So you’ve done it! You’ve finally decided to upgrade to wood floors. Congratulations. You’ve probably already decided whether you want hardwood, laminate or engineered wood, so most of the hard part is over.

Now though, you must choose that perfect shade of wood that will compliment the architecture of your home and go with all your existing furniture, as well as go with any future renovations or furniture upgrades. How do you choose? And most importantly, how do you choose without going completely nuts?

Follow these easy tips:

1) Take time flipping through design magazines, stopping every time you see a room you like. Even if the floor in the room isn’t wood, take note on if the floor shown is dark or light, light reflective or matte, patterned or smooth. Keep flipping through magazines until you notice a pattern in the flooring you like.

2) Do research on the historical and architectural details of your home. Is it an Arts and Crafts bungalow? An old Victorian? A renovated barn? Knowing the details of your home will help you decide whether you need an old and weathered look or a more modern color scheme.

3) Consider the existing wood tones already present in the home. This is probably the most confusing part of any home owner’s wood flooring choice. Many wonder if you’re suppose to match your furniture to your flooring. My answer is no. The best choice is having a nice contrast between the flooring and the furniture.

4) Samples, samples, samples. When you think you’ve narrowed down some color choices, take the biggest samples of those colors home to view them. If they aren’t big samples, ask if you can take a lot home to create a larger sample. Lay your samples out where the new floor might go and view it in natural light, morning light, afternoon light, evening light, artificial light, lamp light, overhead light—you get the picture. Put the samples next to existing furniture and really see if the color works for you. Most importantly, sit with your samples for awhile! Don’t rush the decision, you’ll have to live with it for awhile!

The most important thing to remember is that while it is a big decision, it is just flooring. If you follow these steps and your own instincts, you’re bound to make the right decision. Good luck!