Medium-dark walnut was a solid choice, especially for a historic home. I've worked on quite a few older properties, and flooring color really does set the tone more than most people realize. Darker tones can definitely anchor a room, giving it that classic, timeless feel you're describing—even without tons of natural light. On the flip side, lighter floors can open up smaller spaces visually, but sometimes they don't quite capture the authenticity you're after in period homes.
It's always a balancing act between aesthetics and practicality. Sounds like you found a good middle ground. And honestly, flooring is one of those things homeowners often underestimate until it's actually installed and they see how it interacts with furniture, wall colors, and lighting conditions. Glad to hear you're happy with your choice—it's rewarding when all that agonizing pays off in the end.
We went with medium-dark walnut too, and honestly, I was a nervous wreck until it was actually down. I remember standing in the flooring aisle, holding those tiny samples and squinting at them like they'd magically tell me what to do. But once it was installed, it just clicked. It gave our older home that cozy, classic vibe without making the rooms feel cramped or gloomy.
Funny thing is, my sister went the opposite route—picked a really pale oak for her Victorian place. It looked great at first, bright and airy, but after a few months she admitted it didn't quite feel right. She ended up adding darker rugs and furniture to balance it out. So yeah, flooring really does set the stage more than we realize sometimes.
Glad you're feeling good about your choice now—it's such a relief when all that second-guessing finally pays off.
"holding those tiny samples and squinting at them like they'd magically tell me what to do."
Haha, this was totally me last weekend. Glad I'm not alone! We're leaning toward a medium shade too, but my wallet's whispering "are you sure?" every time I look at the price tags. Interesting about your sister's pale oak—makes me wonder if lighter floors always need darker furniture to ground things...hmm. Anyway, appreciate hearing how it worked out for you, gives me hope it'll be worth the stress.
