I prefer to go to the darker side, but not actually "dark." More like medium-dark. My new kitchen cabinets from Kraftmaid are called Rye, and it's a nice mix of the medium with the dark highlights. Dark is ok if it's a large area with lots of natural light though. Just my $0.02.

I prefer lighter colors in any room that has lower ceilings and areas of the home with lower natural light.

When I was a teen, my mother redecorated a new house with "blond" furniture and gave away all the terrific dark maple, walnut furniture we had. I still associate light wood with cold and uninviting. But that is probably just in my head.

I like darker furniture with lighter flooring.

I had medium-toned oak floors in my previous house, and never fully appreciated how easy care they were! In my new house we have dark hickory floors everywhere and with two dogs I am a slave to them! Way too much maintenance for me, but when they're clean they are BEAUTIFUL! And being hickory they do NOT scratch.

definently dark :))))))

Light timber allows the light to bounce around. For me, it feels "friendlier."

I love dark - everything - flooring, cabinets, furniture. I have to force myself to try lighter things. :-)

Dark everything would depress me. ;(. I live in Seattle and it's dark enough! Dark floors are beautiful but if you have kids or animals it's not fun to keep clean. Same with dark countertops.

Dark

I mixed wood tones when we built our home. Medium rough oak floors, all white molding/trim, med oak doors, with a mix of the same throughout the house with cabinets/built ins. Everything else is white! never grows old!!

Each has it's own place. I love darker floors but not so much on walls.

Dark wood floors and light colored walls with a mix of light and dark in the furnishings.

Plenty of light is important and white walls are a must for me. They provide the empty canvas for the rest of the room to be displayed on. Black kitchen cabinets with a wood grain look great. I think an overall balance is important. And if everything is to unified it tends to get boring. I think every room can have it's own identity as long as one room flows into the next without any shock effect.

I used to love light woods. When I bought my first house, that is what I used for my furnishing, but the last time I needed furniture I went with a really dark bedroom set that is by far my favorite furniture in the house. I guess I'm fickle. :)

I am with Lynda. I too like dark furniture and dark flooring. I think it is so much cozier.

There are trends. Right now I think darker woods are more popular but it can change soon; I guess try to go with what you think you can live with for a long time.

Probably should have included an option for colored wood, huh? I know I have light, dark, white and red furniture in the common areas of my house.

I like a medium walnut colour. It's easy to live with..warm..nurturing. It's a good neutral and acts as a great background for a lot of different styles of décor. Go mid-tone and it's not as heavy a commitment to either "light & airy" or "dark & heavy"

Our walnut floors make the house feel warm and inviting. Luckily, we have LOTS of tall windows and the ceilings are a decent height so we can get away with dark woods. However, our last home had oak floors and they were more forgiving with scratches and scuffs.

Hmm, intriguing! Of the two photos, I much prefer the dark, but then the light one has no rug, an uncomfortable-looking chair, and sterile white walls. I abstain but am still enjoying the discussion!

Wish I hadn't voted now BECAUSE THERE IS NO OPTION FOR MEDIUM. I love cherry and maple in medium tones.

dark floors and light furniture, but I like to mix wood tones. In a large space with lots of windows and light, dark furniture will work, but if you have a smaller space and not much natural light, go lighter with the furniture, unless you like cave dwelling.

I like a mixture of both . Like dark hardwood flours and lighter wood furniture and kitchen cabinates..

Dark absorbs light. Too much is not a good thing.

I like the natural color of white oak.

Both! Our living room has mostly darker wood and our sunroom and bedroom mostly lighter.

I tend toward light but like to mix it up. Each piece has to be seen in its context.

I love the look of dark ebonized stained wood

I like light floors in some houses and dark floors in others . there is no hard or fast rule.

It depends on the style of design you are trying to achieve. somehow light wood works with young modern style better than the dark wood. the dark wood feels more serious or heavy.

If the wood work is special, you may want to highlight it with the contrast...tone the walls down so it isn't so black and white..