This may have been addressed before, but I couldn't find a topic on it.

Planning to install nail-down on second floor. There is a landing about 6x6 which flows directly into a larger room. Is it more appropriate to start installing from the top of the stairs, or from the far wall of the larger room?

If I start from the top of the stairs, I know I get a full width plank matching up nicely with the stair nosing (also has not been installed yet). But I face the possibility of having to rip planks for both walls of the larger room.

If I start from the far wall, I know I'm nice and parallel there, and don't have to rip boards on that wall, but I may not be properly parallel by the time I get to the stairs, and I may not mate up properly with the stair nosing.

Is there a proper way to do this to ensure correct fit and finish?

I like to have a full plank at a nosing where possible. In this situation I would chalk my lines off the walls, all the way over a foot or 2 from the step. This way I have parallel lines of the room layout at that step. I then can see where I stand at the step as far as squareness to the lines & room. I adjust the step accordingly. I will dry run planks at the step and down the chalkline for any further adjustment.
It is no big deal to rip at walls, but if you can avoid a rip at a step, IMO that's the hot tip.

One thing you could do, since the nosing isnt yet installed, is measure back from the nosing location to the far outside (long) wall, and do the math to as accurately as possible locate your starting board so that you end up with a full board when you reach the nosing. Be prepared to make minor adjustments to the width of the nosing before installing it.
This will allow you to be parallel to the walls, as well as the nosing, unless there is a great discrepancy to one or the other.

I have to disagree with you on this one Dennis. Maybe in a perfect world, lol.

IMHO , No way. By the time all those planks make it over to that step, who knows where that plank will land. In a large room Harry Houdini couldn't plan that . Ya, you can make sure it's parallel, but as far as measuring where it's gonna land, by the time you get over there ? A full plank ? I dont think a ripped plank ,or especially , a ripped nosing , is going to look right. Why not start there ? I say square the step up to the room, pop a full plank down, utilize the t & g with a spline, and have no guestamated insert at the nosing.

Each to his own, Floorologist. However, I was not suggesting that he actually DO this, but that it was a method I have sometimes used. If you measure back and calculate accurately enough, you can ensure that if a rip is needed, it will be close to a full board, or not too much cut off the nosing. If close enough, moving the nosing out a 1/4 or 1/8th inch can be compensated for with the cove moulding we generally put under it.
But you are right, it doesnt always work out, but since I DO live in a perfect world, it works for me However probably not the best solution for a DIY application.