After finishing the massive task of painting your house, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the new look of your home. But whether you hired a contractor or tackled the job on your own, painting your house’s interior or exterior can be a big investment of your time and money.

Selecting a color that complements and accentuates your existing décor, as discussed in Part 1 of this blog, is just the first step to a creative paint job. There are also painting techniques homeowners can use to create distinctive wall textures or even change the entire atmosphere of a room.

A new paint job can be a great way to update your home’s décor, but the seemingly infinite variety of colors and finishes can make even the most design-savvy homeowners feel uncertain. Don’t dread the brush and roller, though; a little pre-planning can help you choose the perfect color and design to give your home a fresh and modern look—without the stress that often tags along.

Whether you’re looking to freshen up some of your walls or head in a bold new direction with color in your home, preparing to paint a room can be just as important as the actual paint job itself. Dave Williams, founder and president of Williams Professional Painting in Northern Virginia and Maryland, offers some tips to help you prep like a pro.

Part 1 of this blog post discusses the qualities of various kinds of interior paints, including their look, durability, and how easy to clean they are. The finish of the paint, how it looks once dried, is also important on both an aesthetic and a practical level.

You’re looking to paint the inside of your home, but you’ve walked down the paint aisle at your local hardware store and seen the hundreds of different kinds of wall paints. Should you pick an enamel? Latex? And what kind of finish is the best? If this sounds like you, read on for a quick rundown of the most popular paints and finishes so you can make an informed decision and start planning your home’s new look.