The “nap” of a roller is the length the material is from the core of the roller. Longer naps are better for high-texture surfaces, and shorter naps work best for smooth surfaces.

Never cheap out on the paint brush. Using a high-quality paint brush ensures a smooth, brushstroke-free finish.

Color pigments and paint sheen naturally separate over time. Not mixing paint thoroughly before painting can result in uneven color and flashing, where the paint has a different sheen in different areas.

The roller needs to be fully loaded with paint to the core, otherwise you’ll get air bubble on your wall, resulting in “paint acne.” Roll it back and forth on the roller tray until all bubbles are gone and the roller feels heavy.

Using the wrong amount of paint (too much or too little) results in an uneven finish and can add unwanted texture to your paint job.

If you load the roller or brush too much, it can result in drips and sags. It also extends drying time for the paint. You should be able to paint a 3’x3’ square of wall space without any drips or sags.

Using too little paint also results in unwanted texture because you have to paint more coats than necessary. Another thing to look out for are roller lines – sometimes the edges of the roller leaves trails of paint. Simply roll back over the lines gently in the opposite direction.

Paint starts to dry as soon as it’s on the wall, so you want to work quickly and make sure you’re not adding wet paint on top of dry – this results in unwanted texture. This is also another reason to work in 3’x3’ squares, as you can easily see any touch-up areas before they’ve dried. Always make sure you’re working off a wet edge.

Sometimes you don’t realize that the paint is fully dry yet, but it’s important to wait for each coat to dry completely before moving on to the next. Wet paint is a slightly different color than dry paint, so wait until all blotches are gone and the color is uniform across the room.