I kind of assumed that people always have the lights on - probably dimmed - so they can see each other. I don't think we have ever done it in the pitch black - maybe we'll give that a go - would be something different!
A dim light is always on in my bedroom because I have to go through there to the sunroom and to use my en-suite, it's enough to see each other, couldn't do it in the dark, I might think it's someone else and scream out the wrong name.
Dimmed lights can be romantic... I am not a visual person, but watching the hard dick wrapped in its condom and lowered by my hips for entry is something I could watch every time!
I know a lot of woman are self conscious about how they look so lights all on is not normally where I want them. I want the woman to relax but I can't perform with the lights totally dark because I need a point of reference and I am a visual person. I need to see. A very small candle till the woman understands that it's ok to be able to see but lights off means it's time for bed. nice candles, the room warm enough not to need blankets and some massage oil....I hate having to keep the blankets on and we both need to be naked....no shirts or socks. Now I did have one GF that was so flat chested that she needed to keep her shirt on, it made her look like a teen with no shirt and wasn't going to work for me.
I want the lights on, I love being able to see everything. Unless she is super wet then just the sound of it in the dark is fine with me.
Daylight, candle light, pitch dark... All different moods. All different sex feelings and all include the mind as well as the body. Each puts me into a different mood every time. It is always changing as well
I agree with papasmurf about natural light during the day and dim comfortable lights at night. I'm also ok with no lights at all too so when we are done, I can go straight to SLEEP! Lol!
It just depends. Sex in the middle of the night in the total darknks fun but so is morning sex in daylight ;-).
As you get older and have been married for many decades, my frugal wife likes the lights off as it saves on electricity.
Warm light, if artificial. Quite fond of led candles en masse. Daytime, filtered light. (Tree canopy, thin curtain) Dark can be fun on occasion.