An inexpensive and quick way to refresh your home is through a new paint job. The overall concept of painting your home can be exciting – but can also cause major anxiety because of the number of colors, textures and combinations that paint and home improvements stores offer. With so many choices how do you know? Here is some information from Realtor.com on the different types of paints and which one is best for the area you want to paint:

In terms of paint types there are two basic types – water based which is latex and oil based which is alkyd. What is the difference? Oil based has been around for a while but they can take much longer to dry and contain strong odors that can bother those with sensitivity to smells. It's great for outdoor paint jobs because it stands up well to harsh weather. In some states, the sale of oil based paint has been restricted due the fumes and solvents in the paint.  As for latex, it is becoming more popular. It dries quick with little odor. It has a thinner consistency and is easier to apply.

OK – now that we have that covered it is time to move on to the different finishes. There are five different types of finish:

• Matte or flat finish: Used on ceilings or in low traffic areas because it doesn't stand up well to rubbing or cleaning. This finish doesn't reflect light making it an ideal choice to hide small defects such as cracks or bumps.
• Eggshell finish: Similar to the sheen on an egg. It's a little shinier than the matte finish and dries to a slight luster. It does reflect some light, so it's a good choice for interior hallways and other low-traffic areas.
• Satin finish: Smooth, velvety look with more gloss or shine than eggshell. It's commonly used on window and door trim, but because most manufacturers formulate their satin finish paints to be able to stand up to some rubbing, it's also is a good choice for bedroom or even bathroom walls where it will get more traffic.
• Semi-gloss finish: Most commonly used finish on trim and cabinets in both bathrooms and kitchens. It dries to a nice sheen without being overly glossy and it stands up well to repeated cleaning and rubbing.  It can be used on walls, but because it reflects light so well, proper surface preparation before painting is very important since it will show (rather than hide) minor imperfections in a wall's surface.
• Glossy finish: Commonly used on cabinets and even furniture since its finish makes it look similar to a plastic or vinyl coating. Here again, because it is so shiny, you need to carefully prepare the surface before painting.

Using this information as your guide, the next step will be to pick your color. Many stores now have good visual tools that will help with paint selection so make sure you know the type of paint and finish is best for your project – it will make all the difference!