5 Ideas from Soviet Interiors That 'Survived' in Our Apartments

The Soviet style in all its glory and diversity is disliked by almost everyone. And at the first opportunity, owners try to get rid of it. We decided to look at Soviet interior design from another angle and collected ideas that we still use today.

Antresol for Additional Storage

Then: in Soviet times, every standard apartment was equipped with an antresol in the hallway and/or corridor. Of course, it significantly reduced ceiling height, but it perfectly fulfilled its function: storing things rarely used.

Now: during renovation in old apartments, existing antresols are often removed. However, since the idea is 'workable,' designers have found new applications for it: additional floor-to-ceiling cabinets can be found above doorways, on the kitchen, and even in the bedroom above the bed.

Window Between Bathroom and Kitchen

Then: in Soviet-era new buildings, electricity supply was often unreliable. To make using the bathroom more convenient, architects provided a skylight in the ceiling: during the day, light came through it.

Now: modern designers have gone further: they enlarged the skylight and moved it… into the bedroom. This is how many owners of small apartments solved the issue of room zoning.

Design: Elena Martyniuk

Tiling in Bathroom to Half Wall Height

Then: to save money, tiles in bathrooms were laid only up to the splash zone. The rest of the wall was plastered, just like the ceiling.

Now: almost nothing has changed — designers actively use this approach when they want to stay within a small budget but don't want to completely abandon tiling.

Design: Porte Rouge

Light Fixtures Without Shades

Then: 'Ilich bulbs' were once considered a sign of poverty. Not everyone could afford even a simple shade, and shades weren't always available for purchase.

Now: today this is a trend. Almost all manufacturers have been releasing models with undecorated, 'naked' light bulbs for years now. Designers use them in their projects.

Design: Nastya Antoniuk

Modular Furniture

Then: compact and multifunctional furniture was needed in tiny kitchens in Khrushchev-era apartments, just like air. In the 1970s and beyond, modular kitchen units appeared that could be combined according to individual needs.

Now: designers and homeowners now have full creative freedom with modular kitchen options and materials for cabinet doors. Furniture can be purchased both in mass markets and custom-made.

Design: UD Base