given a new bright life, having been repainted with chalk paints.

Sideboard in the interior Remade sideboard

Carpet

Patterned, bright carpets, similar to the usual Soviet ones, are very often found in Scandinavian design blogs. Today, a vintage carpet from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan or Iran is an indicator that you understand interior fashion.

There are several criteria to determine whether your product is valuable:

  • The carpet is made of natural wool (the pile will burn, not melt, if set on fire).
  • The geometric pattern is clear.
  • There are no moth-eaten areas on the product.

Of course, if the carpet is dear to you as a memory, you can ignore these criteria. To fit the carpet into the decor of the apartment, designers advise putting it on the floor, not hanging it on the wall. It should be surrounded by stylish and modern furniture.

Carpet in a modern interior Carpet in a Scandinavian living room

Tables

“Soviet” furniture of the 60s mainly comes from Eastern Europe (GDR, Czech Republic). In many ways, it is no worse than its European counterparts and is not inferior in quality or appearance.

The designers of that time cared not about their fame, but about the convenience of users. A wooden desk can easily be “made friends” with a modern chair and computer equipment – its strict appearance is just right for arranging a mini-office.

Vintage desk

And at the peak of popularity today are round oak tables for the kitchen. To use this treasure, you should clean it from varnish and protect it with special oil. If desired, it can be given an updated look by choosing a composition with a color.

Soviet oak table

Armchair

The model of these famous and comfortable armchairs was developed back in 1957 by V. Kozulin, N. Manusharova and V. Savchenko. The designers relied on the constructivism of the 20s, so the armchairs turned out to be light and laconic. They do not take up much space, they are easy to move.

Most of today’s examples need re-upholstery and an additional layer of foam rubber. The updated chairs with a sturdy wooden frame fit perfectly into a modern interior with retro notes.

Soviet armchair in the living room Armchair in the reading corner Soviet armchair in a bright interior

Refrigerator

Soviet refrigerators like “Sever” and “ZIL” are inferior in both power and capacity. But they often become the highlight of the kitchen: repainted in a bright color in combination with an unusual rounded shape, refrigerators attract attention and set the mood for the entire interior. If the device is broken, it can be used as a cabinet, replacing the internal trays with shelves.

Red refrigerator in the living room

And the owner of this blue ZIL refrigerator did not give up and took it apart again, cleaning and replacing several parts. The owner believes that the kitchen assistant, which has worked for 40 years, will now work for the same amount of time:

ZIL in the kitchen interior

Any item from the Soviet past can fit into a modern interior, provided that it is well made and well preserved – the main thing is to choose a worthy environment for it.