4 Common Painting Mistakes (And How You Can Avoid Them!)

by Hoover Paint May 18, 2026

When it comes to painting interior walls, exterior siding, or cabinetry, there are several common painting mistakes that you can make without even realizing it until it’s too late. Painting errors may cost you time, money, and the very thing you were trying to achieve with the project.

A painter, wearing paint clothes, holding a paintbrush to paint the trim of a home

At Hoover Paint, our team has seen it all and knows a thing or two about paint, painting supplies, and what not to do. We can give you tips to help you avoid common mistakes when painting walls, including getting the right paint brands and tools into your hands so you start out right.

1. Skipping Preparing the Surface

If you paint your walls or cabinets immediately without preparing them, your paint may go on unevenly, making it look splotchy, and it may even peel over time.

To avoid this mistake, take the time to do the prep work. Wipe your walls down with a clean and damp rag to remove any dust. Remove any nail-like marks from wall hangings or picture frames. Then use wall filler or a patching compound to fill any cracks in the walls. You can also lightly sand your walls to ensure a smooth, even surface.

2. Using Low-Quality Tools and Paints

It’s easy to assume that paintbrushes and types of paints are all of roughly the same quality. However, they’re not. Poorly made paintbrushes can cause bristles to come out while you’re painting, sticking to the wall paint.

To avoid this mistake, visit Hoover Paint for high-quality brushes and rollers, and Benjamin Moore paint for an even, smooth finish that covers walls in just one or two coats.

3. Rushing Drying Times

Once you have the paint on the walls, it’s very tempting to add another coat or to touch up areas that aren’t perfect right away. If you do this, it can dry unevenly, appearing darker in some areas and lighter in others.

To avoid this mistake, wait until the wall is dry to the touch. You can also look at your paint can, as the label usually includes the average dry and recoat times.

4. Forgetting to Pay Attention to the Paint’s Type of Finish

A paint finish is the amount of sheen a paint has, for example:

Flat paint has no sheen and typically goes on ceilings.
Eggshell paint has a slight sheen, particularly when viewed at an angle, and is often used on walls.
Semi-gloss paint has a high sheen and is often used on trim.

Generally, sheen will determine how easily the walls clean, how they look in the light, and how easily imperfections are visible.

To avoid this mistake, research the right sheen from the start. If you’re not sure what you need, our Hoover Paint team will gladly help you. Any paint color can have any sheen you desire.

Shop Our Benjamin Moore Paint Store Near Murfreesboro, TN

As your Benjamin Moore paint store near Murfreesboro, TN, our team will assist you in finding the best products you need to have a successful painting project. At Hoover Paint, we offer high-quality paints and supplies for you, whether you're doing your first painting project, frequently DIY, or you’re a professional painter.

Contact us online or call (615) 893-5756, and we can help you with color matching and choosing finishes so you can ensure you get exactly what you need.

Hoover Paint is a local paint store with 10 locations throughout Central Tennessee, and we proudly serve Murfreesboro and the surrounding area, including Christiana, Lascassas, Rockvale, and Plainview, TN.