Choosing the colour of bamboo/wooden flooring

[msfreud]

So I have various samples of bamboo and engineered oak flooring... I've pretty much decided on the bamboo but I'm having such a hard time deciding on the colour/tone of it. It's difficult to visualise how it will look in rooms from just looking at the small sample squares.

My main dilemma is should I go darker or lighter than I think i.e. will the room look too dark if I go for the darker option even though I slightly prefer the darker sample? I worry the lighter shade ("natural" from simplybamboo) might look too much like those orangey laminates from the early 90s...

Does anyone have flooring from simplybamboo and would you be able to show me photos of rooms with it?

I do, its a bit dark tonight now for a photo but will take one tomorrow.

Thank you mandy214

We're currently deciding on bamboo flooring and we think we're going to go for the darker caramel colour. This was a lot darker than we'd initially planned.

John Lewis has larger samples of Moso (if you pm me I can send you some pictures) and the darker colour looks fabulous. We're visiting a showroom early next week (I think Simply Bamboo) to check out their version as it's about 25% cheaper than buying direct from Moso.

I've got the Coffee strand vertical (code CVM). I can see the CHM on the website (which refers to the CVM) but cant see the CVM. Anyway here is a photo. Please excuse the state of skirting board and floor itself, currently installing a new kitchen and everywhere needs a damn good clean. Its probably darker than it looks in the photo. We were actually trying to match it to darker flooring (bamboo again) that we have in the hall which was unfortunately discontinued. If your house is fairly light I would recommend the darker colours, I think they look much nicer.

That's very helpful, thanks!
One of my sample bits is in that shade so it's really good to see it on a floor. Yours looks really lovely. The kitchen is very shabby chic.

Here are the larger images from John Lewis.

Thank you DreamboatDaddy! I love those darker colours... decisions, decisions! Initially wanted something rustic looking, like reclaimed wood, but that's way out of my budget now... but these look very similar.