How To Fix A Wall Hole

How to fix a wall hole. If you've recently rearranged the family portraits on the living room wall or reorganized the shelving in your home office, chances are you have a wall or two that is less than picture-perfect.

Yes, you could always hang something over the holes to hide them from sight. But you can patch small holes in drywall or plaster them almost as easily yourself. Here's how to fix a wall hole - no carpenter experience required.

Fix a Wall Hole With Spackling Compound

To fix a wall hole, start by vacuuming away any loose plaster, paint chips, or dust from the hole.

Using a putty knife, fill the hole with a premixed spackling compound and smooth it level with the surface of the wall. Let the compound dry thoroughly - a few hours or overnight.

Then smooth it with a damp sponge and paint over the spackled area to match the color of your wall.

If the hole is deep, the spackling compound will shrink slightly when dry, and a second application may be needed to make the hole smooth and even with the rest of the wall surface.

A Painting Shortcut

If you have leftover latex paint that matches the wall, add a small amount of paint to the premixed spackling compound and use a putty knife to fill the hole with the paint-and-spackling mixture.

If done carefully, the patch may blend in well enough to require no further sanding or painting.

This works only for small holes, such as those caused by picture hooks. A larger, deeper perforation may require two applications of the spackling compound; sand after each application has dried and touch up with paint. Get tips for cleaning walls.