Lighting, coats, sheen

Paint is not the most predictable of mediums. Paint will look different on a wall in the daytime versus the night, it will look different depending on the kind of lighting that you have, and it will look different based on the number of coats that are applied, and so on. Do not have the expectation going into the paint store that the color you picked out on the paint sample is going to be the exact same color that you get on your wall. Many paint stores have devices that manipulate the light in shining on the paint sample, so that you can see for yourself how the tones can change. Keep in mind that darker colors require more coats or at least thicker coats than do lighter or white-based paint colors. The sheen or finish of the paint is also something that you need to consider. Certain finished are better than others in high traffic areas, bathrooms and kitchens. In some rooms the choice of finish is less one of function and more one of aesthetic preference. Of course, you are also going to need to know how much paint it is going to take to get the job done. Don't be afraid of underestimating the amount of paint that you want, with very few exceptions you can go back to the store to get more paint mixed to match the color you want but very few paint stores will refund your money if you want to return paint you bought too much of.

Brushes, rollers, pans and other tools

When most people think about a painting job, their mind goes to the paint. A lot of time and effort is spent on choosing out the perfect color in the perfect finish, but most first-time painters neglect to spend the necessary amount of time on the little things that are essential if you want the beautiful color in the can to go up beautifully on your wall. Just as paints have finish types, there are different rollers for different textures. You will need longer rollers for larger areas and extension handles to paint up high. It is generally a good idea to have a different roller for every color that you put on the wall or to have one roller per gallon of paint (after a while the paint will start to absorb into the roller and that will result in more clumps of paint on the wall). Other tools that you might need are brushes, smaller rollers and even paint brushes to get into small nooks and crannies and those delicate areas such as where the wall meets the ceiling. Not to mention all of the additional materials that you will need to think about if you are doing a faux finish of some kind. There are a lot of different techniques that you can try. Just make sure that you have the right tools for the job.