The Japanese stay warm in the winter with this ingenious invention dating back to the 14th century that serves as a sitting area with the added comfort of a giant warm bed. The kotatsu is a simple construction made with a low table-frame and a giant blanket sandwiched under a tabletop to capture heat and keep you toasty in the winter cold.
Kotatsus were originally just a table with a blanket, but modern innovation has reinvented the design to create hybrids called oki-gotatsu. Oki-gotatsu are a bed-table-couch combo.
Although the production of these tables has declined over the years because of the widespread adoption of indoor heating, they’re still used in most Japanese homes as space heaters during the cold months. They're convenient because the blanket can be removed from under the tabletop during the summer months to turn the kotatsu into an ordinary table.
The kotatsu is traditionally a place for the family to gather and mingle, but it’s also a great place for relaxing with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book. With the addition of the sofa, you’ll never want to use your bed again!
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