That price range is going to be tricky. Many of those products will be mass produced overseas. The quality control over color may not be a good as you would hope.

I’ve mostly been looking at white oak options but that’s very good to know, I will make sure to check for red/white. The brands I’m looking at are ADM, Mannington and Stuga which all have options in my price range. Not sure if anyone has experience with these brands.

To me 'light' means the natural colour of wood = soft yellow. Are you looking for a 'white washed' floor? Or are you looking for a soft yellow?

I’m ok with some yellow, I just want to avoid the yellow oak reminiscent of the 90s! I actually like the look of some of the white washed options but many of them have a pink tone I don’t care for.

The 'orange tones' of the 80's 'honey oak' isn't the wood. It is the OIL BASED polyurethane. It turns yellow all by itself (if you paint white drywall with oil based poly it turns orange as it dries).

The white or lime wash is difficult to get out of the 'peach' tones. The ONE way to do it is to work with the EXPENSIVE European Oak. E Oak loves to turn 'silvery' as it ages. It is very lovely and it naturally moves towards a very light silver gray.

Go ahead and google European Oak hardwood floors. You will see millions of photos.