Help with flooring, laminate, vinyl, or vinyl planks

[shelldockley]

I'm so confused by all the choice! We need to replace all our downstairs flooring, hall and living room carpet and kitchen tiles. I like the look of the same flooring throughout, I like wood and the practicality of hard flooring. We don't want to spend too much so I thought that perhaps a more expensive wood effect vinyl would be better than a cheap laminate. But there's so much choice, I've discovered Amtico and Karndean wood effect planks that look great, are they easy to keep clean? Do the joins get grubby/come loose?

Aside from the flooring type I can't decide on a colour either, I like dark wood but with dark brown sofas and some brown furniture, it looks too dark. What colour would you think for a terracotta room, with dark brown sofas, some walnut and some natural (not honey) pine furniture? Also the kitchen is black and white so I think that will go with anything.

Also, to add, it's a 1970s terrace, so nice rustic oak style flooring won't look right I don't think, I was thinking perhaps something more industrial, like a worn grey wood?

try QuickStep. they have lots of choice and don't look or feel cheap. The grooves don't get dirty either

Yes quick step! We have it throughout, looks like wood but much easier to clean. It does mark though, karndean supposed to be much hardier. I've just seen karndean flooring in my new neighbour's house (we are moving, need inspiration) and it really did look like wood. Think it's more expensive than quick step though and takes longer to fit.