We have a lot of oak stained wood in our baited living room, on the yellow side. I am down to two colors, but am nervous about a Med dark floor, as I like a lighter room. I’m in Midwest, not coastal.

Do you choose a hardwood color that is same color line but lighter or darker than the wood you already have...or do you choose along the same lines?

The two sample colors I like are a smooth natural white oak (but would be 4-5”) and a medium brown hickory (open grain). The white oak seems slightly yellow for me. The medium brown hickory has much more levels of color, hint of yellow/red.

I just want to make a wise decor color choice, so hard to tell with small sample.

Appreciate any advice.

(Don’t see how to upload photos via mobile.)

Here’s link to wood in living room and the two samples of wood. Natural white oak on bottom, hickory in medium brown on top smallest sample.

http://s345.photobucket.com/user/AnitaJoyce1/story

Pre-finished flooring is usually more uniform in color than floors finished on site.
The lighter floor will reflect more light, but does not anchor your architecture as well as a brown floor. Hickory is also harder than oak so less of a dent if things fall on it.
The brown floors make the floor seem more solid and goes with the brown furniture that has a richer look than the light "yellow" natural wood. Some people like the yellow floor because it tends to not show scratches, but scratches are not a normal thing if you take care and don't slide furniture and keep grit out.
In the long run a brown color will hide normal wear such as dirt that is hard to clean out of dents and also the fine scratches that happen over the years. A smooth floor lets dirt polish off. Fine scratches will harbor dirt, becoming gray on a yellow background,