Miniaturization and white space

Our house is plenty big for two people but I'm realizing it's not big enough to support my ideal vision of space. I like having little pods of messes and things set off against vast amounts of blank space. But like most people I can't afford vast amounts of white space. I wonder if that's part of the Japanese aesthetic. The attraction lies not only in the miniaturization, but in the luxuriant empty spaces enabled by small things.