When you start to tackle the walls in your foyer, dining room, bedroom, hallway and kitchen, as well as the wood on your banisters, trimmings and windows, you’ll find that your options don’t simply run to color. Yes, color is an important part of your decision. You don’t want to choose something that will close off the room, spread it out too much, make it appear cramped or make it seem huge and un-furnishable. But it’s not the only decision. You also want to select a finish that will make your walls shine (or not depending on the scenario), and that entails considering the location and the care you will give each wall, ceiling and surface coated with a healthy dollop of paint.

Your first option for a finish is a flat finish. A flat finish is just that, flat. There’s no extra frills, no particular shine and no extra work. You apply the finish, protect the paint and you are done with the walls. You don’t have to worry about minor defects, as the finish has hidden them, and you don’t have to worry about scrubbing to keep the walls clean every day, as the flat finish is a finish that thrives in neglect. Frequent washing isn’t even something you should consider when applying a flat finish. It is the easies of the finishes.

A satin or eggshell finish is similar to the flat finish in that it too adds little to no shine. It simply protects the paint. However, it is scrub-able and thus something you may consider in your foyer or entryway. It’s more versatile and can fit into any room, provided you resign yourself to the occasional rubdown. If you do, you’ll be happy you went with the satin rather than the flat.

If you are looking for a little bit of a shine, in your accents or woodworking, try the semi-gloss. It gives a healthy glow to the items its applied to, and for an added bonus, is easy to clean. You can wipe it down and not worry about the finish being rubbed away. You can watch it get dirty and not fear that it will never be clean. As soon as the dirt-causers return, you can catch them, send them out for rags and have them clean the woodworking or accents until you are completely satisfied with the results.

Finally, there is ceiling paint. This paint is designed to drip less than other paints, as it is on the ceiling, and is perfect for . . . you guessed it, the ceiling. There are different types, however, and you want to be sure you get the right one. If you are looking for your bathroom or kitchen, keep the amount of steam that accumulates in mind and get an oil-based semi gloss paint. This will protect your ceiling longer.

Whatever you do, whether you are touching up woodwork, reapplying color to the ceiling or fixing your walls, you need to purchase the right finish. Determine the treatments that are best for your needs and apply them in your home. If you are uncertain what those entail, talk to a paint expert. He’s there to help, and there to make sure you don’t walk away with something you didn’t want or something that won’t help you.