How to Patch and Repair Drywall

Dents, dings, and errant doorknob strikes are inevitable in any home, but they don't have to be permanent residents on your walls. Drywall repair is one of the most rewarding home maintenance skills because it requires very little heavy equipment to turn a glaring eyesore into a smooth, invisible surface ready for a fresh coat of paint. Done well, a patch should be completely undetectable to the touch and the eye. The trick isn't just about filling the hole; it is about feathering your edges so the new compound blends perfectly into the existing texture. Take your time with the drying stages, and you will achieve a professional finish that looks like the wall was never touched in the first place.

Clean the damaged edge. Use a utility knife to cut away any loose, jagged paper or gypsum protruding from the hole. You want the edges to be flush or slightly recessed so they don't interfere with your patch.
Set the mesh base. For small nail holes, skip to compound. For larger holes, apply an adhesive mesh patch or a metal-backed wall patch directly over the damaged area to provide a stable surface for the compound.
Lay the first coat thin. Use a 6-inch drywall knife to apply a thin layer of joint compound over the patch. Press firmly to force the compound through the mesh, then smooth it out in a single direction.
Sand with precision light. Wait for the compound to turn bright white, indicating it is fully dry. Lightly sand the area with fine-grit sandpaper until the high spots are leveled off, wiping away the dust with a damp cloth.
Blend the edges wide. Apply a second, wider coat of compound using a 10-inch or 12-inch knife. Extend the compound several inches past your previous patch, tapering it off so the layer becomes paper-thin at the outer edges.
Finish invisibly. Sand the area gently once more until the transition between the patch and the wall is invisible. Apply a coat of drywall primer to the patch before painting so the texture matches the rest of the wall.