I want to create a new custom page template for the presentation of blog posts. I realise that when you assign a page to display posts via Settings > Reading, it then will assign home.php to display that page content - being posts on a page. Also the option to assign a page template in the page editing view disappears.
Right now it displays a default article by article view. I want to provide another option for admin to select a different template which could style the blogs in a gird or masonry layout. I'm not sure how to do this.
I could do it by not assigning the page to display blogs in the Settings > Reading admin area and then allowing admin user to assign the specific template to page using Page Attributes menu in page editing but according to https://make.wordpress.org/themes/2014/06/28/correct-handling-of-static-front-page-and-custom-blog-posts-index-template/, this is the WRONG way.
I've tried google searching for solutions but all I keep finding is recommendations for plugins to use. Could someone point me to some helpful resources?