I would find a dark, gloomy home to be depressing. Also, one full of clutter.
As much as the dark, elegant rooms look wonderful in the magazines, I could never have one. The current trend for colour drenching (were the ceiling is painted the same colour as the walls) is also all a bit too much for me- unless it is white or a shade of white.
My ideal home would have large windows and sun coming in as much as possible.
I think lighting also makes a difference to a room. Lamps rather than the 'big light' make a space look less bleak. I can't understand why anyone would want a fluorescent light in their living room. Mind you, some of the new LED lights are equally bright