Have you bought a small apartment or studio apartment and are having trouble finding a place to sleep? Do you think you will end up sleeping on a sofa bed because the space is too small? Sleeping on a sofa may not be a bad idea, and recently sofas have been made specifically for this purpose, but it is not a very convenient or comfortable solution. Elderly people develop back problems after a while, and they have to fold and unfold the futon every day (and, by the way, they need a place to store it). But if the apartment is really small, there is nothing else that can be done.
But if you have at least a little extra space, there are better options. The most commonly chosenis the tip-up bed. There are both mass-produced and custom-made beds. The advantage of these beds is that if you close them well (and fold the duvet well), the bed looks almost like a wardrobe, and probably no one will think the bed is hidden. Another advantage is that you don\’t have to put the duvet anywhere; just close it up and you\’re done. The downside is the price. If you want a good quality bed that doesn\’t get “wrinkled” after a while, you have to invest at least 20,000 yen, and even then, the bed starts to creak a bit after a while.
Another common choice is thepull-out podium bed. This, too, is available in both mass-produced and custom-made variations, allowing the bed to be tailored exactly to one\’s taste. The advantage of this bed is that furniture can be added to the podium. For example, a sofa with TV, a wardrobe, or a desk can be placed. The disadvantage is that you need space to slide the bed in. Another drawback is that it creates a “step” in the apartment. Because of the height of this bedstead, there will be about two steps. The duvet could be slid into the podium along with the bed, but people with allergies may have problems with this option, especially if they have allergies. This is because the duvet can become dusty and cause health problems.
