Nail holes: spackle. Anything bigger: compound and tape. Spackle shrinks in big holes.

You skipped primer or painted a postage stamp. Prime, then roll a larger rectangle.

Usually three thin. Dry time matters more than talent.

Drywall Patch & Paint

From a nail hole to a fist-sized patch that disappears after paint

1h 30m6 photographed stepsBeginner

You will repair a small hole, then a larger one with a backer and tape, mud three thin coats, sand, prime, and blend paint so the wall does not flash like a spotlight in the afternoon.

What you'll learn

When spackle is enough vs when you need tape
Three thin coats beat one thick blob
Why primer is not optional on a patch
How to blend sheen so it doesn't flash

Inside this course

Small holes firstLearn the feel of compound on a nail hole before you cut a rectangle in the wall.
A hole you can put a fist throughSquare it, back it, patch it, tape it.
Mud, sand, primeFeather wider each coat. Your hand finds ridges light misses.
Paint so it disappearsDon't paint a 10 cm circle and hope.

Full step-by-step lessons with photos unlock with a subscription.

Free preview

First steps from Small holes first

See how every step looks — photo, checklist, and pro tips included.

Flush with the wall. A bump will telegraph through paint.

01Press in, scrape flush

A dab of lightweight spackle, press, scrape flush. Dry, skim again if it shrinks, sand 220. You should not see a crater.

Popped nails: screw a drywall screw 25 mm above and below, dimple the paper without tearing, then mud. Hammering the old nail back is a short-term lie.

Full library access