Liminal space aesthetics consists of any room, corridor, or hallway that is big and empty, yet carries an eerie and unsettling vibe with it (this part is key in separating the Liminal Space aesthetic from just a regular photo of an empty room/corridor/hallway). There is even debate as to whether it should even be considered an aesthetic, given how much it can rely on cultural hallmarks that vary from place to place. What appears nostalgic to one person may be more unsettling to another, while some may find the same image bland with no emotions attached to it. Liminal spaces are also quite subjective. There's also the matter of After Hours aesthetics being more grounded in reality compared to the dream-like vibe of Liminal Space. But while the After Hours aesthetic plays with feelings of peacefulness and tranquillity, Liminal Space's appeal comes from their unsettling atmosphere.

Liminal space aesthetics also have a significant overlap with those of After Hours, since both explore the atmosphere of vacant spaces that are, by nature, easier to find during night time. Due to their nostalgic appeal and dreamlike atmosphere, leading many to reflect on the passage of time and yearn for times of innocence and optimism associated with infancy and coming-of-age periods, liminal spaces are also strongly linked with Traumacore, Hauntology and other similar aesthetics. This expanded scope also gave the phenomenon a wider appeal among those from the X/Millennial/Z generations, who connected the mysterious allure of liminal spaces with their own childhood and cultural memory, usually through the frequent use of locations such as roadside attractions, playgrounds, vacant houses or abandoned malls, but also artefacts such as poor lightning, compression effects and old-fashioned décor. While this definition is the closest to the usual, academic meaning of liminality, it should be noted that liminal space aesthetics have expanded in scope to include images of places that are simply nostalgic, dreamlike, and/or uncanny, with the absence of people becoming their only unifying trait although these are all incorporated parts of the liminal space aesthetic, they are not considered liminal spaces themselves. Therefore, the absence of external stimuli (such as conversations, people moving around, or any kind of social dynamics) creates an otherworldly and forlorn atmosphere. For instance, an empty stairwell or hospital corridor at night might look sinister or uncanny because these places are usually brimming with life and movement. Liminal space aesthetics relate to the unique feelings of eeriness, nostalgia, and apprehension people report when presented with such places outside of their designed context most notably, their function as intermediary points between origin and destination. True to its etymology ('liminal' being derived from the Latin word limen, meaning 'threshold'), the concept of a liminal space encompasses physical spaces that, due to their function, are transitional in nature, with hallways, waiting rooms, parking lots and rest stops becoming the archetypical examples of such places. The images posted gave rise to what is known as Liminal Space today.

On May 12, 2019, an anonymous 4chan user asked on the /x/ paranormal board 'post disquieting images that just feel 'off''.

Superliminal spaces