Less is Lykke: A Tiny Nordic Oasis

A small apartment in Copenhagen, photographed for its Airbnb listing. The brief: make a compact space look as generous as it feels to stay in.

The flat does a lot with a little. Low sun comes through old paned windows onto terracotta walls. In the kitchen, knives hang on a magnetic rail above an ash counter, beside an espresso machine and a tidy tray of spices. A round oak table stands on a linen rug under a lampshade that is half wicker, half painted steel, and a single gilt candleholder is the only flourish. The living room holds a low sand-coloured sofa, a reclaimed-wood table, a paper pendant and a marble lamp by the window. There isn’t much else, and nothing is missing.

Small spaces are hard to photograph honestly. A wide lens makes them look bigger and colder than they are. I worked instead in close, layered frames, room by room, so that together the pictures recreate moving through the flat rather than relying on a single impressive shot.