Is it possible to make a small space seem large? To visually double it’s size? Yes. Absolutely! Most of us know that this challenge can be met by choosing the right colors, the right furniture and the right furniture arrangement but….it takes a very good eye. You are about to see a textbook perfect example of how to make a small space appear large.

This Soho (New York) pied-a-terre is a long shoe-box of a place measuring only 20 feet at its widest point by 100 feet long with three windows along the street side, and no other exposures. Intruding on that space is a stairwell and elevator shaft. Bottom line…this is less than 2000 square feet. But by the time interior designer Martin Raffone finished working his magic, the place appears to be much much bigger.

Painting the entire space white, including the ceilings and exposed pipes, was a great place to start. White brings light into darkness. Choosing contemporary furnishings was another brilliant choice. The sofa is sleek and deep. If you are looking for a reasonably priced contemporary sofa like this one you might want to check out the Mezzo sofa from Bo Concept.?Could the table pictured above be any more minimal and linear? How about the plain (but beautiful) unembellished kitchen cabinets? Every element is distilled to its most simple form.

Notice that there is no clutter at all. (Can we actually live like that? ….well, maybe for the photo shoot). The only real pattern in the room is the horizontal poplar plank wainscoting which cleverly encloses the seating area as a space divider. Fabrics and upholstered pieces are all solid colors giving the eye a chance to rest. Ah-h-h….rest.

Like we were saying….rest the eye. There’s no need to fill every nook and cranny with “stuff.” Using negative space as a design element is a clever way to create the illusion of large-ness. This fabulous bentwood chair is by Marc Newson.

More empty space with an exposed brick wall painted white. Again…no clutter. It’s elegantly simple.

Another “trick” that expands this space is the neutral color palette. White, black and various shades of tan and taupe. There is nothing loud and busy here. I feel calm and peaceful looking at this sleeping nook and bath. The floor is an ebonized maple. Very sophisticated.

The floor of this master bath is oiled recycled cypress and it extends into the shower with 1/4 inch gaps allowing for drainage. Wherever a flooring material can continue without a break, space will look bigger. In this instance, it is functional as well. The neutral colored mosaic tiles extend floor to ceiling making an interesting quiet little pattern.

The master bedroom continues the minimal theme so beautifully. Although I love the table lamp by?Luc Ramael table lamp, here’s an alternative with a metal mesh shade that will work just as well.

How do you make a small space feel large? Do it with authority! Paint it all white. Carefully place a few pieces of contemporary furniture within (leaving much of it empty). Clear out the clutter. If you aim for that and miss by a little bit, you might still love the results.

Photographs from Interior Design magazine / September 2008