I was on the hunt for a new bed frame recently and those Japanese joinery models really caught my eye, but so did the price. These things can get very expensive, however Flexispot – a brand that has delivered by home office with wonderful seating arrangements for years – also makes some Japanese joinery frames at a much more affordable rate. Here are my hands-on impressions.
The Flexispot Japanese joinery bed frames start from $479 at Amazon, but you’ll find some deals on several designed straight from the brand’s official site starting from $349.99 shipped.
I have been interested in these Japanese joinery bed frame solutions for a while, not just because I can sometimes hate putting furniture together IKEA-style, but it is also seemed like the sort of thing I can get upstairs with relative ease, put together on my own quickly, and deliver a super clean and neat wood aesthetic.
Some of these things can be very expensive – I don’t love that, but the Flexispot model seemed to provide a sort of middle ground. Something that still delivers the look and assembly experience I was after, without spending $2,000+.
I have been testing out the brand’s Kana models with matching headboard, from the delivery and assembly process through to a few month’s of nightly use.
- Japanese Joinery Design: Provides a solid, reliable foundation.
- Reinforced Cross Beam and Two Center Legs: Enhances support and prevents movement or creaking.
- Thick Solid Wood Legs: Enhances support and Strong, wide legs for maximum support.
- Wooden Wedge: Secure the frame for long-lasting stability.
- Inward-Recessed Legs: Fits snugly against the wall to maximize space and stability.
Assembly and construction
Once you un-package all the boxes and lay everything out, it seems like it’s going to be a bit of a process – it’s not. The whole thing went together in about 20 minutes and it was a total breeze.
This is of course one of the benefits of this Japanese joinery design – the legs, side rails and headboard all sort of slide together like 3D puzzle pieces, negating the need for an excessive number of screws that will eventually need to be tightened up and so forth. It was an overall great experience.
There are a few nuts and bolts connections here though and, while I wasn’t stoked about that, I’m more than happy to screw in a few legs and fasteners in favor of the much lighter price tag than some Japanese joinery solutions.
One of the small legs that provides extra support underneath the frame (not the four main legs in each corner), became a little bit loose after having to move the bed around the room to make space for a couple home DIY jobs – I don’t love this, but it was perhaps my fault for not completely lifting the bed up to move it around. Once it is in place and everything is tightened, it has remained that way.
That said, this is perhaps the only part of the build and experience I’m not totally happy with. Those additional support legs should be more robust and deliver a more solid connection to the rest of the frame. I also would have like to see some proper felt foot pads throughout (or something along those lines) to safeguard the floor and make it easier to move when needed.
The recessed main legs in each of the four corners are particularly solid and robust, and with the slight curved cutout design, allow the bed to sit snug up against a wall without (most) base boards getting in the way.
All told, I really like this bed frame, and I love the price point. Flexispot has regular deals on its Japanese joinery bed frames and, as far as I’m concerned, they deliver some of the best value you’ll find in this product vertical. The small support legs in the middle of the frame are less sturdy than I would have hoped for, but it’s whole lot nicer looking and sturdy than I would have thought it would be for the price.
If you’re looking to land a proper wood Japanese joinery bed frame without spending thousands, the Flexispot models should definitely be on your shortlist.
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