How to build a Japanese-style heated floor desk

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Koyasan © by michaelvito, used under Creative Commons license.

I’m all about floor-furniture like the kotatsu, a 14th-century invention used in many Japanese homes all winter. It’s like the floor-oriented table often associated with Japanese homes, but with the added convenience of a heater and blanket. Sometimes I have daydreams about how awesome it would be to have one of these suckers. SO WARM. So cozy. None of the crampy discomfort of a western-style desk!

I’ve got a little floor-desk of my own going on, and this IKEA hack came just in time for me to play with.

Via Spoon & Tomago.

With two Lack tables, a small heater, and a nice padded blanket I could be ON MY WAY to no longer bundling up to work. And maybe then I’ll hack up an accompanying zaisu.

Comments on How to build a Japanese-style heated floor desk

  1. I would make sure that whatever heating element you use has a safety cut off. All the kotatsu in Japan have these so you don’t accidentally burn your house down!

  2. I’ve been plotting out how to build a kotatsu for over a year; my Japanese professor in college even invited me to her house to take pictures of hers! Now, with this tutorial and with those pictures….I HAVE THE POWER!!!!!
    *ahem* Thank you. 🙂

  3. A kotatsu was one of my favorite things about living in Japan. (Along with heated toilet seats, the trains, and generally being a rock star to my students.) Just want to mention that it’s not a good idea to fall asleep under one, tempting though it may be. Leg burns aren’t fun.

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