Using a nail set, drive 'em all the way through, putty the holes, and forget about it.

I'm going to install about 400 sq of laminate. I've been looking at Costco's Brazilian Cherry, which has a matte finish and very basic print pattern. Today at Home Depot, I looked at Home Legend Brazilian Cherry in a glossy piano finish. It looks much more realistic than the Costco Harmonics brand. My question is: Do you like a piano finish floor, or is it hard to keep looking clean? I'm afraid it will show dust and smudges fast. Also, does anyone have experience with either of these brands? Thanks

Shortening the clean out a few inches will not effect performance at all. The planter idea sure sound's easier.

Totally depends. A lot of people get pretty "hardwood or nothing!" about this. I think it depends on your personal preference, lifestyle, budget, whether you prefer "change" in 15-20 years, are the type to hire someone to fix things or a do it your-selfer, and so on. I have had hardwood floors in most of the houses I have lived in over last 40 years - either throughout the entire home or only in the main common living areas. Anywhere from brand new wood floors, to 100+-year old wood floors. While they all had that warmth in feel and appearance, they also, no matter what their age, their species, their colour, pre-finished or site finished, ended up with scratches from creatures (either my own, or of those who lived there before me) and the inconvenience of refinishing them often meant I just did not bother. I had laminate in one rental a few years ago, but been back to hardwood last several years. I am choosing to go with laminate in my new house instead of hardwood. I am one of those who just has found I am not a "hardwood or nothing!" person. I am more a "what materials are going to serve *me* best in this space" person. Laminate has come a long way in my opinion. It is important to still pick a good quality laminate as it is not all made alike (neither is hardwood, for that matter). Look for a thickness of at least 10 mm, and also choose a higher rating for increased wear resistance and durability - they can be rated from light foot traffic to heavy commercial use. Find one with a good warranty. Buy a a couple spare boxes as you yourself can easily switch out a damaged piece if you need. We are going with a 12 mm with 27 year residential finish warranty. It has a nice wood grain texture and feels really nice underfoot. Installation is also really important. I have heard some people complain about "clicking" and honestly, I have never experienced that except in the cheapest of homes using the cheapest of laminate, and likely the cheapest of installers (or bad DIY). Depending on the surface you are installing over, you may need an underlay with a moisture barrier, etc, or may choose a higher rated underlay for better sound absorption. Laminate (and LVP too) is pretty common even in $400,000-$600,000 homes here, but it all depends on the market pricing where you are. My new build is within those numbers, and not a high-end home (not custom, not fancy by any means, and is basically a modified builder's plan) but it is not inexpensive either. My point is, the cost of homes varies from market to market, as do expectations of finishing in various price points. In my market, I would "expect" to see hardwood once you start getting in the higher ranges and above but still then only on the main floors...I would expect to still see carpet or LVP in basement, or second floor. If in your market, homes comparable to your price point are "expected" to have hardwood, then putting in laminate may be off-putting for resale. Or maybe not, as many buyers plan to take out existing floors anyway - even wood ones. No, laminate may not last "forever" like hardwoods (and you can't refinish them of course), but they are more affordable to replace, and don't involve me moving myself and pets out of house for several days as I have had to do for refinishing hardwoods; laminates can be replaced room by room, or even DIY. We are choosing tile for our "wet" areas like bathrooms and entry ways. We have hardwood in entry, main bath, and kitchen right now. I have never had worries about it in kitchen so far, but I am not fond of it in main bath and entry ways. Water CAN damage hardwoods (I as the space behind our main bath toilet where we had a leak can show), so this idea that hardwoods are impervious to water damage is a little foreign to me. Yes, it can damage laminate too, but laminate is a lot easier and less expensive to replace. I have friends with 20+ year old laminate that still looks like it was freshly installed last week, despite having kids, dogs, etc.