I'd go with the least obvious grain pattern unless you know you'll love the "character" when you see it everywhere all the time.

Agree with Gracie - I think it’s also the second one in the last picture

It is! That is the one hubs wanted to order this morning (tangier by paramount ) and I told him to hang tight while I tried a couple more samples! He always does seem to have an eye for these sort of things so he will be delighted if others on here agree with his choice

I was also leaning towards a less obvious grain pattern so I think we are on the right track ! Thanks all

Do you have any furniture you are keeping. I did, so how the floor looked under my furniture was very important to me.

I also liked the same one as gracie and cvdpnw

I know your DH seems to be in a rush to order, but you should really order one whole box of the one he likes and have the floor store hold enough of that dye lot to complete your project. Test the box in the space and with any furniture. It also gives you a better idea of the color variations and grain. Look at it for 2-3 days and if you still like it, place the order for the rest that you have on hold.

If you don't like it, you only wasted a few dollars and not thousands on a full order and installation.

Sample boards can be old/faded or also have only the nicest boards ... and look nothing like the final installed product. You've been warned!

Chispa has provided great advice. I’ve seen people on Houzz who were VERY disappointed when they saw the amount of variation once the floor was installed vs. what the sample looked like.

What brand floor is it? Sometimes you can see examples on line of the same floor. Can you buy a box of flooring to see how it might look in a corner of your space.

For example when you look at Naturally Aged Hardwood flooring you can see how a small sample doesn't really show the space when it's all installed.

Do you like this pattern? See how different the pattern is in comparison to the small square

If you know the brand of floor, I can try to do a search to see if there are any rooms done with the floor type you are buying

Laying out a box is the logical next step. You need a safeguard for something with this much impact.

It is paramount engineered hardwood pioneer park tangier.

did you see this on Houzz

Paramount engineered wood flooring in your home? Margaret Ehlert Sucharda

I really like that one. Very pretty.

I like the same one as well, and definitely agree that you should buy one box of it before you buy it all!

Deciding on engineered floor as well. Narrowed to 3 and was stuck. Amongst my choices was one that so happened to be the new floor in the redesigned new home at Carpet of Dalton. Seeing it fully in that home made my choice easy. Good luck!

The one closest to the outlet in the first 2 pics.

Dont choose the varieted wood, choose the plainest one. The floor supports the room, layer a rig on top, then furniture.

Very Very Very strong opinion. Engineered wood!!! UGH! Go with REAL WOOD or REAL Vinyl, not vinyl that looks kind of like wood - UGH! Some of that fake stuff dissolves with water spilled, and does not hold up well in any circumstance. Not sure why ANYONE likes this FAKE stuff. Ugh! YOU ASKED for strong opinions. . . .

Terrib962

Do you mean Luxury Vinyl Plank or Engineered Hardwood? You wrote: Very Very Very strong opinion. Engineered wood!!! UGH! Go with REAL WOOD or REAL Vinyl, not vinyl that looks kind of like wood - UGH! ....

I just wanted to understand your statement. I also do not like the look of feel of LVP. I've never been a fan.

For me wood is king.

But... Some geographical locations can NOT always do real wood at a fair price so engineered Hardwood is good option. Our treasured GC would not put real wood in our southern coastal home without a base floor or without a subfloor. Engineered hardwood is a perfect options because it can withstand the moisture beneath but still provide a wood floor on top of a slab. My engineered hardwood in my south home can be sanded re-stained at least 3 times before it needs to be replaced. Up north our home has real oak wood floors.

Is one better?

Depends on where you are located. Down south wood could become vulnerable to decomposition. If money were no object sure wood everywhere and replace it every couple of years but I am hoping to get at least 20 years with these Engineered hardwood floors.

LVP is sometimes the only option for some because of budget restraints. And in that case there are some options which are far better than carpet.

Thanks in advance for any clarification you can provide.

I’ve found a Bamboo floor to suit our home well. Had it for 6 year on the entire first floor. We have a dog and kid. Had a electrician drop a hammer on it from a ladder, hardly a dent. It’s still going strong.