I wouldn't go with a dark stain, but white oak is good because you don't have so much red in the color if that's an issue. Either in a medium tone finish will be gorgeous.

I don't know the difference in upkeep or benefits between the two but it looks beautiful in the picture. I think with the redder stain, you see the beauty of the wood more tho.

I like the red oak. You will probably cover the floor with area rugs anyway:) but if this is your forever home do what you love and can live with.

You can stain it (have it sanded and refinished with an appropriate stain), you can leave it (this is my choice) or you can rip it out and have white oak put in and stained. If you don't like the reddish cinnamon colour then move to white oak because there is nothing that will get rid of the red for good. You will always battle the colour each time you sand and refinish.

If you want darker and like the warmer tones then the red oak will do just fine thank you. The white oak takes colours more "true to form" but a good colour master can always compensate for the extra colour in red oak.

If you are a fan of white oak...then get white oak. If it is simply a matter of getting a stain on this floor (which you will probably live with for 20+ years) then a good stain master will get you the colour you like with the floor you have.

The choice is yours. I'm dying to find out why red oak was installed and finished if it wasn't what was in your heart.

I choose white oak over red unless matching an existing floor.

Look at samples before you commit.

I should clarify that the house has not been built yet, we are signing a contract. This is a house the builder just finished. When I asked about a darker floor, he recommends I switch to white oak instead of staining red oak. Thanks

This is the model home with Red Oak natural flooring. I can upgrade to White oak flooring and just do a natural finish. My question is, how much different will the White oak look than this red oak? Will it still have the variation that this floor in the picture has? (if the same grade is used? I like the variation, just want to tone down the red a bit. Everyone I talk to says to not stain the floors - stick with natural. My builder will switch to White Oak if I want a stain, but should I switch to White oak anyways even if I stay with a natural finish?

I would upgrade to white oak. The grain isn't quite as pronounced; it is more versatile, and if you want to refinish it with a stain in the future it will take it beautifully.

Thanks everyone. My builder has only used the White oak when it gets stained. So I don't know what it will look like compared to the Red Oak floor in the pic using the natural finish. Its only 15 cents per sq ft to upgrade to the White oak. I am assuming its the same grade as the Red Oak he uses as I do like the variation of the wood (some dark, some light). So basically, for $300 I can upgrade to the White oak. So to get that variation, I have to make sure its the same grade (i am assuming his Red oak, is grade #1 or #2.

Go with white oak! More options and no reddish/pink undertones. I have stained red oak but if white oak hadn't been so much more at the time, we would have gone with white. My parents have natural red oak and 10 years later, it looks pretty orangey.

Yes, go with the white oak, but do NOT assume anything about the grade of wood. Get written confirmation. I have seen too many horrible results of assumptions here on Houzz. Can he show you several pieces of the wood side by side to make sure you like the look of it in a large area?

Thanks everyone. Here is another shot of the red oak floor with the exact wall color and trim I will be using. This is a semi-custom home, so I can't make tons of changes like I could in a custom home. I think we will just pay the $300 to switch to the White Oak (as long as I find out the grade) and then hopefully, we can see the actual stain colors, including the natural finish on the actual site finished floor.

I would get a beautiful piece of granite for above your fireplace, one that will go all the way to the ceiling.

So I am choosing the White Oak option, Now for color choices. I asked for a range of stain colors (and even a natural finish) - I know I don't want a dark floor. I actually LOVE all the whitewashed oak floors on Houzz but have no idea how expensive that is compared to staining, or if it holds up as well. Thanks everyone!

Can't help you there. I have never had stained or whitewashed floors. We have oak floors with no stain, but they are almost 100 years old, and so have naturally warmed and darkened over time.

It is a beautiful floor and you can make it work by the furniture and accessories that you will add to it. I would not change the floor IMO By the way, I love the color on the wall. What is it called?

The second picture you took shows a lot of red in the floor, so if you want a dark color, go with a walnut stain.

Well, I want to see what the natural finish on the White oak floors will look like. The builder is having his flooring contractor make some samples for me. I know I don't want dark floors - but want to get rid of the orange-reddish of the red oak. As far as the paint color on the walls, this is the model home. I know its a Pratt and lambert greige color - it might be called Silver Mink. I will check for you.

And its only $300 to upgrade to white oak and stay with the natural finish. So I think at least, this is the best decision to make - even if I don't stain the floor. I just feel like the current red oak floor, kind of looks like a basketball court? Maybe its just me - but it seems the concsensus is to go for the White Oak, if I have that option.

Yes I see why you came to that decision. Keep us posted.

it sounds like you prefer white oak. So get the white oak!

I think white oak is a good decision!

White Oak gets rid of the red while giving you tons of options for future colours! Good choice. Money well spent.