I am getting ready to go buy a bunch of boxes, but I have a doubt...

This is the area I want to cover. A big room off the front door, with a hallway to the right, that ends up in an octogon, and another hallway going down.
Do I install theplanks horizontaly, verticaly, etc? What would look best?
Is there a way to make the planks follow the shape of the octogon in the hallway, like rings, or can they only be installed parallel to each other?
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              Front door


Thanks
Estelle