What is your typical node setup process for realistic Blender materials?

[Jack.H]

I'm working on a personal animation project in Blender and I'm trying to improve my shading workflow beyond just slapping on a basic Principled BSDF. My materials look flat and lack the subtle imperfections and depth I see in professional work. I understand nodes conceptually, but I get lost trying to combine them effectively for realistic surfaces like worn metal or fabric. For artists with a solid Blender shading pipeline, what is your typical node setup process, and what are a few key nodes or techniques you use in almost every material to add that crucial level of realism?