While high-traffic area paint jobs call for a special finish to increase durability, many finishes today are being used to add style to interior rooms. One movement is toward the semi-gloss and gloss finishes. Pure colors are being revived, and the flat finishes of years past are being replaced by lacquered and shiny looks.

Increasingly available, the mid-range finishes that add only small amounts of gloss to paint offer great creativity. Historically, people used flat wall paint to hide imperfections in their walls. Today people looking for a softer finish are using satin and eggshell finishes.

While paint can transform your house into your dream home, it should also be practical. When choosing what type of finish you will use, keep in mind the use of the room you're painting. Hallways, bathrooms, children's rooms and other high-traffic areas are prime areas to use the sheen finishes, which diminish the profuseness of the paint, making it absorbent and easier to wipe clean. At the same time, these finishes do not cause glare found in other finishes.

A good rule of thumb is to paint your bedroom in a flat finish to avoid any reflection. When painting your kitchen, bathroom or hallway, the semi- or high-gloss paints create surfaces that are easily cleaned and resistant to mildew and chipping.

Finally, faux-finishes are another alternative when deciding what look you are seeking for your walls. Faux-finishing, the catch-all term for decorative painting techniques, includes sponging, rag-walling, wood-graining and marbleizing. Their popularity has increased because it provides a truly customized look while remaining relatively easy and inexpensive.