Furniture. In Japanese apartments, rooms are small and tend not to have much space taking furniture. Beds are futons that are rolled up and stored during the day. Typical are Tansu, small storage chests which feature an ornate display of brass hinges, locks, and bolts, with sliding doors. Japanese house owners tend to have furniture like that in Western homes, often in the Japanese style.. But one room is entirely empty, the tatami room with wall-to-wall rice straw mats. The room is traditionally used for meditation and has an alcove with a small Buddhist altar for reciting sutras. And fresh flowers hanging scroll and perhaps a bonsai are also kept there.
Meals are eaten seated on floor cushions and eaten from low tables. Armrests help a relaxed posture. Cooking is done on a low brazier (hibachi) – and smaller hibachi contain burning charcoal that heats the room.
In modern homes, Tansu may be used as, e.g., TV stands and for storing small items, while the tops can display arts and crafts. In such homes, a Step Tansu may be used for storage and display. Step-Tansu are, as the name suggests, shaped into stairs, each step for display, with doors under the steps for storage. In the historically fine homes of Samurai, exquisitely detailed, large units were used both for display and storage.
Small, highly decorative lacquer storage boxes serve as jewelry boxes and for organizing sewing supplies, etc. These are readily available and are popular with collectors. Even smaller boxes organize small items for regular use. One is a money box; coins are entered into a slot that leads to a locked drawer Other boxes organize various minutia. The Japanese seem to have a box for every purpose (see Inro). Ceiling and table lamps are standard.